Based on the latest storm information, it means Northeast refineries and terminals would continue to operate normally this weekend, but marine facilities and vessel traffic could be affected. The operational scenario will remain fluid and may change within the next 48 hours, depending on the severity of the storm.   

All refineries and terminals are operating normally as of Thursday, but emergency preparations include flood prevention, topping up storage tanks and securing objects. The most extreme response to a severe storm would be to shut down the facility and evacuate.   
Refiners in the Northeast include PBF Energy, Sunoco, Hess and ConocoPhillips. Western Refining’s terminal in Yorktown, Va., will be among the first oil facilities to experience Hurricane Irene after its expected landfall in North Carolina. Operations are ongoing, according to a spokesman on Thursday, and workers are putting into place the usual plans for storms. Inspections made following Tuesday’s earthquake near Mineral, Va., turned up no damage to the terminal, the spokesman added.   Irene, a Category 3 hurricane, is expected to reach the New York Harbor Saturday afternoon, and the impact will last through Sunday, a Coast Guard official told OPIS early on Thursday.   
The Coast Guard is preparing its contingency plan for the storm. So far, it has no plan to shut vessel traffic in the harbor.   Refiners and terminal owners are expected to keep large ships and barges away from their marine facilities during the storm this weekend.   Facing its first hurricane, PBF Energy has already implemented its emergency preparation plan at its Delaware City refinery, said Michael Gayda, a company spokesman. The refiner will take steps according to plans, depending on the severity of the storm.   
Refiners and terminal owners are making preparations for the storm to the best of their abilities, but the facilities would remain vulnerable to potential power outages, wind damage and severe flooding.   Refiners and terminal owners are filling up products and crude storage tanks to prevent them from collapsing, and transferring water to empty tanks.   Sewers and drains are cleared to prevent flooding, and roof drains are also cleared to prevent a roof cave-in.   Meanwhile, Hurricane Irene is to pass offshore of the east coast of central and north Florida late on Thursday or early Friday.   
Irene is packing winds near 115 mph, with higher gusts. Some strengthening is expected on Thursday and Friday.   A hurricane watch is in effect for the North Carolina coast, which means tropical storm force winds are expected within the next 48 hours. North Carolina ports remain open as of late Wednesday.