Waves crashing against the shore... a sign that an approaching tropical storm could become the first hurricane to take aim at the U.S. this year.<br/> <br />Residents along the Gulf Coast are on high alert as hurricane Karen theatens to sweep in with damaging winds, heavy rain and high tides over the weekend.<br/> <br />Boats have been secured, houses shuttered and beaches cleared.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) JEFFERSON PARISH PRESIDENT JOHN YOUNG SAYING:<br/> <br />"We're ready. We've been through this before. It's not our first rodeo, and we're fully prepared and ready to execute whatever we have to do."<br/> <br />A hurricane watch has been issued from Lousiana to Florida.<br/> <br />In Alabama, workers raised double red flags along beaches warning of treacherous rip tides.<br/> <br />The National Hurricane Centre expects the storm, which is moving northwest, to strengthen to just below hurricane strength by late Friday,
