While transit officials in New York City are basically freaking out about the potential for Hurricane Irene causing a complete shutdown of that city’s system, officials here in Washington are keeping things a little calmer. WMATA announced last night that they are currently planning to operate normally on Sunday, right as Hurricane Irene is expected to hit the D.C. region.

Previously, Metrorail was to open early on Sunday to facilitate crowds travelling to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial dedication ceremony. But since that celebration has been postponed, the system will open at 7 a.m. on Sunday, per usual. The transit agency will not be conducting any weekend track work this weekend.

Will the system have to shut down due to high winds and incredibly wet conditions, as it did in 2003? Time will tell, friends.