Hurricane: Prayers, PD, & Good Thoughts to MD, NJ, NY, VA, SC, & NC DISers

[*NikkiBell*]

I thought I would start a thread for all of us on the East Coast who are preparing for what is being deemed as the worst storm to hit New Jersey in over 100 years. A state of emergency was announced earlier and Cape May and Atlantic counties are already under a mandatory evacuation. Monmouth County is said to be next as the eye is traveling right through it. I know that those in Maryland, South & North Carolina, Virginia, and New York are under fire as well. 85-100 MPH winds are expected along with the rain. With all of the rain we have had recently, flooding is inevitable.

Please keep your East Coast DIS friends in your prayers and thoughts over the next few days. The worst is expected Saturday night through Sunday. For those affected, please check in here if you have power after the storm. We all want everyone to stay safe and accounted for.

 

[jcb]

When I was a wee lad, my parents moved to Louisiana. I had barely started first grade when Hurricane Betsy struck. I was too young to remember much about it other than it arrived (we lived in the northern part of the state) while I was at school. There was no evacuation.

My mother, being from Tennessee, had never experienced anything like a hurricane (she probably didn't then, as by Betsy was more of a tropical storm by the time it arrived). That didn't matter. This was long before the "Internet;" Steve Jobs was only 10 years old.

My mom remembers the experience to this day, telling the story of sitting in the hallway of our then new house with my younger brother (dad was at work) balling their eyes out (she was also 7 months pregnant so I suspect that affected her a little). Anyway, my family "survived" Billion Dollar Betsy unscathed.

I hope everyone stays safe and, please, take the warnings seriously.

 

[coinbeach45]

I heard on the news that they are probably going to evacuate the Delaware beaches and they are asking people to stay away from Ocean City,MD. My parents have a place down there and they went down yesterday to make sure everything was secure.

I just got back from the grocery store and the drug store and there was no bottled water at either..... I was talking to one of the people at the grocery store and they put in an emergency order for more water to be delivered tomorrow.

Be safe everyone!

 

[Maddykins06]

I'm pretty freaked about it.
Although DH is acting like it's no big deal.

Got my flashlights, water, cash & non-perishables stocked.
Filling the car with gas tomorrow.
I don't know what else to do.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

No bottled water or flashlights left at the stores here in Northern NJ either. I was able to get the last few gallons of water. I also just got back from my second trip to the store for more batteries. We'll see what happens. Stay safe, folks!

 

[NitroStitch]

If it's hard to get hold of water in your area, you can also just try filling up whatever pitchers or other containers in your house that can hold water. Also fill up the bathtub when it gets close to storm time - the bathtub water can be good for flushing the toilet when there's no water flow available, or it can be used for other cleaning or washing up.

You'll also want to make sure you have cash on hand before the ATMs lose power. I don't carry cash much anymore and I know a lot of others survive on credit cards too - none of that works for a while as they restore power to your area, and cash becomes the only currency that works.

I'm keeping everyone in the path of Irene in thoughts and prayers, and I hope it ends up being far less damaging than they expect! Hopefully everyone will be able to let us know you're okay after the storm passes...as long as technology cooperates, of course.

 

[ninecrayons]

Things here in NYC are a little nerve-wracking. A state of emergency has been declared and they are planning to shut down transit over the weekend. The mayor is talking about evacuating low-lying areas of the city. Thankfully we're not in an evacuation zone, but we're still getting prepared;

Went to Walmart with my mom today - it was nuts with people stocking up for the hurricane. We've got soup, granola bars, peanut butter and bread. I'm heading out tomorrow to get some candles, but other than that I think we're good.

Hope everyone else is doing all they can to stay safe.

 

[princessbride6205]

Pixie dust to everyone in the storm's path!
We will be in NJ this weekend with family, so I'll check in with them tomorrow to make sure we have enough supplies. I'll be calling my sister in NYC tomorrow to make sure she has some supplies.
I have a friend whose wedding is Saturday in NJ - she's really upset because guests are already canceling on her.

 

[mjaclyn]

DH and I stocked up on bottled water, flashlights and batteries this afternoon. Irene is not supposed to hit NY until Sunday so I thought we should head to the stores sooner rather than later! Also going to gas up both cars tomorrow just in case and get some more non-perishable food items. In my area I'm not super concerned about flooding, I'm more nervous about high winds and trees possibly falling over onto our house. Stay safe everyone! The best thing we all can do right now is be prepared for the worst but hope for the best.

 

[JVL1018]

I was kind of laughing it off, but as the target narrows on NYC, I've stopped laughing.
I live about 7 miles away from the GWB.
I went to Target in Hackensack and Paramus today, no lanterns.
I went to Dick's in Paramus and they had some, so I bought 2.

Decided around 5 that I should go back and get one for my 83 year old FIL(we share a 2 family house with him, but in case he doesn't feel like hanging out with us and needs his own light, should we lose power).
They had 1 left that I grabbed. No batteries.
Walked over to Ramsey Outdoor Store and found batteries. They said they had sold all their lanterns.

Now we just sit and wait, I guess.

My husband is the Deputy Fire Chief(volunteer dept), and he's in charge because the Chief is on vacation.
He's trying now to decide if he wants to put on a crew for stand by.
He will probably ride out the storm either at the borough hall at the OEM office/going on calls, so looks like I'm on my own.
I'm making chocolate chip cookies, brownies and muffins on Saturday and leaving them at the fire house for the FF.
Add that to my cases of water, gas in my car, gas for the grill and stash of junk food and I think we've done what we can..
Oh, and I have to get cash tomorrow.

 

[amoggio816]

I'm also really worried. I know it's not supposed to be too bad for Mass, but the eye is going to be right over my area. I've been tracking it since it started and have friends and family in South and North Carolina Virginia and New Jersey.

I love in a brick apartment building on the second floor, so I feel I should be ok
When i leave work at 730, I'm heading over to walmart to grab Victoria and my medication (just incase) and batteries, water and tuna, and other non-perishables. Then im gonna run to big y and use my coupons to get free food! lol

 

[NC Belle]

Nikki...you forgot about your buddies in the Carolinas and VA.


We are almost ready.

 

[SGB13]

We are in the line of the storm here in eastern, NC. The kids get out of school at noon and things are supposed to go down hill today. Everything is tied down outside or pulled into the garage. Hoping the winds stay down. At least this one is supposed to hit during the day. I hate it when they hit at night!

Good luck to everyone out there. We all need

 

[ninecrayons]

I think what scares me the most about this situation is our dogs. If there's flooding or some other kind of situation that could impact them that's completely terrifying. But also our oldest dog HATES storms; he just lays there on the floor and shakes. It's going to be a rough weekend for everybody - even our four-legged friends.

 

[Cherinva]

We have manditory evacuations for Sandbridge and the low lying areas in effect at Noon today. Some of the shelters will be opening at 6pm tonight. The news said this morning that Irene is going to be another Isabelle...she made a mess in this area.

I'm stocked up on food, gas for the generator..all the deck furniture is in the garage...all we have left to do is tie down the grill and the bar/table on the deck. I went through the yard last night to make sure nothing was out there that could catch wind and fly off.

I have a feeling that our boss might release us early today...but just in case, I came in early so that I can leave early. We've been through this before, but it's still nerve racking. Atfer work today, I have one last stop at Food Lion to pick up some items that are on sale for the weekend only...then it's back home to ride it out.

My prayers to everyone in Irene's path....stay safe and as Nikki said, report back in.

 

[starwood]

It's funny you mention Isabelle. We were predicted to get Isabelle. The kids got a notice the day before that school would be closed. The next day it was bright sunshine with no rain or storm in sight.

 

[BklynGirl]

I'm in Evacuation Zone A here in Brooklyn, NY - waiting to see if we are going to get a mandatory evacuation order tomorrow morning. Not sure what I'm going to do - I have two kitties, no car & (possibly) no mass transit.

At this point I think I'm going to pack up the kitties and head to my mom's house in Queens tonight after work. It'll be a little crowded in her apartment, especially with the cats (who HATE the carrier/travel of any kind) freaking out but I guess it's safer than waiting till the last minute.

Good luck and lots of pixie dust to everyone in the storm's path - stay safe!!!

 

[auroralark]

I wasn't really worried until my dad called and told me to take this seriously - and he is not the type to worry at all. I filled up every pitcher in my house with water, and I think we're ok with other supplies. I'm mostly worried about trees falling on my house - we have had some damage from the storms last winter already.

Stay safe everyone!

 

[wdwscout]

It's funny you mention Isabelle. We were predicted to get Isabelle. The kids got a notice the day before that school would be closed. The next day it was bright sunshine with no rain or storm in sight.

I remember Isabelle. We lost trees- one very large on just skimmed the side of our garage- we were very lucky it only ben the gutter- 1 foot to the side and it would have crashed through the garage roof. That was a very long and scary night.

I did my hurricane shopping yesterday. Water for drinking, non-perishables- food we can eat with electricity. We have well water & septric, so when power goes out we lose water and bathrooms too. So I will be filling the tub tomorrow for flushing as needed.

My parents live next to Long Beach Island and weren't planning to leave until told to do so( which I think is happening today) I am trying to get them to make some plans- they thought the police would tell them where to go. Not happening. They just want you OUT!!

 

[MainStreetFireman]

Our FD has already called a standby for all day Sunday. Staffing is currently being scheduled for overlapping 8-hour shifts.

At home, we have batteries for lanterns (remember NEVER to use propane lanterns or any gas/charcoal cooking anywhere indoors -- CO is a silent killer) and plenty of water (for both us and pets). Non-perishable food is an easy must.

Have shovels and brooms available for clearing overflowing catch basins and sewers near your home, and always keep kitty litter on hand as both an absorbant and effective block (it clumps at sight) against water.

Final precautions for us? Moving our WDW vacation at CSR from Monday-Monday to Tuesday-Tuesday. It means my kids will miss orientation day of a school they already attend (no classes), but we are all OK with that. I'm all about priorities.

Be safe and remember that nature is more powerful than us.