Hurricane Sandy and East Coast - anyone preparing yet?

[mdsoccermom]

The flashlight aisle at Walmart was the busiest one in the store today. The salesperson told me he hasn't been paying attention to the news and had no idea there was a storm coming. So he came into work and was wondering why there were so few flashlights and why people kept asking for more.

 

[Southernmiss]

Have prepared for hurricanes many times in my area.

Just a thought of a couple of things I do when waiting for a storm to hit.

In addition to the water in the tubs for flushing, I fill up extra food storage containers with water and put them in the freezer. Extra drinking water and helps to keep the freezer/fridge cold in the event of a power outage.

Cook some of your food now-to have on hand in the event of power outage.

Make sure your important papers and pictures are in tubs in case of evacuation and unexpected water in the home (flood, roof damage, etc.)

Back up your computer to an external hard drive.


Stay safe everyone, will be watching with you.

 

[Bilberry]

Oh, I shouldn't be chuckling about this, as I'll get my fair share of storms in the future. When I was building my place in Florida, several people from the east coast where giving me a bad time about hurricanes and the damages they do to homes along the Gulf Coast. They were right! But at this point, it has been 1 hurricane storm into the New York area, with Sandy soon to make it two, with none into S. Florida. I'm guessing my luck will not last for long though. Hopfully it is just a big rain maker.

 

[CandyMandy]

We think the media is over hyping this storm, as they usually do.

Normally, I would agree with you on the overhype element.... but this time I'm not sure, for we are looking at an incredible amount of atmospheric
moisture closing in on the same area at once:

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/east/eaus/flash-wv.html

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

I just looked at the "spaghetti" map (I'm sure there's a real term for it ) and it looks like those couple paths I was rooting for (the ones hooking east and going out to sea) are gone now. I'm a little nervous because there was lots of hype about Irene and that didn't end up being as bad for us as I feared, so now I'm afraid it's our "time" to get hit bad.

We don't have a generator but lots of logs for the fireplace. We did end up at a hotel for the night during the October snowstorm because the house got real cold, real quick and we figured we better lock something in just incase we were out for an extended time.

 

[gwynne]

Dr. Jeff Masters has a very good reputation in the weather community.
His latest blog post is worth a read for anyone in the path or interested. The last paragraph on the page summarizes the possible severe impacts to the US.

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/show.html

 

[lovin'fl]

I am in the Annapolis, MD area and my MIL/FIL just popped in for a visit (Marie Barone much?) and was going on and on about the storm coming. I had NO clue...how sheltered am I. I went to the store last night too but didn't get the right stuff. I need water and canned foods. Well I guess I will get all the laundry done today and clean the house tomorrow morning and then go out and pack up some yard stuff. Maybe I can get to the store again too.

 

[Ennazus8810]

A friend of mine works for Dept of Defense and is AF reserve. He has been called to active duty this morning for storm relief. His exact words were this "sh*t just got real". He is in the Philadelphia area. The main concern with this storm isn't just Sandy, it is the areas off the coast that will be hit by the remnants of Sandy combined with the storm coming from the west and an arctic cold front. Here in Ohio we are being told to brace for gale winds and possible snow/sleet for days. While we are used to the snow, the winds are something that we are not physically prepared for.

 

[mikehn]

If you are on public utilities, toilets flush just fine during a power outage. Water still flows through the pipes, your toilet does not run on electricity. If you have a gas stove, you can light it with a match to cook.

If you have a private water well, than yes, your toilet will probably only flush once during an outage.

 

[Southernmiss]

If you are on public utilities, toilets flush just fine during a power outage. Water still flows through the pipes, your toilet does not run on electricity. If you have a gas stove, you can light it with a match to cook.

If you have a private water well, than yes, your toilet will probably only flush once during an outage.

True but... After Katrina, there was no power for weeks to run the equipment at the sanitation facility and some infrastructure with the pipes was damaged. We had to flush using water from the tubs. And some were encouraged to not use the toilets, but other means.

My young boys loved the excuse to pee outside in the woods behind our house! Not good when it's cold, but it wasn't cold.

 

[mom of lil princess]

I have flashlights and wine

 

[wvjules]

I follow Justin Berk on Facebook. Here is his link. He updates frequently during weather event.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Justin-Berk-Meteorologist/54875673475

 

[JessicaR]

Dr. Jeff Masters has a very good reputation in the weather community.
His latest blog post is worth a read for anyone in the path or interested. The last paragraph on the page summarizes the possible severe impacts to the US.

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/show.html

Well that was interesting to read. Thank you for posting.

If Sandy hits Long Island, as the GFS model predicts, the storm surge will be capable of over-topping the flood walls in Manhattan and flooding portions of the New York City subway system. Fresh water flooding from heavy rains is also a huge concern. Rainfall amounts of 5 - 10 inches will occur over several hundred mile-long swath of coast, with isolated amounts of 15 inches possible.

 

[curlyjbs]

Anyone up in Bergen County NJ near Ramapo college?? DD is a freshman there. How was the area after Irene and the Halloween storm?

My dd is also at Ramapo. They were fine last year! No worries.

 

[CandyMandy]

If Sandy hits Long Island, as the GFS model predicts, the storm surge will be capable of over-topping the flood walls in Manhattan and flooding portions of the New York City subway system.

Translation: commuting mayhem.

 

[JessicaR]

Translation: commuting mayhem.

You got that right!

 

[LexiC123]

Translation: commuting mayhem.

OMG...that is hysterical!

*says the girl who doesn't have to deal with the NYC subways any more*

Of course, if we have to evacuate like we did for Irene, the laugh will be on me!

 

[S. C.]

We think the media is over hyping this storm, as they usually do.

I pray this is the case. But ... from what i've read 31 have lost their lives in the caribbean because of this storm.

Better to over hype then to under hype .... IMO

 

[jrhwmr]

I have been following Weatherboy on Facebook. He started talking about the storm before it was mentioned on the local news.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/theWeatherboy?fref=ts

He just posted portions of NJ have been ordered to evacuate.

 

[JessicaR]

Gov. Cuomo has declared a state of emergency for New York

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/loca...rm-New-York-Tri-State-Forecast-175941821.html