Please take any precautionary measures you can to prepare for this storm.
As you know, Mother Nature has packed some mighty big weather makers in the last two years and it doesn't appear anything is letting up going into the winter of 2012-2013.
Make sure you have all your medicines you will need for at least the next week. Have drinking water, batteries, candles or lanterns, warm clothing, etc.
Here's a report from the internet:
"Do not focus on the intensity of the storm, it is a minimal category 1 hurricane right now, but certainly nothing like any category1 that we have seen," said Hurricane Specialist Carl Parker on The Weather Channel. "It is a very large storm, a hybrid storm, the area of strong winds is going to be absolutely enormous by the time it come into the northeast, and that?s why it is going to be a high-impact system."
"Sandy is expected to interact with a pair of winter weather systems as it moves inland, becoming a monster storm bringing nearly a foot of rain, high winds and up to 2 feet of snow. Experts said the storm would be wider and stronger than last year's Irene, which caused more than $15 billion in damage, and could rival the worst East Coast storm on record."
In a situation like this, all you can do is be prepared as best you can. If you have a basement in your home, with the amount of rain they forecast, if at all possible, move anything that might get damaged to higher levels in your home or at least up off the floor in your basement.
NOW would be a good time to make sure your cell phone is charged, get some extra money out of the ATM machine to have on hand, to get a cooler if you don't already own one to put some perishable foods in so if you lose power, you won't have to open the refrigerator.
Please be safe, stay home if possible, and report in when you have a chance.
Bucky
Bucky
That sounds awful. I really hope it isn't as bad as is feared.
Stay safe.
Kathyx
Im in CT. We are suppose to get the storm on Monday. Schools in my town are already cancelled for Monday and Tuesday. I hope I dont lose power but I am prepared. Lost it both times last year and Monday will be a year. Hope everyone else that in its path is okay.
My house sits directly on the Chesapeake Bay in MD. My husband and I were in the Florida Keys on Monday-Wednesday. We left there and went to by brother in laws place in Stuart, FL on Thursday just as Sandy rode up the coast of FL. I thought the rain was going to pelt or their windows on Thursday night. We flew back (or should I say blew back) late last night. Now we are battening down the hatches here as she is to make landfall Sunday night. Looks like a crazy & weird storm. There have already been 48 deaths. We have gotten cell phone and home voice mails from Emergency agencies, from the Power Co. and the cable/internet providers.
I will keep you informed!
Judy
I wish all our members in the path of the storm safety. It sounds as if county/state/federal officials are doing their best to warn people of the possible dangers.
I just hope they are wrong about how treacherous this hurricane and the incoming wintery weather joining with it will be. Please be prepared, as Bucky suggests, and keep us informed how you're doing when you can.
gmomjuju and shevonne,
Stay safe and warm and dry! I'll be thinking of you and all the rest in this path.
Melinda
I'm in the mid-atlantic region and its windy and very rainy right now... Waiting for the high winds to hit and see what the rest of the day brings.
Patze
NJ here.
Son and dear girlfriend near coastal/bay inlet relocated northwest. Autos prohibited as of 4pm Sunday.
We are near the Delaware River, lots of small bridges crossing streams, reservoirs were lowered to take on some of the water. But, during Irene major roads and back roads were washed out.
We have watched houses swept down the Delaware after major floods, fortunately, the state finally said no to rebuilding on those sites. But, not on the Pennsylvania side?
Hoping less trees go down. We will move one car into the road where there are no trees. We have gas for cooking so will be fine.
Had scripts filled at pharma, chatted with an older woman, and am sorry I did not give her our number in case she needed help.
NYC cousin hunkered down on 16th floor, she is renting a room to a doctoral student..so not alone.
Prayers to all those who keep us safe, coast guard, emergency services..all.
WOW.. Just saw on the news RI with high winds and snow.
NY, 45000 and NJ power outages already reported and Sandy hasn't hit yet.
I need to write down some phone numbers from my cell phone.
Keep us posted and stay warm and safe.
Keeping everyone here who may be in this storms path in my thoughts!
Please stay safe and keep us updated when you are able.
Thinking of you and yourfamilies and hoping it will soon be over and you are all safe xx Ailsa
I have been watching some of the television coverage of this storm and hope everyone is ok.
We have many cyclones (hurricanes) here in the north of Australia but I have never seen anything as big as this. They've been saying the storm is 1000 miles wide. Just incredible.
Take care everyone.
Aussie Mum
Thinking of all of you that have been affected by Hurricane Sandy.
Many millions of people are without power - it must be a daunting job for the utility crews to restore the damage and get everyone up and running again. Even though it is discouraging to be in the dark - please be patient with the crews - they are doing the best they can with the conditions they have.
I hope that Sandy hasn't left a lot of damage for your homes, businesses, yards and vehicles.
Take care and check in when you have a chance. We're thinking of you all.
Bucky
Been watching the news about the Storm, it was heart breaking to watch.
I pray our fellow sufferer's over there are safe and sound. Hopefully Sandy is subsiding, but the heart break is just beginning
The weather all over the world has been really weird of late, I am in the UK and the Summer we had was practically spent in the dark. Dull wet weather was the norm. I cant guess what our Winter is going to be like.
But whatever we get surely cannot get as bad as this day has been. Bless you all, Dolly x
Hello all, NJ here.
Our small area got electric back yesterday and water is safe to drink. We called to offer our home to friends, no takers so far.Tues and Weds. we could watch the national guard helicopters from our home. One was white, so possibly Gov. Christi. We are just north of the capital with a small airport between. Alex ventured out to the store, it is a guy thing, no traffic lights, lines at the few gas stations open with power to pump, and store only taking cash with clerks using flashlights..it was a hardware store.
We haven't gone to my Mom's home near the shore yet. Probably tomorrow. We will call the neighbors there and see if we can bring anything for them. The Honda get 38. Mpg so we may take that car.
Just prior to hitting the storm was downgraded to tropical storm, that is why a number of people did not leave. No idea what the insurance implications will be? It hit at a level 1 hurricane.
Refinery in NJ lost 300,000 gal oil into the Hudson River, that will need to be cleaned up. Other states are sending in 500,000gal. But the processing/distribution path is broken anyway.
Estimate 6 mil all states still without electric, meaning hugh numbers without water,heat, basic toiletry.
We have been so incredibly fortunate.
Quiet
Thank you for letting us know you are safe. I can't imagine the horror that you have witnessed, but am so pleased to hear from you.
Kathyx
Quiet - thanks for checking in . . glad that your power is back on.
The news coverage of the East Coast is so heartbreaking. A lot of damage and not a lot of time to fix things (if they can be fixed) before winter hits. A very stressful time for all those involved.
Sandy's damage was so wide spread and covered so many miles and affected millions and millions of people - one for the record books! Some times, it's NOT a good thing to make it to the record books. :(
Will be thinking of you as you check on your Mother's house. I hope it doesn't add more stress to you to see what condition her house is in. Hoping for the best.
Bucky
I sit here warm and dry in MInnesota and watch the news. It is beyond description. Then, I hear the news that the electricians were sent back home and that people are not getting attention in so many places. There is severe suffering going on and people are not rising to the occasion and helping.
I am praying that somebody in charge has a brain storm and gets the national guard out to help. That is what they are for. Unforgiveable to lose people to hypothermia, starvation, etc in this great nation. I wish I was healthy and could help. Irish
I also heard that some professionals (electricians, etc.) that came there to help were turned away cause they were not union. ::) :o
My daughter is considering going east to vounteer with the Red Cross. She is disaster team trained and volunteers for local events, almost went to northern Michigan earlier this year, but had no dog sitter. She had another volunteer obligation until tomorrow evening and I saw the email that said she would likely be "recruited immediately." Now, all ducks must have to line up like other volunteers going at that time etc. I certainly don't want her heading way east alone.
The email said something about 3 weeks. I wonder who will get do dog sit if she goes? She cannot afford to put her pup in doggy care (and we wouldn't want her to). YES. We will have the furball here. I should be glad that both the dog and my husband will have someone to play with. Each other. A relationship made in dog heaven. I think the dog will be awfully lonesome for her "Mom" because it's just them at their home. Gramps will take good care though. I get to hand out the treats. I will write more if she does go. Lucy
Lucy
You must be so proud that your daughter can help at this terrible time. People like her will be a Godsend.
Enjoy the pooch sitting!
Kathyx
I live on the shoreline in CT and was a mandatory evac on Sunday so I went to the shelter, but then it didn't come in so I could go home for a short while. They started closing the highways and roads late am and early pm but I managed to get back to the shelter. Stayed until Tuesday am adn then went home. Luckily my basement wasn't flooded but al ot of branchs down. When i went down to the beach the water had definetly been higher. We only got our power back 10.30-11pm last night. I still feel that I am lucky considering what so many people are going through. On of my co workers watched a house float by theirs and they had 6 feet of water in the basement. I still got told I should have come into work on Monday though which really ticked me off!
NJ here:
Realizing that the news may be full of sensationalism and political blather.. here is a link to let you know what the govt' has been doing to aid those affected by the hurricane. .http://www.enewspf.com/latest-news/latest-national/military-casualties/38037-update-on-the-dod-and-national-guard-response-to-hurricane-sandy-november-4-2012.html
There have also been reservists who have reported and volunteered their time. Visiting Nurse Association has been climbing high rise buildings to check on the disabled and elderly.
The NYC Marathon..(no comment).
Some runners volunteered to run in Staten Island to distribute, others are helping by loading supplies onto trucks. "We'll have hundreds of runners, with group leaders, maps and signs, to help them distribute supplies to hot zones in Staten Island"
These are the 200,000 Poland Spring bottles and hundreds of gallon jugs that would have been consumed by the 40,000 runners before the marathon was cancelled on Friday. Instead, along with 122 wool blankets, 23,500 Power Bars, 28,620 bagels, 40,000 apples, 132 cots, 42,660 t-shirts, 52,200 heat sheets among other items, these supplies have been donated to those in need.http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2012/11/04/superstorm-sandy-marathon-aid-floyd-bennett-field-disaster-relief/1681129/
Unfortunately, a weather clock may be ticking: The National Weather Service predicted Sunday that a Nor'easter that could include gusts of up to 55 mph and rain.
Gosh I could not imagine what they are going through over there! My heart goes out to you and I hope and pray everyone is safe and get support - more than just food and shelter but hugs and love!!!!!!!!
NJ.. Son just called. He is in Brick Twsp which has called for evacuation due to pending storm due Wednesday.
New problem is debis, items taken out of damaged homes, washing machines, furniture, and damaged construction will be caught up in high winds. More trees will go down and those who have regained power will once again lose it.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-11-06/n-dot-j-dot-town-ordering-evacuations-as-cuomo-considers-them