To our members in the path of Hurricane Sandy

[Bucky]

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

[Katybarstool]

Bucky

That sounds awful. I really hope it isn't as bad as is feared.

Stay safe.

Kathyx

[shevonne]

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.

[gmomjuju]

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

[Meld256]

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

[Patze]

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

[quietdynamics]

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.

[lynnmarie219]

Keeping everyone here who may be in this storms path in my thoughts!

Please stay safe and keep us updated when you are able.

[harrigan]

Thinking of you and yourfamilies and hoping it will soon be over and you are all safe xx Ailsa

[aussie mum]

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

[Bucky]

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

[Dolly Dimples]

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

[quietdynamics]

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.

[Katybarstool]

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

[Bucky]

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