Stay safe everyone! And those in the path, please keep checking in when you can so we know you are ok.

500 more miles to go until I reach Distribution Center which will put me smack dab in middle of it. Lol.

Am hoping it will take a last minute turn too and not just for my sake but for everyone who will be in it's path.



Keeping Fingers Crossed,
Brute.

I feel like by tomorrow I'll have a better idea of what to expect.
I lucked out during Irene. I had a foot of flooding, but that was nothing compared to many towns just a few miles from me. Our farms are just scratching the surface of recovering from major disasters last year and I worry more for them than I do for myself.

I'll be bringing in my lawn furniture, have food in the house, need to get some batteries. I landlord a house with two apartments so I'm trying to make sure they are ready too, having lawn furniture in, etc.

Think I'll use the morning tomorrow to finish catching up on laundry. The freezing bags of water idea was great- thanks for that. I can do that.

The kid and I both have a stack of books from the library, head lamps, and a dog to keep us warm.

Think I'll be good...

Never did I think I would see this...
 

If you're a hurricane/nor'easter virgin, please please please stay completely away from The Weather Channel and weather.com, as well as away from local news stations except to find out thing such as closings, local government declarations, etc. graphics such as this ine are a perfect example of the extreme degree that those places will sensationalize tpepwhat is going on, because they will make more money if they can scare the crap out of you and keep you glued to their channel.

Instead go directly to the national hurricane canter and get the real updates - www.nhc.noaa.gov. Wunderground.com is also good at not sensationalizing it, and I regularly read Dr. Jeff Matthews blog for analysis (link on first page). Yes, this is a potentially serious storm, but no need to try and figure out what's really going in from the company that has been caught with some of their reporters pretending to be struggling against a stein wind for the camera!

Don't forget pet food!

If you have a well, or you are in an area that uses pumped water instead of a gravity-based system, fill the tub full with water in addition typo the drinking water that you have saved, because you may need that for flushing your toilet.

Once the storm starts, nplug ALL non-critical electronics and appliances. It's not lightning that present the bigges risk, it's power fluctuations and "brown outs" which are common in big storms.

If you are a multi cell phine house, if the power goes out, keep only one on at a time and really conserve the battery in that one. If you have a land-line and don't already have a regular corded phone that doesn't have to be plugged in, get one.

Fill a cooler with ice and put your "can't live without these things" essentials In it, then if the power goes out, do not open your fridge/freezer for any reason! also helps to completely pack your freezer with ice - just fill up a bunch of plastic containers, water/soda bottles, or anything else that will hold water

If you have kids there, think through in advance about games and activities. Buy several things for them that you can pull out one at a time while the weather is out to help alleviate boredom and stress.

Buy nutella and wine. ;)

Dang. I do not have nutella or wine!
Have pet food but should probably get more.
I don't know, I look at one report and we're going to get blasted and another and we're going to be on the outskirts.
Hard to say.

Stay safe everyone!

This is the Current projected tracking map, showing it coming through there as tropical storm. Looks like it wouldn't hurt to be fairly well prepared.

http://www.wunderground.com/tropical...1218_5day.html

Been tracking with the NHC as well. Seems they havent changed much in the forecast or the projected path. Speed is picking up as expected. Still expected to make a dramatic hook west just south of here. High wind warnings and coastal flooding warnings are up here.

Am used to nor'easters and tropical storms. Have been having a lot of wind storms lately so much of the weakened tree stuff has already fallen. The leaves have been dropping like crazy all week long.

Living on the coast, you always adhere to the old beliefs (which this storm seems determined to blow right out of the water - no pun intended):

1. the water isnt warm enough to sustain a hurricane. Going to have to rethink that one. LOL.

2. follow the lead of the fishermen. They hunkered down days ago.

3. the east side (right) has the higher winds, the west side (left) has more rain.

A hurricane is a whirling mass of thunderstorms that spins counterclockwise. As a hurricane moves, the wind on its right side blows in the direction of the storm's motion. That means a hurricane packing 100 mph winds and moving at 20 mph has a combined wind of 120 mph on that side of the storm. It also means that the forward motion of 20 mph takes away from the opposing wind on the left side of the storm: 100 mph - 20 mph = 80 mph. In this example, that's a 40 mph difference in wind from one side of the storm to the other. The forward motion has no effect on the wind in the front or rear part of the hurricane.

While storm surge generally occurs in the center of a hurricane, higher waves and the onshore wind in the right side of the storm can worsen the surge there. Also, tornadoes are most likely in the right-front part of a hurricane, which makes the right side that much worse.


If landfall is as expected, we will be on the right side of this. Thus heavier wind and nasty storm surges. The bridges to the mainland have to be closed (for safety sake) when wind gusts hit 70 mph. Thus, they should close by mid morning tomorrow.

4. trust your gut. My gut says it will be nasty but ok. And, I really really dont need that hair cut thats scheduled for tomorrow LOL.

------

Dont know about anyone else but like Alex, I believe in overpreparing. Having an all electric house will do that. :|

I also fill all the pots with water in case the water supply is interrupted or becomes tainted. And fill the tub in case it is needed for flushing.

Be safe people. And dont forget to check in. We do worry about ya.

Alex stay above the waterline. I saw Warwick under water with that storm. I grew up in RI and never saw that kind of flooding. Didnt even know there was a river back there. Refurbished mall looks great tho.

Thanks babe :)

I am so hoping the 'wet bias' is running high......because the predictions sure are dire
 

Looks like I'm in for a real messy week....
Generator is out, and ready, got gas, food enough I think, got rid of possible flying objects, got beer.... LOL

This truly looks ugly.
-Mr. Moon

Jersey
 

Thanks Bully! Yes everybody, come into here when you can. Let us know how it is in your neck of the woods. Keep us all informed about the storm and your safety. Peace and Thanks!

This is not a "One hundred year storm"
 

Just my opinion, but this storm is being over hyped. Last I checked, this storm is cat 1, to be degraded to tropical storm soon after it makes landfall. The intensity of Sandy doesn't belong in the same conversation as the historic cat 5 hurricanes like Katrina or the hurricane of 38 that were cat 3 at landfall. These were legitimate super storms. Sustained wind intensity for Sandy at landfall is expected to be half that of the above mentioned storms. Due to the unusually large width of this storm's center it will affect more people and cause more flooding and downed power lines than the usual tropical storm. (few roofs blown off or buildings leveled as one would see in a cat 3-5) From one persons vantage point, it won't be any different than Isaac of last year (which was also cat 1) other than the fact that it will take much longer for thinned out resources to reestablish infrastructure (downed power lines etc).

I do not think FrankenSandy is being "over hyped." I think people are taking precautions for whatever this storm brings! Most times, the worst is after the storm with the flooding, shifting of ground, and power/electrical problems. I haven't heard anyone compare it to Katrina, Issac, other hurricanes. They are calling it a "superstorm" from what I have heard based on the facts that it will be reuniting with warm ocean waters and a wintery and frigid front from two different directions. That in itself is reason to worry, not to mention millions of people will be affected in this area and will feel the effects of it and will cost billions of dollars to get the places affected back to normal after the storm. It may come to pass, all of it, but you never know. Again, be prepared and be safe everybody. Don't underestimate a storm of this significance' power. It has already killed more than 20 people and it has not made landfall!

Yes. Unpredictable should be the #1 operative. Folks; if you have or know anyone who has major health issues, or could be at risk during this storm, ambulances may not get through. So please make plans to evacuate, or call your MD., or local hospital, fore dept., to ask for their advice. Better safe than sorry.

First limb down off the half dead tree in front....couldn't get it taken down before this storm hit! It didn't hit house or cars....

They're evacuating (voluntarily at this point) Havre de Grace. Gettin real I guess.

Hope everyone stays safe! Really relieved that Mayor Bloomberg decided to issue evacuation orders for some areas...hoping he reconsiders and does the same for LI and SI if needed.

Anytime there is threat of death or destruction from a storm - there is nothing hyped about it. People have already lost their lives due to this storm. Let's not let their deaths be in vain by saying it is hyped, please. I don't care if it turns into a rain shower - we will be prepared and the potential for lost lives is lessened.

That is my take!

I am prepared. Generator working / Gas / Food and the pups have plenty of fresh bottled water to last them a week.

Everybody stay safe.

Julie

Frankenstorm Sandy
 

Hope everyone stays safe - water is some pretty damanging stuff - the winds may not be that bad, but flood waters do kill -
Agape
'Rie

Conference cancelled finally - no big surprise. Now trying to decide whether to suck it up and go home or crash elsewhere - need to decide by morning though, or I'm not going to be able to go anywhere! I was actually looking forward to being in a hotel through this, dangit! EGF, wish you were closer, I'd show up on your doorstep with nutella and wine! :)

You take care of you Kobi, ... Dont put yourself in harms way...

See you on the other side..

exactly...when its over we will know for sure if it was "hyped" or not. I listen and write down the info just in case.

Right now as I look at the nat'l storm cast it shows while out to sea it has built to an major hurricane..winds over 110 mph. When it hits land it will reduce and slow down. The reason its such a concern for many is that another front is being shown to move in pushing Sandy and keeping it here longer than usual. The rains itself will cause water level issues for many.

In the area where it is scheduled to hit is full of trees.Which causes the lovely down wires, damage to homes, roads being blocked, and of course that is where the major concerns come into play. People get stuck, rescue crews can not get to locations, etc.

Last year at this time we got hit with several feet of snow and no power for over a week in cold freezing weather. Then the storm that followed several months later caused even more damage and even longer time frame of no power (some over 2 weeks). It is because of this that people in these parts have an eyebrow raised and are prepping. Is it hyped up? not sure.

so, yeah I listen..and after if its no big deal we'll chuckle about it and what not, but for now..better safe than sorry.

I am like motel 6 .. I will leave the light on for you... I am not even sure how we will fair.. I am right on the cusp.. of getting it or not.. Its a wait and see situation for us.. where I am.

I'm on the East Coast too, in Connecticut, and they've already cancelled school for my little cousin for Monday and Tuesday so they're definitely taking this seriously. We went grocery shopping today and the stores were madhouses. We're got some food, water, and plenty of firewood. Stay safe everybody!

Yup, best to be prepared.
Last year the "tropical storms" took out major roadways, bridges, and small towns all around me and that passed through much more quickly than what we are expecting over the coming week. My immediate area did not have much power loss but just miles from me folks were without for up to two weeks. It's a big strain on hospitals and assisted living facilities. The combination of potential wind, rain, and snow, if it happens, will indeed cause mass damages.

I just had to break it to my tenant that her pellet stove will not work if the electric goes out. She assumed if she lit it by hand that it would work. :| I am ever so glad we had that conversation.

well i'm surrounded. people panicking. people not panicking. i'm not much of a panic-driven person myself. i've prepared. the rest is up to the storm and the building i live in and the trees in neighboring yards that should have come down years ago. this is my first hurricane and all i can think is "will there be zombies?" and if so, "how many weaker victims than myself can i throw in their way?" i have to rely on devious intelligence to stay alive if there are going to be zombies. i'm not built for speed.

:| <=== throwing in a face for good measure

I don't think they'll be zombies. No self-respecting zombie is going to be out in that kind of weather. ;)