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Storm Preparations Begin As Forecast is Updated

County, local officials preparing for flooding, rain from remnants of Sandy

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Hurricane Sandy, 5 p.m., Oct. 25, 2012. University of Wisconsin-Madison/ CIMSS

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Officials in Ocean County are beginning to prepare for the effects of Hurricane Sandy as the latest forecast track of the storm suggests the Shore area could see a significant – if not a direct – impact from the storm.

The National Hurricane Center's 5 p.m. forecast update Thursday night showed the storm tracking directly toward the Ocean County area, though a wider forecast window showed the storm could make landfall anywhere between North Carolina and New England after making a sharp northwest turn sometime Sunday.

Forecasters, in the 5 p.m. update, did leave the door open to a wider northwesterly turn, which would bring the storm closer to New England.

The storm would be considered "posttropical" by the time it is expected to reach New Jersey, though it could still pack winds that could reach near hurricane strength.

Ocean County Emergency Management officials said they were keeping close tabs on the storm's progress Thursday afternoon, and residents were being advised to monitor media reports.

"If the forecast holds true, we expect to see flooding, downed trees and scattered power outages," said Chief Michael G. Osborn of the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department.

Osborn said flooding could be heightened by Monday night's full moon.

The Long Beach Township Police Department encouraged residents to "engage in preparedness activities," according to a post on its Facebook page.

"If the storm track remains as forecast, the area may experience extremely heavy rain, very strong winds and major coastal flooding," the department said in its advisory to locals.

The New Jersey State Police were urging residents to prepare for the storm.

That agency, on its Facebook page, advises that:

"There is the potential for a very powerful and dangerous autumn storm to affect our region early next week. This storm will be associated with what is currently Hurricane Sandy.

The National Weather Service office in Mt. Holly issued a briefing package on the storm Thursday afternoon.

The executive summary of the briefing package is included below.

• Potential continues for a very dangerous autumn storm system to affect the region early next week.

• This storm will be associated with what is currently Hurricane Sandy.

• This storm, if it moves toward us, will bring multiple threats to the region:

• Strong damaging wind gusts

• Extremely heavy rainfall

• Major flooding along streams and rivers

• Major coastal flooding (full moon occurs on Oct. 29)

• The eventual track of this storm will determine the area which is impacted.

This far out in time, forecasters said, there is considerable uncertainty with the storm track. However, the likelihood of the storm affecting the region has increased over the past 24 hours."

Related Topics: Hurricane Sandy

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BW

5:58 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012

CBS news had the landfall line right between Brick and Toms River. The wether channel is now refering to the storm as Frankenstorm.

want2say

12:27 am on Friday, October 26, 2012

aw man, that is right where i am --aaaaargh!!!!! (yes, i am a little bit scared)

WMS826

8:52 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012

Urban renewal here we come baby..bring me some Obama money

clyde donovan

10:07 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012

I wanted to take this opportunity to say good-bye to my moron friends and relatives who will refuse to leave LBI during Hurricane Sandy. Good-bye Shirley. Good-bye Bob.

The Governor

10:51 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012

The government is steering this hurricane purposely with the HAARP antenna array in Alaska! Look it up, its proven!

BN

2:23 pm on Friday, October 26, 2012

For the steeple who refuse to believe...

http://www.haarpstatus.com/status.html

Chief Wahoo

11:24 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012

how many budgets is this storm going to blow up !!!......well now the politicians all have their built in excuse ...............

clamdigger

11:45 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012

too bad it's not going to be snow,now that would be awesome. possibly 5" of rain coming would be close to 5 feet of snow.

Greg Thompson

5:19 am on Friday, October 26, 2012

Seems I better fire up the generator and fill my gas cans just in case we lose power again. I have it set up so I can feed my elec panel in the basement. It powers all essentianls. But it's not big enough to run the A/C. But that's not esential. At night, I step outside and the entire block is dark except our house. I suggest you all get one. It's one of the best investments I ever made. But you better know what your doing if you tie it into your panel otherwise you will have some major problems. Call an electritian to be safe.

Chu-Man-Fu

7:19 am on Friday, October 26, 2012

100% correct Greg - Unfortunately, we'll be reading about the do it yourselfers who will try to run the whole house off of a 4KW genset , or those who either electrocute a first responder or themselves because of improper installation, or the idiot that puts the genset in the garage or inside the house and dies of asphyxiation. Read the manual folks and follow the safety precautions to the letter. Run essentials only and don't risk your or your families lives! There is no need for any senseless loss of life because you want to be on some social network site giving a blow by blow description of what could be the last storm of your life !!!

BN

6:53 am on Friday, October 26, 2012

The worst part is the aftermath...

Listening to the idiots calling into the radio station demanding the government reimburse them for all the food the lost when the fridge stopped running; The excess traffic on my street from the idiots who don't realize the bridge is washed out; cleaning up the crap in the yard (including my neighbor's lawn furniture and Halloween decorations).

Be prepared people...buy gallons of water and plenty of toilet paper!

Ortley

7:18 am on Friday, October 26, 2012

don't forget ....bread & eggs ! lolol

Chu-Man-Fu

7:40 am on Friday, October 26, 2012

By this afternoon there won't be a loaf of bread, eggs, water, milk, batteries, generators, gasoline, and so on and so forth for at least a 200 mile radius. The roads will be jambed with people trying to buy up the last crumbs of food and worse yet the "sight-seers" who don't have enough sense to stay home" and then beg to be rescued. I personally hope the storm doesn't come to fruition but I'm afraid it is inevitable and we are long overdue for a natural disaster here on the East Coast. Watch as the animal instict to survive takes over and people start fighting in the stores over a loaf of bread. Hell they kill each other on Black Friday to get bargains at department stores - Imagine what it'll be like when they think their lives are at stake ! BTW - if you run out of T.P. all of the junk mail you get may finally prove useful -IMHO

Mike

7:32 am on Friday, October 26, 2012

That's right, now is the time to panic and clear the shelves of milk, bread, water, etc. Make sure nothing is left. Your local grocer and convenience store owners appreciate it. Don't forget your lottery tickets and maybe dog food, can't forget the pooch! Can't underestimate the horror of being stuck in your house for a few hours.

Mapleleafnj

8:00 am on Friday, October 26, 2012

last year we were without power for 7 days and all my idiot neighbors were wondering what to do, while my house was operational as I have a generator. I find it amazing how people just sit around with their head up their a$$ and expect to be taken care off.
Do yourself a favor, just always be prepared to hunker down for 5-7 days when something like this happens, and you'll be fine. Dont panic like the rest of the clowns.

MYoungman

11:50 am on Friday, October 26, 2012

Maybe you could help your "idiot neighbor". Maybe they can't afford to run out and buy a generator. Be grateful you can and help your neighbors in a crisis. If cleaning your neighbors lawn furniture off your yard is the worst problem you have, i would say you are a lucky guy.

suz

8:01 am on Friday, October 26, 2012

Wow...a little surprised by some of the comments. Don't know about anyone else, but I am a bit anxious about this storm. Could be very destructive for the coast. Yes, some people panic more than others, but I guess it is better to be prepared than not. Lets just hope we all are safe and sound in the end.

Project Bluebeam

8:29 am on Friday, October 26, 2012

When you are prepared, there's little need to panic.

Sue

8:14 am on Friday, October 26, 2012

We're all going to die...
someday.

Mail in your ballot today!

jerseystrong

8:40 am on Friday, October 26, 2012

It looks like more towards Delaware now where its going to hit.
Still will make sure I have Extra Peanut butter & Jelly ,crackers, fruit, cookies bottled water, Firewood ( have a fireplace in case we lose our heat) Candles & extra matches thats my extent of being prepared .... & OH Finally have to bring in the deck furniture..
think this is more hype than a hit.. as it usually is

Dawn Plum

11:21 am on Friday, October 26, 2012

was at walmart and stop&shop and it was like crazy people on the loose man oh man what animals.

BW

12:12 pm on Friday, October 26, 2012

@Clam, no the mayans were not onto something because according to the sciencetists the event the mayans were predicting actually happened in 1998. google it and read for your self. There is going to be no pole shift, no comet strike. Everything we are experiencing now, is what is called the natural cycle of mother nature. Taught in 10th grade science.

@Greg please let me know where I can purchase a gemerator at this time. Lowes, home depot, sears, all sold out. I did hear shop rite in lakewood said they had some at the bargin price of $999 for a small one.

The town, couldnt manage their way out of a wet paper bag. If od forbid, this turns into a blizzard, it will be a week minimum before we are plowed out. And with JCPL's record the 7 days last year will seem like 7 hours with this storm if it is as bad as they .say.

Finally, if you have elderly or disabled friends, family, and neighbors, PLEASE check with them and see what they need, food, candles, batteries etc.

Good Luck and God help us all if this is as bad as they say.

Greg Thompson

7:08 am on Friday, November 23, 2012

BW. I got my gen some yrs back during a snow storm power outage. I hear they are hard to come by now? A friend got one at lowes in Howell after getting there at 4 AM he got one of the hundred they had. Good luck !!!