Hurricane Sandy (Update #9)

As it stands right now (5:00 pm), Sandy is expected to continue its northward track along the coast until Sunday at which time it is anticiated that the storm will track west towards the coast.

At this time computer forecasts are showing landfall on the coast somewhere between Deleware and New England.  Current projections favor a landfall of Sandy's Center to the south of us near the Delewar/New Jersey border but those forecasts will change as Sandy draws closer.   

Exact tracking of the Sandy's landfall will probably start coming together late tomorrow into Sunday when the storm starts its westward turn towards the coast.

There is still some wiggle room regarding where the storm's center will make landfall.  The best  case scenario for Broad Channel would be a landfall to our north, or even a direct hit by the storm's center. Both scenarios would mitigate serious storm surge tidal flooding of our community.

On the other hand, any landfall of the storm's center to our south would subject our area to serious storm surge tidal flooding. (Note: A storm surge is not a wave, but rather it is a building of the ocean due to the wind. The drag exerted on the ocean by the strong winds of a hurricane/nor'easter literally shoves more and more water toward the coast. This results in a piling-up effect and the height of sea level increases as the storm nears.)

Obviously we have all been through this before but it doesn’t hurt to review the basics.

Make sure that any loose articles (deck furniture, barbeques, bicycles, garbage cans, flower pots/planters, etc.) are secured.

Check all floating docks to ensure they are secure with sufficient play to obviate breakage in the event of extremely high storm surge tidal flooding.  Raise and secure your dock’s ramp as well.

Make sure you have a working (battery) powered radio and flashlights on hand in the event of a power outage.

In the event the storm track does indicate a landfall to our south, seriously consider evacuating children, the elderly and the infirm to higher ground inland.

Make sure all propane cylinders are thoroughly secured.  During Irene many residents, not dependent on propane for heating, disconnected their tanks from the house lines to prevent damage to the lines/regulators should they be torn away from the house.

Move your private vehicles to high ground prior to Sunday evening.

Check with your neighbors to ascertain if they require assistance and maintain telephone contact with each other during the storm.

Any member of your household requiring routine medications should have sufficient quantities of those meds for at least 3 days.

Ensure sufficient food and water is on hand to suffice for the duration of the storm.  (Don’t forget your pets.)

In the event of an emergency contact the BCVFD at 474-8888.,