East Coast To Feel The Effects Of Hurricane Sandy

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The East Coast is bracing for the remnants Hurricane Sandy to hit this weekend. Dubbed “Frankenstorm” due to it’s closeness to Halloween, the storm is likely to run parallel to the East Coast Sunday night through Monday, according to sources.

CBS reports:

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Friday that wherever the storm comes ashore, there will be 10 inches of rain and extreme storm surges.

This storm is predicted to bring serious winds and floods, so be sure to take necessary precautions.

Here are some suggestions from FEMA:

– Top off gas tanks. If power is knocked out, gas pumps and ATMs won’t work.

– Have a working flashlight and batteries handy.

– Have a battery-operated radio (to be able to listen to news reports about the storm).

– Fill drug prescriptions.

– Have a first-aid kit at home.

– Stock supplies of water and nonperishable food for 5 days. An adequate water supply is 1 gallon of water per person per day.

– Stock baby formula and diapers, if there are babies at home.

– Heed evacuation orders from the Office of Emergency Management

http://www.ready.gov/hurricanes has more information

Take a look at how officials in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area are preparing for Hurricane Sandy via The Weather Channel.

Washington, D.C.

When asked about Sandy affecting the president’s travel schedule, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney stated, “We leave it to the professionals to track storms and make predictions about where it will travel. The [resident’s concern about this storm is making sure that citizens in potentially affected areas are aware of it and taking the necessary precautions, and making sure that FEMA is working as necessary with local officials in preparation for a storm.”

Maryland

Gov. Martin O’Malley is declaring a state of emergency across Maryland as Hurricane Sandy approaches. O’Malley said Friday the declaration gives the state flexibility to activate the Maryland National Guard and provide assistance to local emergency managers.

Maryland utility companies and emergency management officials say they’re preparing for large-scale power outages, flooding and other damage from a storm that could arrive as early as Sunday. Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. said it’s planning for hundreds of thousands of potential outages. The company says it’s putting 1,300 workers on standby and making plans to bring in at least 500 from other states.

In western Maryland, Potomac Edison is denying new vacation requests until any storm repairs have been made. The company is looking at the possibility that Tropical Storm Sandy could be followed by wintry weather in mountains.

The utilities and the Maryland Emergency Management Agency say lessons learned from past storms, including one in late June, that could help reduce damage and recovery time.

Virginia

A campaign official for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said he has canceled a planned rally on Sunday night in Virginia Beach, according to Garrett Haake from NBC News.

Navy bases in Virginia are making preparations for Hurricane Sandy. The commander of Navy Region Mid-Atlantic ordered all installations in southeast Virginia on Friday to operate under Tropical Cyclone Condition Three. That means base personnel are being told to remove debris from drainage areas and to secure objects that could be blown away and cause injuries or damage during a storm.

Tropical Cyclone Condition Three is set when destructive winds exceeding 50 knots are possible within 48 hours. The order applies to bases such as Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach as well as Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval installation. Friday’s order also applies to Weapons Station Earle in New Jersey and Naval Support Activity Mechanicsburg in Pennsylvania.