Hurricane Sandy

FAMILY AND FRIENDS,

As of right now, we have not been evacuated and so we're staying put for the time being. We can not leave unless a mandatory evacuation has been made for our area. 

We have plenty of supplies; bottled water, canned food, non-perishable food, flashlights with extra batteries, a full tank of gas in the car, blankets, etc. So we are good to go! Luckily, this time around we're prepared for the storm unlike the one we went through in June. We've got pretty much everything covered!

I know everyone is worried about us but once the power goes out... please try to refrain from calling. If the power stays out for 7 to 10 days as planned we need to keep our phones with as much of a charge as possible. Feel free to send a text message, that's quicker and doesn't run down our batteries. If you don't have a cell phone to text us, please call either Diane (Shane's mom) or Donna (my mom) to get an update from them. I will TRY to post a quick update (if I can) either here on our blog or on Facebook. If you try calling and we don't answer PLEASE do not start worrying or take offense.

As of right now, we are safe and we are taking all measures possible to ensure that we continue to stay safe until this thing blows over.

Information we have on Hurricane Sandy thus far...

Hurricane Sandy (which is also being referred to as “Frankenstorm”) is about to smack the East Coast. Making landfall in New Jersey on Monday. Right now the hurricane is at a category 1 with very heavy rainfall and damaging winds. If Sandy maintains its current track, it is likely that there will be major flooding and wind damage in the Garden State (New Jersey). We are already anticipating power outages that could last anywhere from 7 to 10 days! It is possible that Sandy could even completely lose its status as a tropical storm or hurricane, and still be a terrible hybrid/extratropical storm with the same destructive power as a major hurricane. They are telling us not to fixate on what "category" the hurricane is, reguardless, it is going to be historic and catastrophic. Forecasted to intensify as it heads north and interacts with the artic blast coming from Canada and the snow storm winds coming from the west. They are estimating this to be a BILLION dollars worth of damage type storm. It's also happening during the full moon which makes the tides even higher.

The current size is really big and it's getting bigger. Tropical storm force winds now reach 450 miles out from the hurricane's center and it is SLOW moving.

A state of emergency has been declared in VA, MD, District of Washington, PA, NY, ME, CT, and NJ.

- The worst of the storm will hit Monday into Tuesday.
- There will be prolonged periods of strong winds, with gust ranging from 25-65 MPH.
- Power outages are likely.
- Expecting 6-9 inches of rain. With flooding.  
- 50 to 60 million people to be affected.
- School has been cancelled for Monday & Tuesday.

FIGURES! We made it out of the Gulf Coast (Corpus Christi) without having to deal with any hurricanes. And as soon as we move to the Northeast... a hurricane decides to show it's face?! Just our luck.