# Hurricane Sandy: Potential Catastrophic NorEaster Brewing in the Carribean \[edited title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 24, 2012, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766 "2012-10-24T22:11:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/41 "2012-10-27T18:42:44Z")
Meh. This shit happens every year: there’s a tropical storm headed up the coast that’s going to mean the end of all life as we know it, people freak out because the news weathermen tell them to, and then when it gets here it rains for a couple of days and it’s a bit windy. I for one have not changed any of my plans whatsoever (which by the way, are to pack all of my things in a UHAUL and move). If I’m wrong and the storm blows a tree into my apartment, at least I won’t have to clean it before turning in the keys. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/42 "2012-10-27T18:45:08Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Meh. > > This shit happens every year: there’s a tropical storm headed up the coast that’s going to mean the end of all life as we know it, people freak out because the news weathermen tell them to, and then when it gets here it rains for a couple of days and it’s a bit windy. > > I for one have not changed any of my plans whatsoever (which by the way, are to pack all of my things in a UHAUL and move). Ever since I installed a generator for my house, the peace of mind that it provides is worth every penny. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/43 "2012-10-27T18:59:02Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Meh. > > This shit happens every year: there’s a tropical storm headed up the coast that’s going to mean the end of all life as we know it, people freak out because the news weathermen tell them to, and then when it gets here it rains for a couple of days and it’s a bit windy. > > I for one have not changed any of my plans whatsoever (which by the way, are to pack all of my things in a UHAUL and move). > > If I’m wrong and the storm blows a tree into my apartment, at least I won’t have to clean it before turning in the keys. Yes that attitude worked out so well during Katrina. This storm is going to be bad. It by all accounts it is going to hit New Jersey straight on. For a category 1 storm it is enormous. If you live south of there it probably won’t be too bad. But for those living on the coast and more flood prone areas of NJ it will be very bad. It won’t be the end of the world to you. But it probably will be to some. I hope you don’t live in any region that will have a mandatory evacuation. Because people with that attitude get themselves in trouble which makes people like me risk myself to go get their stupid ass out of trouble. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/44 "2012-10-27T19:05:17Z")
Sorry I didn’t mean that to apply to everyone. It certainly applies to those in the DC metro region. That derecho this summer lasted all of 10 minutes and was the worst storm I’ve ever seen in the area, and it still wasn’t remotely the end of the world (and I drove all the way through the city to the airport right in the thick of it). ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/45 "2012-10-27T19:06:47Z")
Central PA here. I had to brave the supermarket this morning, because we needed toilet paper and some other stuff anyway. I still had my choice of toilet paper, but there was slim pickings in the bottled water aisle. The store was packed to the rafters between football shoppers and disaster shoppers. If I’d thought about it a little more, I would have gotten some more potatoes, carrots, and onions for the meat I know I’m going to have to cook if we lose power. 😃 When I was there, I saw someone who had a basket full of Fiber One cereal. He’s going to be in for a bad time this weekend. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/46 "2012-10-27T19:14:48Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Sorry I didn’t mean that to apply to everyone. > > It certainly applies to those in the DC metro region. That derecho this summer lasted all of 10 minutes and was the worst storm I’ve ever seen in the area, and it still wasn’t remotely the end of the world (and I drove all the way through the city to the airport right in the thick of it). We were out of power for a full week in 100 degree heat. Not the end of the world, but it sucked ass. I’m trying to be more prepared this time. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/47 "2012-10-27T19:14:59Z")
I fully expect Dopers in the affected area to keep posting as long as they have power, giving us updates and a worm’s eye view.😃 And, on a more serious note, I hope that after it passes we will hear that everyone is okay. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/48 "2012-10-27T21:13:19Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Yes that attitude worked out so well during Katrina. This storm is going to be bad. It by all accounts it is going to hit New Jersey straight on. For a category 1 storm it is enormous. If you live south of there it probably won’t be too bad. But for those living on the coast and more flood prone areas of NJ it will be very bad. It won’t be the end of the world to you. But it probably will be to some. I hope you don’t live in any region that will have a mandatory evacuation. Because people with that attitude get themselves in trouble which makes people like me risk myself to go get their stupid ass out of trouble. Gov. Christie has ordered a mandatory evacuation of the barrier islands by 4pm Sunday. My grandmother moved off of LBI years ago, but I think she’s got a few friends still there. I hope they get out OK. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/49 "2012-10-27T21:32:39Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Sorry I didn’t mean that to apply to everyone. > > It certainly applies to those in the DC metro region. That derecho this summer lasted all of 10 minutes and was the worst storm I’ve ever seen in the area, and it still wasn’t remotely the end of the world (and I drove all the way through the city to the airport right in the thick of it). Ok then you’re good.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/50 "2012-10-27T22:20:52Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Meh. > > This shit happens every year: there’s a tropical storm headed up the coast that’s going to mean the end of all life as we know it, people freak out because the news weathermen tell them to, and then when it gets here it rains for a couple of days and it’s a bit windy. > > I for one have not changed any of my plans whatsoever (which by the way, are to pack all of my things in a UHAUL and move). > > If I’m wrong and the storm blows a tree into my apartment, at least I won’t have to clean it before turning in the keys. Do posts like this give anyone else the image of a big tree falling on DCnDC’s UHaul as Mother Nature’s way of providing an attitude adjustment? Not wishing it on anyone… but it would be ironic. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/51 "2012-10-27T23:11:45Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > I am trying not to get too discouraged ahead of the storm, but I know that if it comes within sneezing distance of the DC area, I’ll probably be without power for a week. > > Irene dropped a tree on the house and power lines and we had no power for 6 days. BGE had a big meeting with our community association and promised to trim trees and look into “smart meters” so they’d know who still needed repairs. We never saw them. > > Then the derecho took down a bunch of neighborhood trees and left us without power for 7 days. BGE basically told us that’s life, and we should get generators. Assholes. Last I heard, the county and state were looking into BGE’s response, because they did a seriously piss-poor job organizing the repair efforts. > > I’ll be trying to eat as much freezer food as possible this weekend, but if the power’s out more than a couple of days I’ll have to start begging friends for extra fridge/freezer space if their power’s on. > > Candles and flashlights are ready. Wine and board games are ready. I’ve got water, easy-to-eat food, and all my prescriptions refilled. Car’s full of gas, I have cash on hand, and I’m picking up ice for coolers on the way home so I can keep them in the second freezer till they’re needed. At least it’s a reasonable temperature outside and we shouldn’t need to worry about heating. > > Keeping my fingers crossed that it blows out to sea… but I’m not optimistic. Fill a bunch of plastic jugs or other containers with water and stick them in the bottom of your freezer to freeze into ice. They will provide reserve cooling capacity if the power goes out. If you use clean jugs you will also have extra drinking water after they thaw. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/52 "2012-10-27T23:39:36Z")
I live in Somers Point, inland of the NJ coast. [https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&biw=1024&bih=601&um=1&q="somers%20point"%20nj%20map&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=il](https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&biw=1024&bih=601&um=1&q=%22somers%20point%22%20nj%20map&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=il) [http://www.bestplaces.net/images/city/somerspoint\_nj.gif](http://www.bestplaces.net/images/city/somerspoint_nj.gif) According to this projected storm landfall track: [![](https://media.salon.com/2012/10/hurricane-sandy-.jpeg1-460x307.jpg) ](https://media.salon.com/2012/10/hurricane-sandy-.jpeg1-460x307.jpg) I live in Ground Zero. :eek:☹ ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/53 "2012-10-27T23:57:17Z")
> [@Enola\_Straight](#): > > I live in Ground Zero. > :eek:☹ You may be below Ground Zero shortly. (Sorry, but this is the 'Dope.) In all honesty, do what you can to be safe. All of your insurance premiums paid up? ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/54 "2012-10-28T00:18:11Z")
> [@Enola\_Straight](#): > > I live in Somers Point, inland of the NJ coast. > [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&biw=1024&bih=601&um=1&q=%22somers%20point%22%20nj%20map&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=il) > [http://www.bestplaces.net/images/city/somerspoint\_nj.gif](http://www.bestplaces.net/images/city/somerspoint_nj.gif) > > According to this projected storm landfall track: > [http://media.salon.com/2012/10/hurricane-sandy-.jpeg1-460x307.jpg](http://media.salon.com/2012/10/hurricane-sandy-.jpeg1-460x307.jpg) > > I live in Ground Zero. > :eek:☹ Wow, you’re in the 11.5" of rain over the next 5 days area… I can’t even fathom what that amount of rain would be like. Can you board up and head inland? ---
**Author:** ![Animastryfe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Animastryfe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Animastryfe)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/55 "2012-10-28T00:22:50Z")
> [@lazybratsche](#): > > Wait, there was a storm last halloween? I’m in RI and I don’t even remember that at all. But I do remember Irene hitting the day after moving here :smack:. Heavy snow over the Halloween weekend. Much of Connecticut lost power. ---
**Author:** ![Schrodinger\_s\_Platypus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Schrodinger\_s\_Platypus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schrodinger_s_Platypus)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/56 "2012-10-28T01:06:20Z")
I’m in Philadelphia, a city not known for its speedy and prepared infrastructure. Luckily, my house is well away from the rivers and not likely to flood, and I’m stocked well with candles. Probably not getting to work Monday or Tuesday, because I can see SEPTA imploding, school closing, or both as likely options. Power wise… Well, if PECO is as diligent at restoring services as they were at pursuing my deadbeat ex roommate, maybe we’ll have it back in a week. And this time no overnight hurricane sewing party like we did for Irene. (when you take two cosplayers to a hurricane five days before the con or:" Tornado watch! Get the sewing machine and costumes in the basement!") ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/57 "2012-10-28T01:13:18Z")
Richmond in the house! I just returned from the grocery store. Not a gallon of water to be had. Guess I’ll just fill up some kitty litter jugs and hope I won’t have to drink out of them. ---
**Author:** ![Schrodinger\_s\_Platypus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Schrodinger\_s\_Platypus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schrodinger_s_Platypus)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/58 "2012-10-28T01:29:03Z")
Weirdly, there was tons of water and bread at the store up here. People don’t seem too concerned at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/59 "2012-10-28T01:29:28Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Richmond in the house! > > I just returned from the grocery store. Not a gallon of water to be had. Guess I’ll just fill up some kitty litter jugs and hope I won’t have to drink out of them. Two-liter soda bottles will do the trick as well, plus they’re usually cheaper than plain water. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766/60 "2012-10-28T01:35:21Z")
And remember, more delicate perishables in your fridge (milk, soft cheeses, some cold cuts, etc.) are only good for about 4 hours once the power stays out, and that’s if you didn’t open the fridge. Large blocks of ice put in the fridge and freezer will extend how long they’re good for. CNN had some [advice on food/water during a hurricane](http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2012/08/27/disaster-dining-stay-safe-fed-caffeinated-and-entertained/?iid=article_sidebar) during Isaac. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-potential-catastrophic-noreaster-brewing-in-the-carribean-edited-title/638766.md?page=4)