Chiming in here from the shore of NJ. I've been preparing for 3 days now. I got all I needed to done other than closing my chain link fence fully. I cleared out my yard, gassed up the cars when there WAS gas in the state(I dont procrastinate!) got PLEANTY bottled waters, filtered water in the fridge and a beverage cooler filled with filtered watrer, have a cooler that's ready for ice to be put in for the wife's insulin and perishable foods, ziplock bags of ice chillin in the freezer in case the power goes out. I have pleanty of batteries, flashlights, and candles. I had a huge tv antenna on my roof that I removed this afternoon, and tared over some of the 'questionable' areas of my roof that I never noticed till I was up there today.
Rte 72 going onto Long Beach Island has been closed eastbound since 6pm today, it's only westbound traffic to get everyone off the island, the Garden State Parkway from exit 0 to 98 southbound is CLOSED, it's ONLY northbound traffic. I'm less than a mile from the Barnegat bay, and only a couple blocks to the intercoastal waterway. We are under a voluntary evacuation where I live. It's not manditory yet but I have not made my decision as to stay or go. My house is about 12 feet above sea level and 3-4 feet above road level. Right now we are taking every precaution we can, and if it becomes manditory to leave we have a plan set. I'm not in a typical flood zone, but they say this is a 100 year 'flood event' possibility. The storm is staring us dead in the face, but it's going to be weaker than it is currently that will be hitting NC. Either way it's NOT looking like a good situation. The last time we had a hurricane hit us was back in 1985 when Hurricane Gloria came in. I still remember that storm to this day and I was 6 years old then. Funny enough, my oldest daughter is 6 years old. As for now, time to go to sleep, cause I can gaurentee tomorrow night I'm not going to be sleeping.
To everyone on the east coast, be smart and be safe!!
