High Tide in Neptune

Photos by Jim Granelli

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Christie Briefing at 12:15

Governor Chris Christie has a press briefing regarding Hurriane Sandy scheduled for 12:15.

MMM will have Livestream coverage.

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Message from NOAA National Hurricane Center

Hurricane Sandy is centered this morning about 265 miles southeast of Atlantic city, New Jersey. It is now moving toward the north-northwest. A turn toward the northwest is expected later this morning, then west-northwest tonight. That will bring the center over the mid-Atlantic coast this evening or tonight. Do not focus on the exact center of landfall as impacts will be felt over a large area.

Hurricane Sandy strengthened a little this morning, and is forecast to bring life-threatening storm surge flooding to the mid-Atlantic coast, including Long Island Sound and New York Harbor, as well as coastal hurricane-force winds…and even heavy Appalachian snow.

Maximum sustained winds are 85 mph – a Category One hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Sandy is expected to transition into a frontal or wintertime low pressure area before landfall, but is not expected to weaken during that transition. In fact, it may strengthen during this process. It will not weaken until after moving inland.

Tropical-storm-force conditions or gale-force winds are already occurring along portions of the mid-Atlantic coastline, and will spread northward through this morning.

Hurricane-force winds are expected along the coast from Chincoteague, Virginia, to Chatham, Massachusetts. This includes the tidal Potomac from Cobb Island to Smith Point, the middle and upper Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay, the coast of the northern Delmarva Peninsula, New Jersey, the New York City area, Long Island, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Winds affecting the upper-floors of high rise buildings will be significantly higher than those near ground level.

A dangerous storm surge is expected to occur in the mid-Atlantic states and southern New England. If the peak surge occurs at the time if high tide, the depths above ground level could reach 6 to 11 feet at Long Island Sound and Raritan Bay, and 4 to 8 feet from Ocean City, Md., to the Connecticut/Rhode Island state line, and 3 to 6 feet from there to the south shore of Cape Cod, including Buzzards Bay and Narragansett Bay.

A Tropical Storm Warning continues along the North Carolina coast from north of Surf City to Duck, including Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds, as well as Bermuda.

Other coastal and inland watches and warnings are in effect for much of the mid-Atlantic states and New England. See the statements being issued by local National Weather Service offices, www.weather.gov for the details.

Total rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches, with isolated 8 inch amounts, are possible over far eastern North Carolina. Amounts of 4 to 8 inches, with isolated 12 inch amounts, are possible over portions of the mid-Atlantic States, including the Delmarva Peninsula. Amounts of 1 to 3 inches, with isolated 5 inch amounts, are possible across southern New York through New England.

Snow accumulations of 2 to 3 feet are expected in the mountains of West Virgina, with locally higher amounts, tonight through Tuesday Night. The southwestern Virginia mountains are forecast to see 1 to 2 feet of snow, with 12 to 18 inches near the North Carolina/Tennessee state line and in the mountains of western Maryland.

Get the latest on this tropical cyclone, including storm surge information and graphics, on the NOAA NHC website at www.hurricanes.gov

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Monday Morning High Tide

Downtown Highlands: photos by LoriAnn Nolan

Dock at Salt Creek Grill, Rumson, photo by Brian Nelson

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Governor Christie’s Sunday Evening Briefing on Hurriane Sandy

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Christie: “If I turn out to be right, and you turn out to be dead, that’s not a good equation. Don’t be stupid. Get out.”

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Hurricane Sandy updates for Monmouth County

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Governor Chris Christie Requests Pre-Landfall Emergency Declaration for New Jersey in Anticipation of Hurricane Sandy

Trenton, NJ – Governor Chris Christie this morning formally requested that President Barack Obama declare a pre-landfall emergency for New Jersey. This declaration would allow the State to request funding and other assistance for actions taken in advance of Hurricane Sandy, which is expected to make landfall in New Jersey late Monday evening.

“We have taken this action to assist communities which have taken extraordinary measures to insure the safety of the public during this very serious and dangerous storm,” said Governor Christie.

“The National Hurricane Center predicts that Hurricane Sandy will move along the New Jersey coast beginning on or about October 28, 2012, bringing the potential for severe weather conditions, including heavy rains, high winds, dangerous storm surges and stream and river flooding that may threaten homes and other structures, and endanger lives in the state,” added Governor Christie.

Hurricane Sandy is expected to bring flooding, high winds and heavy rain across the state over a period of 36 hours starting early Monday morning.

A copy of the Governor’s letter to President Obama is attached to the here.

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Christie: “If it looks stupid, it is stupid”

Governor Declares State of Emergency

Orders Mandatory Evacuation of Barrier Islands and Atlantic City Effective 4PM Sunday

Urges Residents to Use Nice Weather Saturday and Sunday to Get Prepared

Warns Retailers Against Price Gouging

Governor Chris Christie thanks first responders from the East Keansburg Fire Company prior to his Hurricane Sandy preparedness briefing in North Middletown

Middletown- Governor Chris Christie flew into to Middletown this morning to announce that he has declared all of New Jersey under a State of Emergency in preparation of Hurricane Sandy.  The storm is expect to made landfall in New Jersey, somewhere between Cape May and Seaside late Sunday.

Christie has ordered a mandatory evacuation of New Jersey’s barrier islands south of Seaside and Atlantic City effective at 4PM on Sunday.  All roads heading into those locations will be closed.

Residents of the northern coastal regions of Monmouth and Ocean Counties are left to their own discretion to voluntarily evacuate, pending updates from the National Weather Service.

Christie said that when shelter is needed that, except in those areas being evactuated, residents should stay in their homes or arrange to stay with family members.  Shelters are being set up in all counties for those who can not stay at home or with family.  The State will have five shelters open in the event of overflow at the county shelters.

“As we move towards what is an increasingly likelihood of seeing Sandy make landfall in New Jersey, I am urging all New Jerseyans to take every possible and reasonable precaution to ready themselves for the storm’s potential impact. That means having an emergency action plan for their families and other loved ones who may require assistance, and avoiding unnecessary risks in the severe weather, including staying off of the roads,” said Governor Christie. “At the state level, we are taking immediate steps to prepare for the storm’s impact and ensure that state, local and county governments have the tools they need to manage and respond in a coordinated way. With this, government at every level can respond more effectively to conditions on the ground, activate emergency operations plans, and ensure that resources are being marshaled to assist and protect the public through this storm.”

Christie encouraged residents to stay off of the roads during the storm and announced that NJ Transit will cross honor tickets and passes, Monday through Wednesday, giving those commuting to work greater access and flexibilty to public transportation in the event that their normal routes are closed due to the storm.

The governor emphasised that, unlike previous storms that have move through quickly, Sandy is expect to move slowly and impact the area for up to three days.

Utilities repair crews will not restore power while the storm is ongoing. Power outages are expected to last for as long as 7 to 10 days.

Residents should consult http://www.ready.gov/ for updates and preparedness tips.

In response to a reporter’s question, Christie urged residents who are using power generators to make sure they are doing so correctly according to the manufacturers’ directions.  “If it looks stupid, it is stupid,” the governor said, responding to the question about residents sharing power from generators with their neighbors via extension cords.

Following Christie’s briefing to the press and about 200 Middletown residents, his office issued a warning to merchants against price gouging.

“During emergencies, New Jerseyans should look out for each other – not seek to take advantage of each other,” said Christie. “The State Division of Consumer Affairs will look closely at any and all complaints about alleged price gouging. Anyone found to have violated the law will face significant penalties.”

Price increases are deemed excessive under the law if they are more than 10 percent above the price at which the good or service was sold during the normal course of business, prior to the state of emergency.  The law does allow that, if the merchant faces additional costs imposed by suppliers or legitimate logistical concerns, a price increase is considered excessive if it is more than 10 percent above the amount of markup from cost, compared with the markup normally applied.

Violations of the price-gouging law are punishable by civil penalties of up to $10,000 for the first offense and $20,000 for the second and subsequent offenses. Each individual sale of merchandise is considered a separate and distinct event.

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Frankenstorm Sandy

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