Here they Come Again!

[tw]

East coast US is (from some news services) being hyped into fear of Sandy. Mostly displaced.

History. 51 years ago, a March Nor'ester stalled off New Jersey's coast. Most Nor'esters and hurricanes go flying past. But in 1962, a high pressure system near Greenland caused that Nor'ester to stall for three days (five high tides) off the DE and NJ coasts. The resultant tidal surge on barrier islands was extensive - well over 10 feet.

This is not a powerful hurricane - barely category one. But it is large and is predicted to stall at the same location as in 1962. Therefore resulting tidal swell may be about 6 feet. Not a problem to any facility or location that did responsible construction.

But Sandy will dump heavy rain for days. Barrier islands have sewers that cannot slope sufficiently. So barrier islands have pumping stations. Water drops maybe into 12 foot deep wells. Then pumped out. Those pumps are not sufficient for long heavy rains. So flooded streets will be routine.

No problem. Any responsible homeowner already decided to visit distant friends. The resulting floods will not destroy any decent building. Any responsible auto owner left town.

Inland is another problem. Leaves are still on trees. One year ago, this same week, a snow storm caused these problem. Heavy rain and wind from any serious storm means trees take out power lines. Isolated outages because America still puts electric wires overhead on poles. So some will be without power for days; maybe a week. No problem except where news hypes this as the end of the world.

The problem is not a hurricane. The problem is heavy rain and normal wind for any serious storm that continues for days. So a responsible homeowner takes the usual precautions.

For example, one gallon containers are now in the freezer. As each freezes, it is moved to the refrigerator while a few more freeze. Then by Monday, maybe six plus gallons of frozen water remain frozen in the refrigerator. That means frozen and refrigerated foods remain cold for days. Usual precautions for any major storm.

Don't let hype create fear. If on barrier islands, then take a vacation. Have some working flashlights and sufficient gas in the car. Have some cash. If near streams or rivers that usually flood, then move stuff away. If in a home that usually floods, then expect to have what you bought the house to enjoy. Isolated problems will exist. You know from past storms what to expect (ie residents of the Delaware River).

Ocean wave heights are 30 feet in category two and three hurricanes. Curiously, this only category one storm is creating 27 feet waves. That is probably due to the size of this just barely category one storm. So significant beach erosion is expected. Damage will be mostly where buildings should never have been constructed. Or where beach is significantly missing due to rock walls on the beach or (and just as bad) lining inlets.

Possible that it could become worse. A storm isolated off the Jersey coast will drive water up the Delaware, Raritan, and Hudson Rivers. Maybe causing flooding where flooding does not normally happen. Potentially made worse by a full moon. Caution applies.