USVI-On-Line

Wow, I hope it decides to go out to sea because we're just not prepared for this.

We have a condo in Angelsea, North Wildwood, NJ and we're about 50 yards to the water.

Good luck to everybody on the East Coast!

Earthquake, hurricane...I'm stayin' here in sunny SoCal!

Check Wunderground. Irene may move into a trough 100 mi to the west of the expected track. Better, but it will still pack a punch.

I'm here in Northwest New Jersey and surrounded by lots of trees. Definitely getting a bit concerned...

Our Florida friends have been through this many times. You should be following their lead in terms of preparation.

Board up
Pull in potential projectiles (furniture, plants, toys)
Stock up supplies (batteries, non-perishable food, water - 3 days Oh yeah - RUM)
Secure valuables (passports, ins papers, cash, credit cards, property records)
Either evacuate to an inland location or get a good book and ride it out.

We have mobilized our Red Cross units here in the fly-over states. They will be staged a short distance to your west awaiting an all clear signal.

Please know that even before it hits, help is on the way. Good luck! We'll be watching and praying for all of you.

JIM

Thanks for that information Jim!

There's no way we can board up the condo. There are 48 units, so I'm thinking the only thing we can do is tape them.

We're leaving PA tomorrow morning first thing and we're coming back on Saturday morning. So we'll be back in PA when it hits. There are some people that live year round in their units and they'll be our eyes and ears.

The main reason we're going down is to take the chairs off the patio. We'll also help other people put away their things and hope for the best.

Traffic is probably going to be horrible coming home.

Hurricane is seriously throwing a wrench in my weekend plans. Have tickets to Sunday's Sox game, which I assume will be cancelled. Just hoping they reschedule it this late in the season.

on LI sound -moving kayaks out of boathouse and into the garage....have batteries, water, food, need duct tape and tarps--we're in teh midst of rebulding our porch and have a lot of loose wood...ick. worried my neighbors trees will fall onto my house (HUGE chestnut and big maple). DH is leaving for Athens tomorrow night, so i sit this one out solo with my daughter.

Oh Loria, just stay safe.

I'm a worrier, so I'm starting to get to the panic mode.

I've been in the Virginia Beach area for about 17 years...Isabelle was bad in 2003. And when she made landfall she was only a tropical storm. We had a LOT of damage. That being said, I think Irene is going to be a lot worse...the news seems to be all over the place too...The Governor of VA just issued a state of emergency...I think the OBX is going to get hammered...I feel bad for them...

Connie,

Be safe! Gov Christie called a voluntary evacuation by noon Friday. Ron is getting out of Sea Isle by tonight or early tomorrow.

Traffic will be a bear but you will feel better know your home is secure.

This storm really has us worried!
Take care,

Nancy, we can't get down there because we're nervouse we won't get out. We're now preparing for our main home in Havertown. 5-8" of rain is going to flood our basement if the sump pump stops working.

Husband is out now trying to get some things for the house. He's almost as bad as I am

We're counting on neighbors to help us out down the shore.

This is going to be a bad one. Thank God they put in a sea wall a couple of years ago in front of our place. Hopefully, that will help us out in the long run.

Another thing I heard on the news last night -- back up your computers.

JIM

Thoughts & Prayers are going out for all in the potential path of Irene.

Living in New Orleans & going through Katrina has tought many of us in the Gulf Coast region some important lessons. If an evacuation is called please listen to authorities. Yes, traffic will be a nightmare, but much better to be safe than sorry. Always plan for the worst and hope for the best. If you do leave & you have the room take the items that can't be replaced with you - photographs, family recipes, important documents (passports, birth certificates, social security cards, insurance information & policy numbers). Materialistic items can be replaced.

If you are undecided about leaving & have children or care for eldery, please consider that after the storm there may not be electricity and living without can be very uncomfortable.

Be safe & good luck.