It’s still “extremely difficult to forecast” whether Hurricane Joaquin will hit the East coast, much less New York City itself. If it does hit the East coast, it probably wouldn’t be until this weekend or early next week, weather.com says. And as you know, most of the Upper West Side occupies high ground, so it tends to get spared the worst of hurricane damage.
Nonetheless, the Office of Emergency Management sent out a note Tuesday afternoon letting New Yorkers know that they’re keeping an eye on things, and that maybe we should get a little bit ready
Notification issued 9/30/15 at 2:52 PM. New York City Emergency Management is continuing to monitor Hurricane Joaquin. The City is holding multiple daily calls with the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center. The City is actively engaged with partner agencies at all levels of government and the private sector in preparation should the storm arrive. The City encourages the public and visitors to stay informed by signing up for Notify NYC, the City’s official source for emergency information, and identify their hurricane evacuation zone by visiting https://gis.nyc.gov/oem/he/
index.html or calling 311. NYC Emergency Management continues to monitor the hurricane and keep the public updated as it develops. To learn more about preparing for coastal storms, please visit the Ready New York Guide at https://www.ready.gov/ hurricanes.
As for your supply kit, here’s what the government recommends:
- Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
- Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Whistle to signal for help
- Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Manual can opener for food
- Local maps
- Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger
And if you’d like to know what food Upper West Siders hoard during a hurricane, here’s our handy guide.
Yeah, that local map could come in very handy. I always forget where 83rd street is.
After Sandy most everything was open up here. Once again I’ll take no precautions.
I found, during Sandy, that buying water was totally unnecessary; I simply filled a collapsible jug that I bought for under $10. I still have it and can use it again and again.
The link below has a picture of it. Maybe you can still find it somewhere or, at least, something like it.
https://jet.com/product/product/019fb62bfb1342ee919fd5f9e7bd473d?jcmp=pla:ggl:brands_sporting_goods_a3:outdoor_recreation_hydration_systems_a3_other:na:na:na:na:na:2&code=PLA15&k_clickid=2ee4ca41-cd3d-4147-86ac-fb4a06af8865&kpid=019fb62bfb1342ee919fd5f9e7bd473d&gclid=CPyyr5Dsn8gCFcOQHwodmNcH-w
This panic mongering reminds me of last winter when we were supposed to get hit with “the snow storm of the century”, and virtually Martial law was declared by mayor de buffoonio.
Where’d my country go?
Was that same ‘panic mongering’ that we had during Irene and Sandy?
Unfortunately weather is not completely predictable and weather forecasting is imperfect.
People who live and work in Manhattan have it pretty easy.
But the critical issue – when there are unusual and significant weather events – is everyone else. All the people and workers who live elsewhere with long commutes, all the commercial vehicles, delivery trucks etc.
For example, Governor Cuomo shut down LIE during snowstorm to make sure vehicles did not get stuck.
Perhaps we can just be thankful that we live in Manhattan and do not suffer the hardships of most others.
Sad to say climate isn’t totally predictable and weather conditions forecasting is imperfect.