Super storm Sandy

Every time I log into my computer now there is a headline about Super storm Sandy. It is a hurricane headed towards the East Coast of the United States.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57541877/hurricane-sandy-gains-strength-on-east-coast-path/

My son and I sent messages back and forth last night on Facebook (they are in Delaware). They went to the store for supplies last night and found:

And at Walmart this morning:

He told me they are as prepared as they can be and will be waiting out the storm in their neighbor's basement (their house doesn't have a basement)!  I'm so glad they have great neighbors! They are also bringing their pets over there with them (two dogs and a cat.....not sure about the two snakes though!). Luckily they are both off from work the next couple of days, so they can wait it out in a safe place.

My nephew and his family are in Connecticut. They are both in the Coast Guard. They will be working and helping others get through the storm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZFlxuU1FRY&feature=player_embedded

This storm is one of the largest ever seen headed towards the States. The Presidential candidates (Mitt Romney and Barack Obama) have had to change their campaign travel plans because of the storm. With the Presidential Election just days away, that must have been difficult for them both.

Transit systems in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia will be shut down starting today. Airports will be closed all along the East Coast. Hundreds of thousands of people are being evacuated along the coast. Wall Street will be closed Monday. Hundreds of roads and highways are expected to flood and widespread power outages are expected. Schools will be closed all along the East Coast. Many businesses will be closed also as everyone braces themselves for the storm.

http://news.yahoo.com/superstorm-bears-down-us-east-coast-residents-flee-130017590.html

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/soldiers-stand-guard-at-tomb-of-unknown-soldier


Ocean City, NJ:

We are praying for everyone's safety.

__________________________________________________________
It is now 0800hrs in the Netherlands, which is 0300hrs on the East Coast.

Yesterday, my son and I were able to Skype and told me he would post any updates on Facebook during the night (so he could tell a lot of people at once). Sooooo, I kept waking up checking my FB page. At around 0200hrs (our time, which is 2100hrs their time) he said they still had power and they were watching a movie. It was very windy and it had been raining a lot all day. They were keeping their phones and computers plugged in so that if they did lose power they could still use their phones. Since they are in the military, they are both subject to "call back", which means they could have to report in for duty at any time. That was the last update I got.

I have not heard from my nephew and his wife, who are in the Coast Guard in Connecticut. I pray they are doing okay and able to get a little rest while working hard to help others in that area.

Friends were posting news updates and pictures on FB all night......here is some of what was posted:

Manhattan:

Photo Credit: David Schulze

From Trevor Moren in New Jersey:

At approximately 0300hrs:
NYC updates, compiled from several sources w/in last few mins:
Backup power has been lost at New York University hospital and the city is working to move people out - per MSNBC.
Half of NYC is without power, and the NYSE is under 3 feet of water.
Mayor Bloomberg: We don't anticipate more than a few showers from now on. High tide was at roughly 8:15pm ET.
Statement from NWS: Record high water levels in NY Harbor now receding.


From a friend on Facebook:

A recap of the death toll from Sandy

Total deaths: 81

In the U.S. so far: 13
5 in New York
1 in Connecticut
3 in New Jersey
2 in Philadelphia
1 West Virginia

1 HMS Bounty deckhand who was found unresponsive and later declared dead at hospital

Outside the U.S.: 1 in Canada. And earlier: 67 in the Caribbean, including 51 in Haiti.

Very sad time in the U.S. It does sound like FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) has been sent to the different areas on the East Coast and they are doing what they can to help.