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Storms wreak havoc in Northeast US at least 9 dead

March 15, 2010 — Debbie

Rain floods Northeast roadways, knocks out power

By Bruce Shipkowski, Associated Press

A tree that crashed through the side of a home in Wantagh, N.Y., lies across cars in a driveway Sunday, March 14, 2010. Strong winds and heavy rain downed trees and power lines throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and Connecticut on Saturday, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without power. (AP Photo/Chris Corradino)

EGG HARBOR CITY, N.J. – A torrential rainstorm that brought heavy winds to the Northeast, downing trees, flooding roadways and knocking out power, continued to pour rain on New England on Monday. (click HERE for video)

At least nine people died in storm-related accidents, and nearly half a million people were without electricity in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut at the peak of the storm.

The ferocious storm led to near-record numbers of 911 calls in New York. New York City experienced the second-highest volume of 911 calls ever. It got 65,000 calls between 11 p.m. Friday and 11 p.m. Saturday, second only to the 96,000 calls made during the 2003 blackout.

While the rain tapered off south of New York on Monday morning, wind-whipped precipitation continued to fall in New England.

In Boston, workers threw up sand bags around the entrance to a subway station near Fenway Park on Monday morning as the Muddy River rose and threatened the station. The Massachusetts Port Authority said the weather was causing some delays and cancellations at Logan International Airport and several low-lying roads and highway ramps in Massachusetts were closed.

There also were numerous road closures in southeastern New Hampshire due to flooding.

In New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie declared a state of emergency, which would allow National Guard troops to be called up if needed. In signing the declaration Sunday night, Christie said he wants to ensure local and county resources are supplemented if needed. (more…)

Posted in Crazy Weather, Disasters In The News, Natural Distaster. Tags: 72 Hour Kits, Disasters In The News, Floods, Spring Storms. No Comments »

Are your emergency kits ready for spring storms

March 14, 2010 — Debbie

Now is the time to get your emergency kits ready and preparing for those inevitable spring storms.

With the first spring storms of the season sweeping through the US, officials from local Emergency Management offices want to make sure residents were prepared.

Spring time weather was unpredictable, and could turn wicked in an instant. It is best to get a basic emergency kit ready before you’ve heard the sirens or see flashes of lightning in the sky, .

In that kit, you should have a flashlight with extra batteries, battery powered weather radio, a three day supply of bottled water, that’s one gallon per person, per day, and canned food with a manual can opener.

Know where the circuit breakers are in your house. If you have an emergency plan review it with your family. Make sure you have a radio with extra batteries set aside.

For those who need medications, they should keep a 3-day supply handy. Also be prepared with supplies for people with special needs, some basic tools, and a fully charged cell phone.

If rain flooded your streets, make sure your kids are not playing around drainage ditches or flood waters, where they can be swept away.

Be aware of your environment. If you’re outside and it doesn’t look right, best thing to do is get to a media outlet, listen, and trust your instincts.

If you hear thunder, lightning is sure to follow. Officials say you are are safest inside your home, during a lightning storm. Do not take a bath or shower. Water and copper tubing are excellent conductors of electricity.

If you’re outside, you are safest inside your car.

We have compiled a lot of info to help you get your 72-Hour Kits together for your family. Click HERE for that page.