Prepare for Hurricane Sandy in Monmouth County

Tropical Storm Sandy is likely to hit Monmouth County early this week, and officials are hoping residents will be prepared.

The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the National Weather Service are closely monitoring Tropical Storm Sandy to see what impact it might have on the area as it moves up the coast. 

On its Facebook page the OEM reports, "There is a potential for a very powerful and dangerous autumn store to affect our region early next week." The statement continues, "There is a growing threat of strong winds, very heavy rainfall, coastal flooding and inland flooding to affect our region early next week."

How to Prepare:

Patch blogger Mike Simpson shared the NJ Hurricane Survival Guide, which includes staying informed through traditional and social media, staying close and connected to family and getting emergency supplies.

County tips:

• Prepare –  Assemble a Kit of Emergency Supplies – Batteries, flashlight, radio, first-aid kit, medications, food and water to last three or more days, can opener, cooking tools, toiletries. 
• Plan – Create an Emergency Plan – Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so plan a way to contact one another, such as enlisting the help of a third party in another state as a contact, and review what you will do in different situations. 
• Stay Informed– “Like” the Monmouth County Government Facebook page, follow the county on Twitter and visit the county Web site frequently for information and links to important resources. Also, listen to local radio and television for the latest information on storms and other emergencies. Review what warning sirens are used in your community to alert residents of major emergencies. 

In case of a power outage:

• Check your circuit breaker box to be sure the problem isn’t just with your home. If not, report the outage to Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) at 1-888-544-4877 or by visiting its online outage report system. You can also follow outage reports in the area through JCP&L's interactive map.
• Turn on one light switch so you’ll know when power is restored, but unplug all electrical equipment, including TVs, computers and motor-driven appliances to prevent an overload when the power turns back on.
• Never go near fallen power lines. Report the outage and call 911 to report the downed lines.
• Keep a flashlight and charged batteries on hand and in an easily accessible location. Better yet, stock each bedroom with a flashlight. You should always be able to find at least one flashlight while your house is completely in the dark.
• Keep your freezer and refrigerator doors closed to preserve the cool air. Food can last several hours in a power outage if it’s kept cool. Put a blanket over your refrigerator to add insulation to it. After the power is back on, if you’re in doubt, throw it out. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has handy tips about how long food will last in outages.
• Charge your phones, laptops and other devices if you know bad weather is coming, just in case an outage hits.

Stick with Patch throughout the storm for up-to-the-minute coverage.