Nor'easter's expected arrival prompts New Jersey Office of Emergency Management to active Operations Center
In advance of the nor'easter, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management activated its Operations Center on Saturday.
Acting Gov. Tahesha Way also declared a state of emergency, which was to take effect at 10 p.m. and stay in effect well into Monday. Way added she has been coordinating with several departments to make sure everything is in place.
New Jersey is bracing for moderate to major coastal flooding and strong wind gusts. Forecasts show some areas could see up to three inches of rain.
Along the East Coast, the National Weather Service is forecasting heavy rain, major coastal flooding, strong rip currents, and damaging winds up to 55 mph that can potentially bring down trees and powerlines.
Communities getting ready to batten down the hatches
Seaside Heights Mayor Anthony Voz said if the storm gets fierce, the town will be ready.
"We've become very diligent to storms since Superstorm Sandy. We will do street-by-street notifications, either depending on the situation, bullhorn, microphone, or knocking on doors, which we have in evacuation in the past," Voz said.
On Friday, members of Monmouth County's OEM filled hundreds of sandbags, cleared the beach, and positioned high-water vehicles.
Residents will also want to keep a close eye on NJ Transit. Officials say weather conditions could impact service.
Throughout coastal areas, residents were out and about Saturday grabbing essentials and preparing their homes to weather the storm.
"I'm shopping for food so I don't have to come back out," Paramus resident Erica Geralds said.
"Definitely batteries, bottled water, flashlights, candles, so, all of that," Jessica Salgado said.
"I'm just tying down the stuff in the back yard, the law chairs, and covering the grill and everything," Adrian Smith added.
Con Edison adds reinforcements in New York
In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul wants everyone to be vigilant.
"As this coastal storm approaches, I'm urging all New Yorkers to stay alert, watch the forecast closely, and take steps now to prepare," Hochul wrote, in part, on social media.
She said personnel and equipment are on standby to respond to flooding and downed trees. In the Westchester County town of Greenburgh, drivers lined up to pick up sandbags.
Con Edison said it is bringing in 900 mutual aid workers to help respond to the storm.
Starting at 3 p.m. on Sunday, MTA Bridges and Tunnels is banning empty tractor-trailers and tandem trucks from seven bridges.
