Hurricane Central

[momcat]

Momcat ... I haven't seen you post for a couple of days; are you OK?

Hi Elyse and all my PT friends!
I'm happy to say that Soncat, Groucho, and I are okay. We lost power for 24 hours but there was only one house damaged on our street. A chimney came down and went through the roof, fortunately no injuries. Even though we dodged the bullet here, going a few blocks in any direction was a completely different world. Not far from here a tree fell and split a house in two and a building collapsed in downtown Trenton. NJ Transit suspended all trains and buses, some service has been restored but not everything is up and running yet. Schools are expected to reopen on Monday but that depends on power. Here in Mercer County 32,000 are still out. The problem is clearing away downed trees and branches plus there are live wires in some of the flood water. All state offices were closed for 3 days then we were called back on Thursday. Since the buses weren't running I wasn't able to get there. When I talked to my supervisor, she said very few made it in and the power at the office was in and out throughout the day. There are still a few friends that I haven't been able to contact both here in Trenton and a neighboring town. My cell phone message says either service not available or emergency calls only. Around here, nobody is going out unless they absolutely have to. Gas in in very short supply because of power outages, many stations that have gas don't have the electricity to pump it and stations with power are low on supply or have run out. The governor has ordered gas rationing.

Soncat and I consider ourselves among the lucky ones especially as we see pictures coming in from the shore area. I can't comprehend Atlantic City without its boardwalk. Places I spent a lot of time at in Asbury Park are gone. Getting to some shore areas is still impossible. For the past few days, weather reports on the local news are saying we could get a nor'easter on Wednesday with rain turning to snow. But while they are emphasizing this won't be anything near what Sandy was, there is a chance of more floods and power outages.

I've lived in New Jersey all my life and have never seen anything like this. To all of my PT friends that have been affected by this storm, please know you are all very much in my heart and will remain in my prayers. If there's ANYTHING I can do for you, please pm me and I'll do whatever I can to help.

[pomtzu]

Eileen - glad to hear that you're okay. I was starting to get concerned.

Alysser - so sorry to hear about your boyfriend's place. Who would have imagined that this storm would bring so much heartache and grief to so many people.

And to those in shelters or still without power - I pray for some sense of normalcy to return soon.

My granddaughter still hasn't been able to get back to her place - now they're saying maybe Tuesday. The university reopens on Wednesday and she has been displaced since the Friday before the storm hit when they had to evacuate. Don't know how all this is going to play out - and then another storm mid week too???

[ChrisH]

Posted on Facebook by MuttsComics.com - Patrick McDonnell

PLEASE SHARE THIS PHONE NUMBER AND INFO:
The Humane Society of the United States, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have teamed up to launch a 24-hour hotline for New Jersey evacuees who were unable to bring their pets with them before Hurricane Sandy hit. Evacuees with pets still at home or with emergency animal needs are urged to call the New Jersey Hurricane Sandy Pet Rescue hotline at 1-855-407-HSUS for assistance.

Editing to add the New York City Hotline, which is: 347-573-1561. Also the link to the website. http://www.humanesociety.org/news/di...-110212-1.html

.

[momcat]

Posted on Facebook by MuttsComics.com - Patrick McDonnell

PLEASE SHARE THIS PHONE NUMBER AND INFO:
The Humane Society of the United States, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have teamed up to launch a 24-hour hotline for New Jersey evacuees who were unable to bring their pets with them before Hurricane Sandy hit. Evacuees with pets still at home or with emergency animal needs are urged to call the New Jersey Hurricane Sandy Pet Rescue hotline at 1-855-407-HSUS for assistance.

ChrisH,
On behalf of all the pets and their owners that have been affected and in some cases separated, thank you for posting this important information. I've sent this on to a friend who is involved with animal rescue and asked her to spread the word to the shelters her group works with to make sure the word gets out.

[ChrisH]

You are more than welcome, I only wish I could do something more tangible.

If you think it would be of help perhaps you could also pass the info in this link on to your friend.

Veterinary Help for Hurricane Sandy Victims

[Alysser]

Turns out we miscommunicated somehow! I thought my Boyfriend said HIS house was gone, he meant his neighbors, and he said he THOUGHT his would be. The township posted pictures of all the properties. His house is in one piece! His Grandma's car is also still there. He may be able to go back to get some stuff tomorrow.

[Asiel]

Sending all the best to the PT'ers who have been affected by Sandy. We've never had to live through something like this so it's hard to comprehend the horrible damage we keep watching on the news. At worse we get power outages of a day and get snowed in for a couple of days but with snowblowers and tractors, payloaders, it doesn't take long to get out from under. But we never get the kind of hurricanes you get. I hope the predicted Nor'easter slips quietly into the ocena and loses force.

[smokey the elder]

I was in Florida on vacation while all this was unfolding, but got reports from my catsitters. Other than my cats becoming totally neurotic during the storm, everything was OK at my place. Poor little boos couldn't wait for us to get home on Friday, and were velcro (tm) kitties all weekend! I hope all the folks without power get it back soon. A piece of good news about Wednesday's storm: it's supposed to track more easterly so the effects should be minimal.

[momcat]

For all of my PT friends in New Jersey, if you are in need of help as a result of last week's storm click on the following link. It will take you to the "Hurricane Sandy Information Center". It provides information on what help is available and how to get what you need. If you have a problem accessing the link, please pm me.


http://nj.gov/nj/home/features/spotl...ne_sandy.shtml

[pomtzu]

Granddaughter's university starts back with classes today, but she is still without power at her condo. Odd - since it is only a little over a mile from campus. The lighthouse where her boyfriend lives got power back 2 days ago, so they have moved from one of his relative's houses, back to his place. Thankfully, she listened to her Dad's advice when he told her to take a lot along when she had to evacuate, so she's had clothes enough to get by on, plus all of her school books, laptop, etc. I do imagine this little "adventure" is starting to get pretty darn old tho, since it will be 2 weeks this Friday since she has been displaced.

And today the Nor'easter is marching up the coast. Hope it's not too bad for those already affected by Sandy. They are calling for wet snow here from this storm, later today.....

[Alysser]

I got stuck at work. An half hour drive took me an hour. I almost got into a huge accident going 25m MPH and I come home to find no power. I'm beyond upset, annoyed, disgusted and snappy. Not to mention, I found out my coworkers house got washed away in the hurricane. All in all this day has not been one of the best

[Karen]

Awww, I felt sorry for all the people we saw stuck in traffic this afternoon - seems like a lot of companies let folks go early - so everyone had to sit in so much traffic, they probably got home later, and more stressed, than if they had stayed to their usual time!

[Alysser]

No, Karen It wasn't because of traffic. It was because of the snow.