An Update Provided by the Oceanport Office of Emergency Management

A hurricane or strong tropical storm will affect the mid-Atlantic region late this weekend into early next week. Sandy will bring multiple dangers to our area:

• Strong damaging sustained winds up to or exceeding hurricane strength (74 mph) over a prolonged period of time (24 to 48 hours). Gusts will be higher.
• Extremely heavy rainfall.
• Major flooding along streams and rivers.
• Major coastal flooding. The full moon on October 29 just makes things worse.
• The eventual track of this storm will determine the area which is impacted. While Sandy could still track a little further to our north, or a little further to our south, we will be feeling her effects one way or the other starting late this weekend (Sunday), continuing into Tuesday of next week.
• Next briefing package will be issued by 1000 AM Saturday, October 27th.
• Sandy is currently a Category I hurricane, with some further weakening possible. However, Sandy is expected to remain at or near hurricane strength for the next several days.
• Its forecast track poses a direct threat to our region.
• It is forecast to still have sustained winds of 70 mph with higher gusts as it approaches our region.
• This is a very dangerous scenario.
• A very large portion our region will be affected by very strong winds over a prolonged period.
• Reflecting its tropical beginnings, very heavy rainfall will occur with the storm.
• The storm will be slow moving. This worsens the impact for tidal flooding along the ocean front, back bays, Delaware Bay and Chesapeake Bay as water builds up over multiple high tide cycles. The slow moving storm also worsens the potential for heavy rainfall inland and increases the risk of major river flooding.
• The area affected will, of course, be determined by the eventual track of the storm. While there is still a chance the path of this storm may move a little further to our north, or a little further to our south, we will be feeling its effects one way or the other.