County Executive Urges Residents to Prepare for Sandy

With the latest computer models indicating that Hurricane Sandy is headed our way and will bring significant rain, winds and flooding to New Jersey, Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes released a statement urging county residents to plan and prepare for the storm’s arrival.

“If we needed further evidence that Mercer County is vulnerable to the torrential rains and strong winds that accompany tropical storms and hurricanes, the heavy toll exacted on us by [Hurricane] Irene was certainly it,” Hughes said. “It’s important that residents be prepared for a storm of that magnitude and not risk putting themselves in harm’s way by waiting until the last minute.”

Hughes suggested residents take the following readiness steps:

• Put together a kit of emergency supplies that includes a three-day supply of canned, non-perishable, ready-to-eat food; a three-day supply of water (a total of 3 gallons per family member); a battery-operated radio and extra batteries; a flashlight and extra batteries; and a first aid kit.
• Make a plan for what you and your family will do during an emergency. This includes knowing how to evacuate and how to “shelter in place,” which means stay home and avoid driving if at all possible.
• Stay informed of possible threats by tuning in to your local media outlets for the latest breaking weather news. Also register for the Alert-MercerCounty emergency notification system at https://mercercounty.onthealert.com

The State Office of Emergency Management has prepared a “Hurricane Survival Guide for New Jersey” that’s a complete resource for preparing your home or business for hurricane season. You can find it on the New Jersey OEM website www.ready.nj.gov/ or by visiting the Mercer County website www.mercercounty.org.

The hurricane season usually runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, but the peak time for storm activity in New Jersey is mid-August through the end of October.