Officials have posted a tropical storm watch along the entire Jersey shore as “Hanna” continues churning in the Atlantic Ocean – and most of New Jersey is under a flood watch. The National Weather Service says Hanna can bring as many as 7 inches of rain from late Friday night into Motzei Shabbos.

This information prompted Lakewood Police Chief Rob Lawson to activate the OEM, and have all essential personnel on call throughout Shabbos.

Chief Lawson spoke with YWN on Friday afternoon, who said that due to the fact that the storm will be hitting on Shabbos, additional steps were taken to help the Frum residents of Lakewood.

Firstly the Chief says that additional police will be on patrol throughout Shabbos, and they have been instructed to drive much slower, and be on the lookout for anyone seeking help.

Chief Lawson advises all residents to read the following items to protect themselves:

*Secure loose objects around your home, such as outdoor furniture and garbage cans.

*Do not park your vehicle under trees because tree limbs may come down during the storm.

*The strong winds may bring down power lines. Keep a supply of fresh batteries in case of a prolonged power outage. Have some ice on hand in case you need to transfer some of your refrigerator’s contents to a cooler.

*If you live in a flood-prone location, be prepared to move inland or to higher ground.

Many folks don’t think that there can be flash flooding in Lakewood, but the Chief reminds everyone of the June 23 flash flooding which buried cars under water in parts of Lakewood (reported HERE on YWN). In that incident Chaverim of Lakewood assisted many residents and motorists prompting local officials to give an award to Chaveirim at an event (as reported HERE on YWN).

“I have placed Lakewood Chaveirim, and Hatzolah on stand-by should their assistance be needed”, Lawson said.

The Chief concluded: “Residents should not ignore this – but play it safe, and take proper precautions to ensure that everyone has a great Shabbos”.

YWN reminds all readers to secure all your items prior to Shabbos – because the wind might move them to an are outside of an Eruv.

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE WAS POSTED ON THE WCBSTV WEBSITE: 

All eyes are on the Atlantic Ocean. A trio of powerful summer storms could cause major problems for people everywhere from southern Florida to New York City and coastal regions such as the Jersey shore to the eastern tip of Long Island.

All interests along the Eastern Seaboard from Florida to New England should be closely monitoring these storms, while preparing their homes and businesses and putting together an emergency plan.

Tropical Storm Hanna is expected to move along the middle Atlantic coast Saturday and Saturday night. It is expected to bring 3 to 5 inches of rain to the watch area from late Friday night into Saturday night. These rainfall totals have the potential to produce some flooding across the area, especially dangerous across highly urbanized and poor drainage areas.

Tropical storm watches or warnings were extended to areas just south of New York City on Friday as states along the Atlantic braced for Hanna.

And forecasters said Hanna could still become a hurricane before its expected arrival on U.S. shores after roaring past the edge of the Bahamas on Thursday.

A tropical storm warning was in effect stretching from Altamaha Sound in Georgia northward to Chincoteague, Va., just south of Maryland. And a tropical storm watch was in effect for areas between Chincoteague and Sandy Hook, N.J., including Washington.

Some southeastern states declared emergencies and officials urged residents to head inland Thursday as Hanna headed toward the Atlantic coast, where it could bring high winds and rain from South Carolina to Maine.

Meanwhile, disaster planners eyed ferocious-looking Hurricane Ike, which weakend to a Category 3 storm early Friday but was still considered a dangerous hurricane by the National Hurricane Center.

And with power outages and problems from Hurricane Gustav lingering in Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and relief groups found themselves juggling three storms.

Rain and wind from Hanna could start as early as Friday night in the South, where some residents shuttered houses and stocked up on food and sandbags, coastal parks closed, and schools canceled events and changed sports schedules.

The governors of Virginia and North Carolina declared states of emergency. North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley urged residents to pay attention because Hanna’s path could change.

Still, some scoffed at the storm that has killed at least 137 people in Haiti. Instead, they turned their attention to Ike, a powerful hurricane approaching the Bahamas. FEMA was sending hundreds of truckloads of meals, water and other supplies to the East Coast but also leaving resources on the Gulf Coast in case Ike heads there.

Emergency managers in New England also planned for Hanna, which could hit this weekend with heavy rain and strong winds. In Providence, R.I., workers cleared storm drains and stocked up on sandbags and residents were urged to buy supplies.

Meanwhile, Haiti’s government more than doubled Hanna’s death toll late Thursday to 137. It had previously been 61. Eighty of the deaths occurred in the flooded region of Gonaives and another 22 people died in areas immediately surrounding the port, according to statements released by the Ministry of the Interior and the Civil Protection Department.

(Yehuda Drudgestein – YWN)