Emergency management officials are preparing as the storm works its way up the East Coast through the Labor Day weekend.
The powerful storm that hit Florida as Hurricane Hermine on Friday will arrive off the Jersey Shore on Saturday.
The National Weather Service offered this projected path for Hermine.Forecasters say Cape May and Atlantic counties could see some of the worst effects from this storm, with rain beginning by late Saturday morning, though the exact track of Hermine remains unclear.
The center of the storm is expected to remain off shore.
New Jersey officials offered various tips for residents living along the shore and visitors spending the Labor Day weekend at the beach.
Safety first
When the storm arrives, stay off the beaches and out of the water, advised Bob Matteucci, emergency management coordinator for North Wildwood
"Some people think nothing can happen to them, but you've got to watch the riptides," he said. "You don't want to get caught in one. Lifeguards won't be there if beaches are closed."
Linda Gilmore, spokeswoman for Atlantic County, echoed the message about water safety on that county's beaches.
"We want to make sure they always swim at guarded beaches," Gilmore said. "Riptides are not anything to take chances with."
Avoid walking barefoot on flooded roadways -- you never know what you could step on -- and avoid driving through high waters. Apart from safety consideration, saltwater will ruin your car.
"If there is water on the street, you shouldn't be on that street," Matteucci said. He also cautioned parents to not allow kids to play in floodwaters.
Those vacationing at the shore should consider heading home, rather than trying to stick around for that last official summer weekend.
"You've got to think, do you want to be here," Matteucci said. "They want to get that last weekend in, but it may be worthwhile to just go back home and come back another weekend."
Protect your property
Matteucci cautioned residents to bring in trash cans, sun umbrellas, kids toys and anything else that could become a projectile in high winds or float away in flooding.
The Red Cross also advises to:
- Put plywood over your home's windows.
- If you have a sump pump for your basement, make sure it's working
- If local officials do not advise you to evacuate, stay inside, away from windows, skylights and glass doors.
- Do not use open flames, such as candles and kerosene lamps, as a source of light in case of power or gas outages.
Pack a safety kit
"Check your disaster supply kits," Gilmore advised residents, adding that September is coincidentally National Preparedness Month. Online resources provide extensive information on preparing for emergencies.
The Red Cross recommends including the following items in your portable, waterproof evacuation kit:
- Water: One gallon per person, per day.
- Food: Non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items such as tuna fish, peanut butter, crackers and canned fruit. Make sure to include a manual can opener.
- A battery powered or hand-crank radio, flashlights and extra batteries.
- A first-aid kit.
- Medication: Prescription and non-prescription medication items. Include medical supplies like extra hearing aid batteries, syringes, etc.
- Copies of important documents. The IRS also suggests that documents like tax returns, home-closing statements, vehicle titles, insurance records, birth, death or marriage certificates and legal paperwork should be scanned, encrypted and saved digitally. It's also helpful to take inventory of important possessions, make a list of emergency contacts, said the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and gather appraisals of items like jewelry, collectibles and artwork in a safe place.
- Extra cash. ATMs and credit cards won't work if the power is out.
- One blanket or sleeping bag per person.
- Pet supplies
"Talk to your family members about a plan if you had to leave the area," Gilmore added. County evacuation route information can be found online at readyatlantic.org.
If the lights go out
Utility companies offered the following tips in the event of outages and downed wires:
- Avoid downed power lines.
- Identify a safe alternate location to stay in case of an extended power outage.
- If using a personal generator, do not use it indoors or inside an attached garage. Do not connect a generator directly to the home's wiring, as this could injure or kill utility workers making power line repairs.
- Charge your mobile devices.
- Fill up your gas tank.
- Ensure you have a battery-powered radio and a supply of fresh batteries.
- Put your refrigerator and freezer at the coldest setting.
- Keep a blanket handy to throw over these appliances for added insulation.
- If electricity is interrupted, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
To report outages or downed wires:
- Atlantic City Electric: 1-800-833-7476.
- PSE&G: 1-800-436-PSEG
- JCP&L: 1-888-544-4877
Stay tuned
You have plenty of ways to keep track of the storm and stay up-to-date with alerts:
- Visit the State Police Office of Emergency Management's emergency preparedness website.
- Gather phone numbers for your local emergency officials. Know how they will notify you if you need to evacuate.
- Several communities now offer emergency preparation smartphone apps to provide residents with current information on storm progress, emergency resources and evacuation details.
- Keep visiting NJ.com for the latest news about the storm's path, evacuations, road closures and other important information.
Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.