Sound Shore

President Barack Obama warned Friday that Hurricane Irene may be an “extremely dangerous and costly storm” and that all indications point to it being a “historic hurricane.”

Are you preparing? Let us know:

Speaking of hurricanes, here’s a little historical perspective, courtesy of the National Weather Service. Who knew that empires were won and lost and Shakespeare plots forged by the whims—make that winds—of hurricanes and tropical storms? If you’re interested, follow the jump…

New Rochelle city officials are planning for the worst from Irene. Below, a statement, in full, from City Hall:

The City of New Rochelle is actively preparing for Hurricane Irene, which is predicted to affect our area early Sunday morning. While the direct path and intensity of the storm is yet to be determined, heavy rains and high tides may result in significant flooding and high winds could knock out electricity.

Residents are urged to prepare now. In advance of and during the storm, the City will issue regular updates through the following communications channels:

Website: The City website www.newrochelleny.com will have the latest News Flash and Emergency Alerts which will also be posted on our Facebook and Twitter pages

Bulletin: NRTV Cable Channel 75 and FIOS Channel 28

Connect-CTY Emergency calls will be made as necessary

News Releases to local news outlets

Residents can subscribe to receive these emergency alerts directly through the City’s website at www.newrochelleny.com.

PREPAREDNESS

As with any disaster or emergency, residents are encouraged to Get a Kit and Make a Plan. Make a kit – specifically, a go-bag for use in an evacuation and a household disaster kit to enable a family to survive at home for several days without electricity. Have a plan – A family emergency plan should include deciding where to go in the event you have to leave your home. Don’t forget to make plans for your pets as well. A complete list of action steps can be found on the City of New Rochelle website www.newrochelleny.com/prepare ;  www.westchestergov.com and www.ready.gov.

To prepare specifically for a tropical storm or hurricane:

• Frequently listen to your radio, television or NOAA Weather Radio for official bulletins on the progress of the storm.


• Fuel and service family vehicles. Service stations may be unable to pump fuel because of flooding or loss of electrical service.


• Moor small craft or move to safe shelter.


• Check on supplies. Make sure you have flashlights and batteries on hand, as well as at least a three-day supply of water and non-perishable foods, as well as first aid and medications


• Consider the special needs of young children, disabled or elderly family members


• Secure or bring inside lawn furniture and other loose, lightweight objects, such as garbage cans and garden tools that could become a projectile in high winds.


• Homeowners with active building permits should make sure all materials secured or stored indoors. Roofing projects should secure all loose materials and scaffolding should be lowered or removed. Soil erosion control measures should also be maintained.


• Have on hand an extra supply of cash.


• Print out a list of important phone numbers and insure the safety of important documents.

Here’s a look at today’s opinion content:

The earthquake and Hurricane Irene: Editorial
We comment on the weird week in tectonics and meteorolgy. Tuesday’s earthquake, which did cause some damage in Washington, D.C. and Virginia, was not really comparable to the major earthquakes our friends in California experience. Hurricane Irene, however, may present some challenges to our area. We write:

… Tuesday’s quake activity was “slightly” out of the ordinary, in terms of magnitude and location. USA Today, which has allegiance to both coasts, quoted experts who called the activity “significant, but not unprecedented.” They explained: “A quake the size of Tuesday’s last struck Virginia in 1897. Similar quakes have struck the wider region, most recently a magnitude-6.0 quake in Quebec on Nov. 25, 1986.” The Virginia quake was described as “somewhat surprising” because South Carolina and the New Madrid fault region near Memphis “are seen as the hot spots for quakes in the eastern United States.”

That’s all interesting perspective on the day after. New Yorkers, however, have doubtless already put the earthquake behind them and started to train their attention on the next bout with nature. Hurricane Irene, ominously pointed in this direction, is up next. From a breathless Weather Channel report Wednesday afternoon: “The potential is real for the strongest hurricane hit on the Northeast in at least a couple decades this weekend!”