This is like staring down the barrel of a loaded gun.

As an ARES Deputy Emergency Coordinator for Middlesex County, NJ, my e-mail box has been inundated the past hours with all sorts of glad tidings about Hurricane Irene.  And let me tell you, right now it's not looking good for New Jersey.

Reports, warnings, path predicitions, rainfall amount predictions, wind velocity predictions .... and that's just what I've been getting from the National Weather Service!  There's also been other e-mails from NNJ ARES Leadership, our own CERT group keeping in touch, etc, etc, etc.

We've been blessed over the last decade not to have had any major hurricane damage in this area.  The worst was Hurricane Floyd back in 1999; and unfortunately, VERY unfortunately, Irene seems to be following an almost identical path.  This could result in major coastal flooding and beach erosion.  The Raritan River basin will most undoubtedly suffer MAJOR flooding.

Major portions of South Plainfield will probably be under water, if past experience proves true.

Not exactly the way I was hoping to spend the weekend, but - this is the kind of thing we have been training and drilling for.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!