Before Sandy

So hurricane Sandy is coming, apparently. It's kinda weird outside. Not the weather. That's just a bit windy. It's the people and the atmosphere. The City announced the subway system is going to shut from 7pm for at least 24 hours it seems, as a precaution in case of flooding (and because some of the subway lines are above ground so the wind also affects the subway trains) and so it's caused most offices to let people work from home (well, there's no choice, since there is no other way to get around--the buses will also not be running) and all kinds of media hype about the hurricane and how to get prepared. The subway people are even covering up subway entrances (and other shafts that could allow water to get into the subway) with wood and sandbags.

Of course it's better to be over-prepared than under-prepared but it is somewhat surreal. There's two kinda people out of their houses. The people lining up in the big supermarkets queueing for a very long time to buy stuff (to prepare for a storm that might only be a day or two) and then there are the people out eating and drinking. Most of the chains of restaurants or cafes have now closed (it's 5.30pm) until further notice but all the independent corner shops and restaurants are open and doing just fine. While the big supermarkets are running out of certain stock, the corner shops seem just fine; and are planning on being open tomorrow too (well, i only asked 1, so i can't speak for all the rest!). We've bought some large bottles of water just in case, though i can barely imagine the underground water system being affected! We have candles too, in case we lose electricity. I think they did lose electricity last year. Well, so the internet won't work. I guess we'll just have to survive. We've got some alcohol to go with the candles!

Apart from that, it's just kind of weird. Everyone talking about it, everyone preparing for it, and just....waiting. wondering if it is all a storm in a teacup or if it's actually a storm! I guess we'll find out sometime tonight or tomorrow morning. Unfortunately for my housemates, who are all doctors, they have to work overtime since we live fairly close to the hospital so they can walk in, whilst their colleagues who live further out won't be able to get in to the hospital due to the subway closures. I guess why most of us are a bit skeptical is the hurricane in New Orleans was a big deal because the walls keeping the ocean away from the city collapsed, hence all the flooding. Downtown New York is fairly far from the ocean (although the river was a bit choppy this afternoon). When I went for a run down to the tip of Manhattan, there was already two TV weather crews down there filming by the choppy waters. Anyway, more updates to come later I imagine. Maybe they'll be more exciting than this one, or maybe they'll be more boring!