With northbound Hurricane Sandy storming toward the East Coast and expected to arrive Tuesday, Civil Air Patrol’s Northeast Region and the Florida and Massachusetts wings have approved missions to move aircraft inland, and members throughout potentially affected areas stand ready to assist as needed. Wings throughout the potentially affected areas in CAP’s Middle East and Northeast regions are poised to respond to requests for assistance, which could include such missions as aerial imagery, emergency communications support, searches for missing aircraft or people, distribution of food or water, checking on residents or helping to fill and stack sandbags.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasters expect Sandy to affect conditions across coastal areas along the length of the Eastern Seaboard, but right now the strongest impact is expected in New Jersey and the New York City area.
Complicating the scenario are the expected arrivals of a major winter storm moving in from the west and frigid air flowing down from Canada, along with the presence of a full moon, producing high tides and the corresponding increased likelihood of coastal flooding.
The result, forecasters say, could be a destructive combination of high winds, heavy rains, flooding and – in the affected area’s western regions – snow.
Clearing weather isn’t expected until Nov. 1-2.
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