How To Prepare For Winter Storm Nemo, And How Bensonhurst Bean Can Help

Winter storm Nemo is taking on the northeast today and tomorrow, throwing government officials and media outlets into a tizzy.

While we know New York City has certainly seen worse than the foot or so of snow expected, the precipitation combined with high winds and storm surges in coastal areas merits some caution.

The current predictions from the National Weather Service are as follows:

• Rain and snow will turn into all snow by 3 p.m., totaling 2-to-4 inches before evening, with wind gusts hitting as high as 39 mph.
• Snow will pick up in the evening, with as much as 5-to-9 inches piling up, and winds pick up speed to 46 mph.
• Snow will continue into Saturday morning, adding about one inch into the mix, while wind gusts slow down a bit to 41 mph. Saturday will be mostly sunny, with highs around 31 degrees.

The high winds are expected to fuel a storm surge of three to five feet, an amount that Southern Brooklyn would normally handle without incident. However, concerns are that some coastal defenses remain down after Sandy, and some flooding may occur locally.

So what’s the worst that can happen? While the Weather Channel may be calling Nemo “historic,” and the city is rushing about to look as prepared as possible following Bloomberg’s 2010 mishap, we think we’ll be all right. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare. Here are some precautions you should take:

• Avoid unnecessary travel – Wet or icy roads are dangerous enough. But also avoid going out on foot or any other means. Strong winds could dislodge tree limbs or other debris, which can turn deadly.
• Prepare for power outages – Charge all of your mobile devices and any other electronics you may need, and make sure you have fresh batteries in your radios and alarm clocks. Con Edison infrastructure is still vulnerable following Superstorm Sandy, and power lines can be knocked out.
• We hate telling people to stock up on water, gasoline and other such supplies, but if you can, you should.
• Check on your neighbors, especially if you live next to senior citizens or disabled people. Hey, even if they’re better prepared than you, you’ll score points for being a nice neighbor and maybe they’ll invite you over for some pie another day.
• When shoveling, don’t overexert yourself, and be aware of utilities. Don’t cover up fire hydrants in mounds of snow.

Currently, alternate side parking is suspended, but meters are in effect and school is in session. If you get antsy waiting for the city snow plows, you can monitor their progress at PlowNYC, set up after complaints from the 2010 blizzard.

As for Bensonhurst Bean, we won’t be freaking out, but we will be covering the most important information about the storm as it happens. Turn here for the latest information from government authorities and utility companies, school, transit and road closures, as well as on-the-ground reports from readers around the neighborhood.

And remember to save our e-mail address (nberke [at] bensonhurstbean [dot] com), phone number (347-985-0633) and Twitter account (@bensonhurstbean) into your phone. If you see downed trees or power lines, flooding, or anything else, snap a photo with your cell phone and e-mail, text or Tweet it over.

Oh, and send all your pretty snow photos over to nberke [at] bensonhurstbean [dot] com.

Good luck, and be safe!