NW Philly and burbs make last minute preparations for Irene

    August 27, 2011
    • In Cape May Friday, residents finish boarding up before evacuating. (Kim Paynter/NewsWorks)

      In Cape May Friday, residents finish boarding up before evacuating. (Kim Paynter/NewsWorks)

    • Barry Sharp in front of his home in Wildwood Crest. He has been a resident for 50 years and plans to ride out the storm. (Kimberly Paynter/For NewsWorks)

      Barry Sharp in front of his home in Wildwood Crest. He has been a resident for 50 years and plans to ride out the storm. (Kimberly Paynter/For NewsWorks)

    • The Paradise Motel is boarding up for Hurricane Irene in Wildwood, N.J. (Kimberly Paynter/For NewsWorks)

      The Paradise Motel is boarding up for Hurricane Irene in Wildwood, N.J. (Kimberly Paynter/For NewsWorks)

    • A deserted beach at Wildwood Crest. (Kim Paynter/For NewsWorks)

      A deserted beach at Wildwood Crest. (Kim Paynter/For NewsWorks)

    • A police officer is on crowd-control duty outside the Atlantic City Convention Center, which is being used as an evacuation center for hundreds of city residents fleeing the approach of Hurricane Irene. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)

      A police officer is on crowd-control duty outside the Atlantic City Convention Center, which is being used as an evacuation center for hundreds of city residents fleeing the approach of Hurricane Irene. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)

    • Patience was required for shore evacuees on the Parkway. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

      Patience was required for shore evacuees on the Parkway. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

    • Hurricane preparation near Washington Mall in Cape May, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

      Hurricane preparation near Washington Mall in Cape May, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

    • Traffic jams the Garden State Parkway across the Great Egg Harbor Bay Inlet Bridge near Ocean City, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

      Traffic jams the Garden State Parkway across the Great Egg Harbor Bay Inlet Bridge near Ocean City, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

    • A Superfresh employee replenishes depleted stocks of bottled water at a store in the Northern Liberties. (Peter Crimmins/For NewsWorks)

      A Superfresh employee replenishes depleted stocks of bottled water at a store in the Northern Liberties. (Peter Crimmins/For NewsWorks)

    • The Southeastern Pennsylvania chapter of the Red Cross set up a shelter Friday night at Lincoln High School in Mayfair.

      The Southeastern Pennsylvania chapter of the Red Cross set up a shelter Friday night at Lincoln High School in Mayfair.

    • Home Depot remained open late into the night as residents prepare for the worst as Hurricane Irene makes it's way up the east coast, Thursday Aug. 25, 2011 in Manahawkin, N.J. Tens of thousands of visitors to the New Jersey shore and many residents have begun an orderly exodus after a series of requests to evacuate because of Hurricane Irene. (AP Photo/Joe Epstein)

      Home Depot remained open late into the night as residents prepare for the worst as Hurricane Irene makes it's way up the east coast, Thursday Aug. 25, 2011 in Manahawkin, N.J. Tens of thousands of visitors to the New Jersey shore and many residents have begun an orderly exodus after a series of requests to evacuate because of Hurricane Irene. (AP Photo/Joe Epstein)

    • Shoppers Friday had to wait in long lines at one Philadelphia market as many stocked up on supplies for Hurricane Irene.

      Shoppers Friday had to wait in long lines at one Philadelphia market as many stocked up on supplies for Hurricane Irene.

    • Governor Jack Markell waived all tolls on Delaware Route 1 to make sure people could evacuate the coastal areas quickly. (John Mussoni/For NewsWorks)

      Governor Jack Markell waived all tolls on Delaware Route 1 to make sure people could evacuate the coastal areas quickly. (John Mussoni/For NewsWorks)

    • The abandoned toll booth on Delaware Route 1 at the Roth bridge. (John Mussoni/For NewsWorks)

      The abandoned toll booth on Delaware Route 1 at the Roth bridge. (John Mussoni/For NewsWorks)

    • There were only light winds at 10am Saturday, but the Delaware River was already getting choppy at Delaware City. (John Mussoni/For NewsWorks)

      There were only light winds at 10am Saturday, but the Delaware River was already getting choppy at Delaware City. (John Mussoni/For NewsWorks)

    • Businesses in flood areas were ordered closed by Governor Jack Markell. Crabby Dicks in Delaware City got the message. (John Mussoni/For NewsWorks)

      Businesses in flood areas were ordered closed by Governor Jack Markell. Crabby Dicks in Delaware City got the message. (John Mussoni/For NewsWorks)

    • Some boaters at the Delaware City marina made last minute preps hoping for the best during Irene. (John Mussoni/For NewsWorks)

      Some boaters at the Delaware City marina made last minute preps hoping for the best during Irene. (John Mussoni/For NewsWorks)

    • A Cape May police officer, second from left, talks with a group of surfers on the boardwalk early Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011, in Cape May, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

      A Cape May police officer, second from left, talks with a group of surfers on the boardwalk early Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011, in Cape May, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

    • A parking payment station in Center City Philadlephia is wrapped in plastic. The city is offering free parking during the hurricane. (Tom MacDonald/For NewsWorks)

      A parking payment station in Center City Philadlephia is wrapped in plastic. The city is offering free parking during the hurricane. (Tom MacDonald/For NewsWorks)

    • Some people turned to movies ahead of Hurricane Irene's visit. A small line formed at the $1 DVD rental stand as some look to keep busy while waiting out the hurricane. (Tom MacDonald/For NewsWorks)

      Some people turned to movies ahead of Hurricane Irene's visit. A small line formed at the $1 DVD rental stand as some look to keep busy while waiting out the hurricane. (Tom MacDonald/For NewsWorks)

    • New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie gives a news conference in Trenton, N.J. as the state prepares for the arrival of Hurricane Irene on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

      New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie gives a news conference in Trenton, N.J. as the state prepares for the arrival of Hurricane Irene on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

    • Rain began to fall on the Manayunk Canal around 11 a.m. on Saturday. (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)

      Rain began to fall on the Manayunk Canal around 11 a.m. on Saturday. (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)

    • Manayunk Brewery is prepared with sandbags and water pumps (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)

      Manayunk Brewery is prepared with sandbags and water pumps (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)

    • Sandbags sit at the front door of a furniture store on Main Street (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)

      Sandbags sit at the front door of a furniture store on Main Street (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)

    • Main Street in Manayunk (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)

      Main Street in Manayunk (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)

    • Main Street in Manayunk (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)

      Main Street in Manayunk (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)

    • The entire driveway is expected to flood. Building caretaker, Kris Alutius, jokingly calls the Philadelphia Canoe Club

      The entire driveway is expected to flood. Building caretaker, Kris Alutius, jokingly calls the Philadelphia Canoe Club

    • About 30 members showed up at 8 a.m. on Saturday to help move the boats and equipment. (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)

      About 30 members showed up at 8 a.m. on Saturday to help move the boats and equipment. (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)

    • Whatever can't be moved to higher ground is being tied down at the Philadelphia Canoe Club, including these benches (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)

      Whatever can't be moved to higher ground is being tied down at the Philadelphia Canoe Club, including these benches (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)

    • Members of the Philadelphia Canoe Club have kayaked inside the building during previous hurricanes. (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)

      Members of the Philadelphia Canoe Club have kayaked inside the building during previous hurricanes. (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)

    • A house on Main Street along the Manayunk Canal prepares for the storm. (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)

      A house on Main Street along the Manayunk Canal prepares for the storm. (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)

    • In the Outer Banks of N.C., a fishing pier looses pilings. On Saturday night, Atlantic City, N.J., and other evacuated shore towns stood in the path of the hurricane. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

      In the Outer Banks of N.C., a fishing pier looses pilings. On Saturday night, Atlantic City, N.J., and other evacuated shore towns stood in the path of the hurricane. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

    • A man drives his car through a flooded street in New Bern, N.C. With flooding likely here, area motorists have been warned to never drive into standing water. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

      A man drives his car through a flooded street in New Bern, N.C. With flooding likely here, area motorists have been warned to never drive into standing water. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

    • Vehicles sit in flood waters at a auto repair shop in North Carolina on Saturday. Phila. Nutter and other officials are extremely worried about regional flooding. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

      Vehicles sit in flood waters at a auto repair shop in North Carolina on Saturday. Phila. Nutter and other officials are extremely worried about regional flooding. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

    As Hurricane Irene makes her way up the eastern seaboard residents in the Northwest section of Philadelphia prepare for the storm.

    Although Philadelphians have not been mandated to evacuate, Mayor Nutter has recommended that residents take the necessary precautions to brace themselves for impact and urged them to evacuate to a shelter or other safe location if necessary.

    Earlier in the day, before bands of rain moved in, many area residents came out to attend Germantown High School’s back to school bash. Mt. Airy resident Amira Cutts said, “I do not believe Hurricane Irene will be as serious as its being reported.” Carolyn Faris of East Falls added, “I am prepared but we will see what happens, hopefully it is not as bad as the news says it is.”

    Area stores were crowded as the normal Saturday errands took a back seat to storm preparation. At Walmart in Cedarbrook, shelves that usually held bottled water were empty and the supply of bread was dwindling. Propane camping lanterns and batteries were popular items.

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     One shopper at Pathmark at Wayne and Chelten admitted, “I hope the news is blowing Hurricane Irene out of proportion but I am following the instructions given from the Mayor.”

    In Glenside gas Micheal Mansell was filled his car with gas along with two five gallon canisters.  The extra gas was for generators to power sump pumps if electricy goes out.  “I’m trying to help myself, and my neighbors. Keep us from flooding”.

    Maria Lucas bought vodka and rum at the Wine and Spirits shop on Easton Road for an impromptu hurricane party.  Lucas is housing 3 family members who were evacuated from Somers Point, NJ.  “We’ll drink away our sorrows”, Lucas said with a smile.

    Within the past week, Hurricane Irene has lowered its intensity to a category 1 making it appear to be weaker, but Linda Kern who is a resident of Germantown and a disaster assistance worker for FEMA said, “Everyone should still take this hurricane seriously. “I have seen people lose everything they own and no one wants to be in that position.”

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