Delaware coastline on alert for Sandy

Delaware officials warned Friday there is great possibility evacuations are coming along coastal areas in Delaware. Looking up and down the coast it certainly looked like the calm before the storm.

As state officials get ready for the storm there are predictions that from 5-8% of the population along the coastal region could seek shelter at the height of the storm. Jamie Turner, the Director of Delaware Emergency Management office said that his agency is looking at data provided by the National Hurricane Center on how the  potential tracks of the storm will impact the state. 

Governor Jack Markell (D-Delaware) did emphasize that there is not a state of emergency planned on Friday, but said that if driving restrictions were imposed the information would be sent out via the website, www.delaware.gov.

Turner said there was peninsula wide conference call early on Friday to coordinate efforts between Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia should the storm severely impact the region.  

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With the predictions of the heaviest rains happening Monday into Tuesday the state is also watching the beach areas.  DNREC Secretary Colin O’Mara said that beach replinishment projects over the past couple of years have built up those beaches, but he added there is a concern about wind coming up the Delaware Bay as opposed to coming across New Jersey.

DNREC did close all state parks for the weekend effective at 5pm Friday.

Places like Bowers Beach, which have been hit hard in the past, were on alert.  The Bowers Beach Fire company put out a web alert to residents.  There some preparations being made along the beaches in Rehoboth and Dewey.  State officials have even been discussed the status of the Sea Witch festival in Rehoboth and it WILL take place as planned.  

 

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