As a worldwide initiative we are sending prayers of love and safety to the people along the Eastern seaboard of the United States in the path of Hurricane Sandy. We pray to calm her winds and to lessen her rains and storm surges to prevent the least amount of destruction possible. We will continue to keep them in our thoughts during this onslaught by Mother Nature as Hurricane Sandy bears down on that area.

Hurricane Sandy also being called 'Frankenstorm' is approaching the Eastern seaboard of the U.S. It is a category 1 Hurricane with 90 mph winds coupled with the high tides of the full moon which could produce storm surges of up to 6 to 11 feet. Hurricane Sandy is 800 miles wide, moving slowly and will effect states from North Carolina to Maine for an extended period of time this week. The hardest hit areas will be the New Jersey coastline, NYC and Long Island.

The number of people that could be effected are between 50-60 million. Power outages and flooding will be the biggest problems caused by Sandy. In addition to the hurricane a snow blizzard is moving in behind the hurricane and could bring up to 1-2 ft. of snow from Kentucky to Virginia.

If you are in that area please follow the suggestions below to prepare to ride out the storm.

Before the storm:

*Make sure you have ample drinking water. Fill pots, tubs or jugs with water from your tap, or buy bottled water

*Make sure you have plenty of food that does not require refrigeration and that can be safely eaten without cooking it

*Assemble a basic emergency kit

*Check that flashlights and other battery-operated devices (such as a radio) have fresh batteries

*Have cash on-hand, as bank machines and interac will not be working in a blackout

*Make sure your vehicle has a full tank of gas

*If you live in a house:

*Tie down or remove loose items from your lawn and yard that may be blown around by the strong winds

*Clear leaves and debris from your rain gutters, to help your home's built-in defenses keep it safe from water damage

*Rake the leaves from your yard, and clear any leaves and debris from street gutters in front of your property, to keep rainwater drainage systems as clear as possible

*If possible, cut down any dead branches or trees around your house, to reduce the chance of damage to your home or power-outages due to downed power lines If you live in an apartment building:

*Be aware that winds at the top of a high-rise building can be significantly stronger than winds on the ground

*Bring any items from your balcony inside, or tie them down to prevent them from being blow around.


During the storm:

*Stay indoors as much as possible

*Stay alert for warnings

*Watch out for your neighbours, so that you may help them in an emergency; we are all safer when we are all looking out for one another

*If you live in an apartment building, use the elevator as little as possible, as you never know when the power may go out

If the power do goes out:

*Do not use candles for light as they may cause a fire

*Turn off all electronics and appliances

*Turn off all lights except one — so that you will know when the power comes back on

*Food in the refrigerator will last for roughly 24 hours (about six hours for dairy products), and food in the freezer will last for 24 hours if it is partially full, or up to 48 hours if it is completely full; each time you open the refrigerator or freezer door, this time will be reduced

*Manage your food and water supplies, but do not ration water — drink when you are thirsty to avoid dehydration.


How to prepare emotionally and psychologically for Hurricane Sandy ~

By John M. Grohol, PsyD

1. Be prepared.

Hopefully you’ve got this covered already, but if you don’t, find a friend or family member who does. Or get thee to a store before it’s too late. Being prepared for your physical needs helps put most fears related to your physical well-bring to rest. Most people feel uncomfortable and anxious being caught with their pants down.

2. Know and review the family plan.

Got a family? Get a plan. Here’s what the U.S. government recommends for family preparedness for a hurricane. Remember that you can’t count on being able to notify other family members living close by if the power is out (although mobile phones may sometimes work, see below), so let others know that even if they don’t hear from you that they shouldn’t worry.

3. Take comfort in U.S.’s stringent building codes.

A lot of people worry about how their house, apartment or condo will fare in the worst weather. The good news is that because of our country’s stringent building codes, most dwellings are built to withstand the strongest tropical storms, Nor’easters, and, yes, even hurricanes (especially if you live on the coast). While there’s no doubt they can still cause massive amounts of damage, most homes inland will come through the storm intact.

4. Accept the forces of nature and that storms are temporary events.

There’s little point in getting angry or upset over the natural order of things. Nature will always do what it pleases. It can be rough to weather big storms like Hurricane Sandy, no question. But hurricanes and other natural events are a part of what makes our planet so rich, diverse, and ultimately, interesting.

Lucky for us, all storms pass in just a few hours’ time. Hunker down and engage in whatever stress-relief exercises that work for you, whether it’s reading, spending time with your kids, doing crosswords, Sudoku or puzzles, or surfing the Internet (if you have power; you should plan on being without power for a few hours, at the very least).

5. Take a news break.

Information overload is an issue in many people’s lives, and no more so than when there’s a weather event. The news media works itself into a frenzy, because that’s what they get paid to do. Take a break from the constant updates and focus on a project or hobby that takes you out of the news cycle.

6. Keep in touch with loved ones, if you can.

If power allows, try and keep in touch with your friends and family. Staying connected with them during an event like this can help ease the stress and anxiety of the hurricane. It can also be a shared experience that you talk about for years to come. Sometimes a mobile phone will work even when power is out in your house, so please make sure your smartphones are charged ahead of time.


VIDEO Dawn to Dusk: Hurricane Sandy, October 28, 2012, Super Rapid Scan