Washington D.C. Mayor urging residents to stay indoors

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Washington D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray is urging the District residents to make immediate preparations to stay indoors for an extended period of time due to growing concern among city officials that Hurricane Sandy could thrash the city.

At a news conference to outline city response plans, Gray warned the storm could rival some of the biggest storms to ever strike the region.

“Let me be clear, this storm is unique, large, dangerous and unlike anything our region has ever experienced in a very a long time,” said Gray, who was surrounded by emergency officials.

Gray announced that D.C. public schools would be closed Monday, and he is urging charter and private schools in the city to also close. He expects a decision later Sunday about whether the federal and District governments will also close.

Speaking in a worried tone, Gray and other city officials also outlined steps they hope city residents take to safe stay during the storm.

In addition to remaining off the streets, Homeland Security Director Chris Geldart said residents who live near tall trees should remain on the lower floors or the basement of their home during the height

of storm. Those who live in apartments, he said, should be prepared to move away from windows. City officials expect tropical storm force winds for up to 24 hours and 5 to 10 inches of rain, which they fear will cause trees to topple.

“We are asking that people stay alert, stay indoors and be prepared,’ said Geldart.

If there are widespread power outages, city and Pepco officials say residents could be in the dark for days, if not longer.

Thomas H. Graham, president of Pepco, said power crews might not be able to start restoring outages until Wednesday due to the predicted length of the storm.

“This is going to be an unprecedented, destructive and dangerous storm,” Graham said.

Graham said Pepco has requested an additional 3,700 workers and pieces of equipment. But because the storm is expected to impact so many states, Graham said other power companies have not be able to fulfill part of the request. So far, Graham said, Pepco has received pledges for an additional 1,473 workers and equipment.

Gray and District officials said they will work with D.C. Water to try to limit flooding in Bloomingdale and other flood-prone areas.

They stressed that they believe the city is well prepared to handle the event.

But if sustained winds reach 40 miles per hour, Fire Chief Police Kenneth B. Ellerbe said fire engines and ambulances may not respond to some emergency calls.

Police officers may be asked to “shelter in place on their beat” if winds reach 50 miles per hour, officials said.

Washington Post

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24 responses to “Washington D.C. Mayor urging residents to stay indoors”

  1. PeaceintheME Avatar
    PeaceintheME

    I hope Sandy hits the US with all her anger, Let those bastards feel what the Middle east has been feeling for decades.

    1. peace in the middle east will have a better chance when people of the middle east put more value on being peacefull themselves among each other.

      sandy is a natural random  event blind to whom is in its way in contrast with the blood bath in the middle east today and decades ago can go to the credit of blood thirsty arab control freaks responsible for the misfortune of their own people.

      1. Spot On, Geo.  Thank you.

    2. Prophettttt Avatar
      Prophettttt

      Peace,I mistakenly hit the like key when I meant to reply to your comment. Reading your name 
      PeaceintheME,would give the impression that you are a man of peace,and you might as well be one,but for you to wish other people harm by a natural event , tells me that you are angree yourself. Stay peaceful ,and don’t wish  me harm because I’m bracing for angree Sandy Not to harm me or my family or anyone else.I was hoping that Sandy would be intimitated by another angree woman,and walk away from us, but Sandy is determined. lol. My friend, you can not be peaceful in one place,and wishing harm on people in other places.

      1. PeaceintheME Avatar
        PeaceintheME

        Prophetttt, my anger is not towards the innocent people in the US rather the power pushes who have no consideration to the innocent in the ME. I hope you, your family and friends are not harmed.

        1. Prophettttt Avatar
          Prophettttt

          Fair enough Peace,We both know that innocent people are always the first casualty of conflicts or natural events.I was right when I said you were angree,and I would say that angree people sometimes say things that they may not mean. Thank you for good wishes.

      2. good morning Prophet, if you cant find and angry woman in time to face sandy I can send you my real angry birds to scare her off, their screaming can be measured on the rictor scale lol, having lived in the hurricane and lightinng capital of the world for 17 years I can sympathize that these events are truly devastating. all the best to you and yours friend your calm respectfull contribution to this comunity is an example that makes me proud  to know smoneone form the south.

        1. Prophettttt Avatar
          Prophettttt

          geo metro, Thank you so much for the kind words and wishes…….I’m proud of you and your friendship.
           Sandy and her freighting loud roaring ,is putting everyone at notice..I hope she is just calling for attention.

    3. 5thDrawer Avatar

      And your last Hurricane was … errr … when?

      1. he meant sandy as in  middle east SAND storms 5th.

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar

          Ahhh … thanks Geo … and I know some like to bury their heads in it … 😉

          Interesting to see they plant American reporters on a beach to watch them get wet and blow around, however. Hahahaha. Entertainment in ALL things, right??
          Harder to see anything in a sand-storm. :-)))

    4. yu no goood mr no sayed bad thinqs on peoples mr god send goood and bad thinqs mr

  2. PeaceintheME Avatar
    PeaceintheME

    I hope Sandy hits the US with all her anger, Let those bastards feel what the Middle east has been feeling for decades.

    1. peace in the middle east will have a better chance when people of the middle east put more value on being peacefull themselves among each other.

      sandy is a natural random  event blind to whom is in its way in contrast with the blood bath in the middle east today and decades ago can go to the credit of blood thirsty arab control freaks responsible for the misfortune of their own people.

      1. Spot On, Geo.  Thank you.

    2. Prophettttt Avatar
      Prophettttt

      Peace,I mistakenly hit the like key when I meant to reply to your comment. Reading your name 
      PeaceintheME,would give the impression that you are a man of peace,and you might as well be one,but for you to wish other people harm by a natural event , tells me that you are angree yourself. Stay peaceful ,and don’t wish  me harm because I’m bracing for angree Sandy Not to harm me or my family or anyone else.I was hoping that Sandy would be intimitated by another angree woman,and walk away from us, but Sandy is determined. lol. My friend, you can not be peaceful in one place,and wishing harm on people in other places.

      1. PeaceintheME Avatar
        PeaceintheME

        Prophetttt, my anger is not towards the innocent people in the US rather the power pushes who have no consideration to the innocent in the ME. I hope you, your family and friends are not harmed.

        1. Prophettttt Avatar
          Prophettttt

          Fair enough Peace,We both know that innocent people are always the first casualty of conflicts or natural events.I was right when I said you were angree,and I would say that angree people sometimes say things that they may not mean. Thank you for good wishes.

      2. good morning Prophet, if you cant find and angry woman in time to face sandy I can send you my real angry birds to scare her off, their screaming can be measured on the rictor scale lol, having lived in the hurricane and lightinng capital of the world for 17 years I can sympathize that these events are truly devastating. all the best to you and yours friend your calm respectfull contribution to this comunity is an example that makes me proud  to know smoneone form the south.

        1. Prophettttt Avatar
          Prophettttt

          geo metro, Thank you so much for the kind words.I’m proud of you and your friendship.
           Sandy and her freighting loud roaring ,is putting everyone at notice..I hope she is just calling for attention.

    3. 5thDrawer Avatar

      And your last Hurricane was … errr … when?

      1. he meant sandy as in  middle east SAND storms 5th.

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar

          Ahhh … thanks Geo … and I know some like to bury their heads in it … 😉

    4. yu no goood mr no sayed bad thinqs on peoples mr god send goood and bad thinqs mr

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