Stevens professor who predicted Sandy’s flooding says: ‘If Joaquin were to come here it would be much worse than Sandy’
HOBOKEN – A Stevens Institute of Technology professor and ocean engineer — widely known for predicting the massive extent of Hurricane Sandy’s flooding before many others — has his own forecast for Hurricane Joaquin.
Although the city sounded the alarm on Wednesday, Sept. 30 in preparation for Hurricane Joaquin, the National Hurricane Center has since then changed its prediction based on current weather models, and currently predicts the storm will stay off the East Coast as it heads northward in the next few days. In fact, forecasters believe that the rains experienced Friday, Oct. 2 are the worst of it.
Dr. Alan Blumberg, the director of the Davidson Laboratory at Stevens, which studies environmental and ocean engineering, agreed with Friday’s toned-down forecast, but also expressed concerns.
“Joaquin is not going to impact [Hoboken] as of now,” he said. “It’ll likely have an impact on the Jersey shore because it’ll generate big waves there.”
He noted that it’s better to be safe than sorry. As those of us who’ve grown up in New Jersey know, anything can change closer to the date – sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse.
Blumberg said, “It’s in the Bahamas and hasn’t started to move. I don’t want to panic anyone, but let’s say it starts to move and go somewhere. It’s best to be prepared. If Joaquin were to come it would be much worse than Sandy.”
Mayor Dawn Zimmer met with Care Point health officials on Thursday, Oct. 1 at the Hoboken Medical Center to discuss emergency protocol. The city also has plans in place to activate an Emergency Operations Center and relocate any public safety operations particularly vulnerable to flooding, if the storm changes route and makes a direct hit.
In addition, the city has backup generators on hand and is coordinating plans to open a shelter and distribution center if necessary.
Blumberg said Hurricane Joaquin, which is currently an intense Category 4, would subside to a Category 2 if it were to make landfall in Hoboken. The National Weather service places Category 2 storm winds between 96 and 110 miles per hour.
“We have to be ready for storms of the future. This was harbinger of things to come,” added Blumberg. “If it turns out that Hurricane Joaquin was coming to our area, I would advise everyone to have their kits ready and stay together like the mayor suggested.”
Residents can check for storm updates and other breaking news on hudsonreporter.com, which as been posting about the storm since Monday morning. The city advised residents to take the following precautions.
• Sign up for the City’s Reverse 911 system at www.hobokennj.org/emergency and for email and text alerts through the Nixle system at www.hobokennj.org/alerts
• Download weather apps, monitor weather forecasts, and sign up for weather alerts
• Move parked vehicles from low-lying flood-prone areas to higher ground. A map of the most flood-prone areas is available at www.hobokennj.org/flooding, however flooding is possible beyond these areas
• Bring in unsecured objects from patios and balconies and secure outdoor objects such as lawn furniture or garbage cans that could blow away and cause damage or injury
• Create a family emergency communication plan and have an emergency kit ready.
Student receives award from Stevens Institute
Hoboken resident and student Luca Conetta received an $850 award from the Stevens Institute of Technology this past week to attend the institute’s summer pre-college STEM program.
The award was made possible by a grant provided to Steven’s by Walmart to 30 New Jersey students.
“Walmart is proud to support Stevens Institute and these motivated, academically talented students who may not otherwise have had the opportunity to be a part of this beneficial program,” said Jennifer Hoehn, director of Public Affairs and Government Relations for Walmart. “It is so important to introduce students to STEM programs due to the increasing demand for graduates with this expertise.”
Each of the summer courses was taught by college instructors and/or doctoral students – with additional opportunities to visit STEM-related companies in the New York City area.
Working on a novel, screenplay, essay, thinkpiece, or song parody?
Are you a writer in the Hoboken area? Working on a novel, screenplay, articles, or poems? Don’t write alone! Get camaraderie, critiques, ideas for submitting, or just meet other youngish writers in the area. A casual writers’ network is forming locally. Email Ro at penink39@Gmail.com
Local real estate agents put the ‘give’ back into Thanksgiving
As part of its ongoing “Caring for the Community” program, the realtors and staff members of RE/MAX Gold Coast Realty are collecting food and funds for its upcoming 7th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner Drive with the goal of feeding 70-75 families this year. Last year, the office put together 73 meals for area families in need with all the fixings from the turkey to trimmings, spices to stuffing and potatoes to pie with help from friends, family, local business owners and clients.
To ensure each family receives the same complete Thanksgiving Dinner, an easy-to-follow grocery list was created to make it easy for people who want to do the shopping themselves. For people who can’t do the shopping, financial donations are welcomed and will be used to purchase as many additional Thanksgiving Dinners as the money will buy.
Non-perishable food and/or donations can be dropped off at RE/MAX Gold Coast Realty at 306 Washington St. in Hoboken between the hours of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, or 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Donated turkeys (whole, frozen only, please) labeled “RE/MAX Turkey Drive” can be dropped off on Monday, Nov. 23 at Pilsener Haus Biergarten, 1422 Grand St., H9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
For more information on how you can get involved please contact Karen De Jesus, director of operations at RMGC, at (201) 795-5200 x316, or Karen@hobokenproperties.com.
Goldman Sachs tycoon to speak
As part of Stevens Institute of Technology’s Distinguished Lecture Series, the university will host Goldman Sachs’ Chief Investment Officer, Sharmin Mossavar-Rahmani, on Wednesday, Oct 7.
The speaker, considered one of America’s foremost investment professionals, will address the financial industry’s use of quantities tools and the latest cutting-edge technology in investment management and trading.
“Rahmani’s talk will focus on how to balance the science behind the application of powerful investment data tools and the art of interpreting the information they uncover,” said organizers in an event release.
The event, which is open to the public, will be held at the DeBaun Auditorium at 500 Hudson St. Tickets must be reserved in advance and available at www.connect.stevens.edu/pdls.