By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Theresa and Chip Duross have lived in Sea Isle City since 1980. During the past 40 years at the shore, they have experienced countless nor’easters, snowstorms and even Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
Yet they weren’t sure whether they have ever faced a blizzard that could dump as much as 18 inches of snow and simultaneously pummel Sea Isle with 50 mph wind gusts, according to the weather forecast.
“Eighteen inches? Holy cripes,” Chip said ominously.
“It’s bad for our backs,” Theresa added, alluding to the grueling amount of shoveling that they may have to do to dig themselves out at their home on 48th Street.
The couple said they would ride out the monstrous blizzard that is expected to lash the Jersey Shore from Friday night into Saturday evening with heavy snow, gusty winds and minor flooding.
“We’ve been here since 1980. We’ve been through Sandy. We have had heavy snow before. But I’m not sure we’ve been through something like this before,” Chip said.
They were taking their dog, Simba, for a walk on the oceanfront Promenade on Friday afternoon, just hours before the storm was expected to begin unleashing its fury.
Throughout Sea Isle, people were making last-minute preparations for the storm or planning to leave town before the blizzard hit.
Sea Isle was ready to call in its Public Works crews on Friday night to begin plowing the roads. Streets were treated with salt earlier in the day in preparation of heavy snowfall, city spokeswoman Katherine Custer said.
“As usual, the city is taking all weather threats seriously. The Office of Emergency Management has alerted the public. Our Public Works team has been doing their usual proactive efforts to try to stay ahead of the storm. The city, in general, is as prepared as we can be,” Custer said.
Custer said even the flags were removed from Sea Isle’s municipal flag poles in anticipation of the fierce storm.
Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency in New Jersey until 6 p.m. Saturday. Driving was not advised except for essential travel
Sea Isle’s Office of Emergency Management released a storm update early Friday urging residents not to park their cars in the streets to allow the snowplows to do their job.
The city temporarily banned parking along both sides of the Landis Avenue artery from First Street to 94th Street to let the snowplows clear the roads. On other streets, the city wants residents to park their cars in their driveways to give the snowplows plenty of room.
“The best thing you can do is stay put and keep warm while this storm passes,” the Office of Emergency Management said in a statement to the public.
The forecast calls for snowfall of between 12 and 18 inches at the shore. Strong northerly gale-force winds of 25 mph to 35 mph are expected from Friday night through Sunday morning. Wind gusts are expected to reach 50 mph or more.
Coastal flooding is not expected to be a serious concern. However, Saturday’s early morning high tide is expected to be in the minor flood stage, according to the forecast.
With the threat of at least some floodwater looming, Mike DeFeo, Pat Fenske and Chase Rosenhaus were busy Friday afternoon installing specially designed, lightweight portable floodgates at the front entrance of Diamonds Liquor on Landis Avenue to protect the store from the storm.
“We are definitely getting ready for the storm,” said DeFeo, of T.I. Luxury Properties.
Homeowners were also bracing for the blizzard. Joe Selfridge, who owns a summer vacation home on 42nd Street, was waiting for a repairman to fix his broken heating system.
Selfridge noted that he had initially planned to stay in Sea Isle during the storm, but changed his mind after his heating system broke down. He also did not like the prospect of possibly being trapped by 18 inches of snow.
“It sounds like it’s going to be big, so I’m not going to stay,” he said.
Once the repairman fixed the heating system, Selfridge planned to jump in his car for the 90-minute drive to his full-time residence in Havertown, Pa. He hoped to get home before the storm struck Havertown.
“Maybe it won’t be as bad as they say it will be,” he said wishfully of the storm.
Then he paused for moment.
“But it could also be crazy,” he added.
