Hoboken Preps for Hurricane Sandy

The city of Hoboken is preparing for the possibility of severe weather early next week, when Hurricane Sandy could be coming to the area.

The city is preparing for the storm, "just as we did for Hurricane Irene," Mayor Dawn Zimmer said on Thursday. Opposed to August 2011, right before Irene hit, Hoboken now has a reverse 9-1-1 system in place as well as a working wet weather pump. While the pump won't be able to prevent flooding in case of a heavy storm, Zimmer said, it'll help the draining process afterward.

After Irene, it took multiple days for some of the flooding to subside. That would be better with the pump.

Sandy, currently a category 2 hurricane, could arrive in Hoboken as early as Sunday, lasting through Tuesday. By then it could have been lowered to a tropical storm, but between 4 and 9 inches of rain are still expected. 

Electric and gas company PSE&G announced it has been prepping for the storm.

"A storm like Hurricane Sandy has the potential to interrupt service," according to a PSE&G announcement. "High winds might cause trees to brush up against power lines, and lightning could strike and damage trees or pole-top equipment."

Another complication—much like during Irene—is that there will be a full moon this weekend, which will "increase astronomical tides," according to the Bergen County Office of Emergency Management.

Hoboken residents are encouraged to park their cars in garages, or elsewhere outside of Hoboken.

It's too early to tell if there will be a call for evacuations, Zimmer said. "I'll make that call as it gets closer," Zimmer said. "At this point that's something I can't predict."