Hurricane Earl May Pass Chatham By

Hurricane Earl looks likely to leave Morris County unscathed, though not untouched, according to predictions of the National Weather Service.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Morris County, and officials in the Chathams are preparing for the worst while hoping for the best.

Joseph Barilla, Jr., the director of Chatham Township Public Works, said Wednesday that his staff was taking steps to prevent flooding and damage to the Township. "We're clearing all catch basins," he said, "we're clearing all storm basins that usually cause us a problem. We're filling sand bags in case we need to make a dam somewhere."

The Township Community Emergency Response Team team helped Public Works fill over 200 sandbags. "This was no small task and I cannot thank these volunteers enough," Barilla said via e-mail.

Bill Nauta, the Borough Emergency Services director, said that the Red Cross, Borough Police, Fire and Public Works departments will all be on standby.

"I don't think it's going to be that bad," Nauta said. "Acording to the National Weather Service, we're not going to have much of anything on this storm."

Nauta said the biggest worry he had for the Borough was power outages, and advised that residents have at least three days' worth of food and water available at all times.

The Red Cross also advised in a Hurricane Safety Checklist that anyone who may be affected by the hurricane also have flashlights, a battery-powered radio, extra batteries, a first aid kit and at least a week's worth of any medications, among other supplies.

Barilla said, "Anything the Red Cross tells you to do, that's what you should do."