South Orange Prepares -- and Some Leave Town

The Fetter family left town, heading west to flee the hurricane. "I just couldn't sit through it," says Margie Fetter. "The kids -- aged 3 and 7 -- are already feeling the adult stress, even though they don't see the news or listen to the radio. It seeps into their thinking and it's already hard." The Fetters were lucky; they have a grandmother in Pennsylvania ready to welcome them.

They're not the only folks on the move, however. A number of locals planned to pack up and drive west or northwest this morning, simply stopping at a likely-looking hotel. Jon, who lives in South Orange, said grimly, "I'm looking at a map right now. We're going where the band [of predicted wind and rain] isn't."

Other residents are staying home either from choice or worry. Andrea, who lives in West Montrose, chose to stay. "I will hate the storm," she said. "But I would hate to come back to a nightmare."

However, many residents have no choice but to watch from afar. A MaplewoodOnline thread shows questions from those who are away on vacation and wondering what's going on. Many can't return; flights in and out of the local airports are already being re-routed and cancelled.

"I wish I could be there," said resident Sarah G., who is in San Francisco for a long-planned vacation, and is worried about her home. "But I really wish I could send you California sunshine, instead."