By Tony Hanson

CAPE MAY, N.J. (CBS) — Historic flooding was already occurring this morning in Cape May, still half a day and one more high tide before Hurricane Sandy was to make landfall.

Cape May mayor Dr. Edward Mahaney says it’s the worst flooding here in at least two decades, since massive beach replenishment and other improvements.  And still, he says, the worst is yet to come from Sandy.

“It’s mainly due to the fact that the storm surge is so high and driven by the winds, and the slow moving pace of the storm, and the fact that it looks like this time we will be a direct hit.  We’ve avoided that.  The law of averages is not in our favor when you figure out it’s been fifty years since we had a storm of this magnitude,” Mahaney tells KYW Newsradio.

Cape May officials say most residents heeded evacuation orders.  But for those who stay, authorities warn, there is no guarantee of help in the event of an emergency.

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