Apple’s East Coast stores preparing for Hurricane Sandy

Apple is one of several retailers preparing its East Coast stores against the onslaught of Hurricane Sandy. “FrankenStorm” is bringing 85-mph winds and an 11-foot storm surge that forecasters called “life-threatening.”

The 900-mile wide storm’s front edge sent surges over boardwalks from Delaware to New York a full 12 hours before Sandy’s eye was to make landfall. Apple has already closed some stores in New York and four other states, as well as in Washington, D.C., and is bracing for potential flooding and other damage, reports “ifoAppleStore” (www.ifoapplestore.com).

At least 35 Apple stores are within the hurricane’s landfall zone as predicted by the National Weather Service. Another 15 are right outside the zone, including those in New York City and areas north of the city, notes “ifoAppleStore.”