As a significant nor’easter looms over the East Coast this weekend, Anna Jordan and her family are bracing for impacts while living aboard their 65-foot steel cargo schooner, the “Sarah G.” The Jordan family has made sailing their lifestyle for nearly eight years, residing full-time on the water along the coast of Cape Cod, and they are no strangers to the challenges posed by severe weather systems.
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In a recent post shared on TikTok, Anna highlighted the approaching storm, describing it as unprecedented for this time of year. “No matter what model you look at, Cape Cod is getting walloped, absolutely hammered with high winds, lots of rain, and coastal flooding,” she warned. As the storm’s arrival is expected on Saturday, Anna expressed concern that such powerful weather patterns typically don’t manifest until later in the autumn.
To prepare for the impending weather, Anna and her husband have been busy ensuring their vessel is secure. This process began with removing all four sails to minimise wind resistance. “This is a big task with four huge sails!” Jordan remarked, while also detailing efforts to clear the deck of any loose items and perform checks on the bilge pumps.

Furthermore, the couple has relocated their boat to a more sheltered area, which they believe will provide extra protection against the storm. Traditionally, their daughters would be on board, but to minimise their exposure to the storm’s hazards, they are staying with their grandparents for the weekend. “They are looking forward to a weekend of hot chocolate and movies with their grandparents,” Anna shared.
Despite the concerns surrounding the storm, Anna feels relatively prepared. Both she and her husband are lifelong residents of Cape Cod, making them familiar with nor’easters and the precautions necessary to stay safe. With the prospect of two days of relentless wind and rain ahead, they are planning to stock up on supplies, anticipating a leisurely time spent enjoying movies and snacks while waiting for the storm to pass.
Keeping safety at the forefront, the Jordan family has equipped their home with solar power and a generator, allowing them to sustain their off-grid lifestyle even in the event of a power outage. “We are lucky in a lot of ways,” Anna explained, stressing that they would remain unaffected while many others could struggle with prolonged blackouts. They have also relied on various storm-tracking applications, such as Windy and PredictWind, to stay updated on changing weather conditions.
The couple has laid out a thorough protocol for navigating the storm. Regularly checking weather updates, assessing the structural integrity of the boat’s lines, ensuring a sufficient supply of diesel fuel for their engine and generator, and stocking up on snacks are just part of their strategy. “We have dealt with this before, so we are not worried,” she reassured. However, Jordan expressed concern for the broader scope of potential damages, particularly regarding the anticipated coastal flooding and the impact on the delicate beaches and dunes they cherish.
Throughout her TikTok posts, Anna has candidly discussed the difficult decisions that accompany storm preparation, noting that “deciding where to put your home so it can be as safe as possible” is no easy task. The Jordan family weighed the option of relocating their boat to a protected cove, but this would mean leaving the vessel unattended. They ultimately decided to remain aboard, despite the emotional weight of the choice.
Anna emphasised the importance of safeguarding not just their family, but the integrity of their home. “We want to ensure that there are no lines snapping. We don’t want our boat to drag up on the beach or collide with others,” she noted, underscoring the need for ongoing vigilance as the storm approaches.
While their boat is built to withstand winds up to 50 miles per hour, the strength of the storm is unpredictable, with gusts anticipated to exceed that threshold. Should the situation escalate, the family may need to make quick decisions adapting to changing conditions. As the storm draws near, the Jordan family remains focused on preparedness, drawing on their experience and resilience while navigating the challenges of living at sea.
