State officials are preparing for Friday's expected nor'easter while at the same time tracking the path of Hurricane Joaquin out in the Atlantic.

In Monmouth County, emergency personnel at the 9-1-1 Communications Center in Freehold are closely tracking the storms and are preparing its fleet of new special operations trucks.

The trucks are fully equipped with items such as axes, ladders, stretchers and portable lights. Other trucks are loaded up with medical equipment.

After Superstorm Sandy, the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office obtained eight of these trucks, bringing the total number in their fleet to 10. The trucks are able to get through as much as 6 feet of water in the event of major flooding.

Even with the new equipment, officials are warning residents to prepare themselves by making sure they have enough gasoline, water, food and medications.