Forgive me ... but you're going to take a single 18Z run of the GFS for a storm that is easily a week+ out and say that it brings "fear into the eyes of the beholder"? If you look back far enough, you can find one model run where Gert was originally progged to ride up the east coast. Anything's possible, but I think you may be jumping the gun a bit. 

I'm just pointing out the GFS run, no need to cry wishcasting.