PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1143 AM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012

...PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...

...POTENTIAL HISTORIC STORM FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

AS OF LATE FRIDAY MORNING...HURRICANE SANDY IS MOVING NORTH
THROUGH THE BAHAMAS ON A TRACK THAT IS EXPECTED TO TAKE IT OFF THE
SOUTHEAST ATLANTIC COAST...BEFORE BEING DRAWN BACK NORTHWESTWARD
TO MAKE LANDFALL ALONG THE MID ATLANTIC COAST...SOMEWHERE BETWEEN
THE DEL MARVA PENINSULA AND WESTERN LONG ISLAND.

SANDY IS EXPECTED TO INTENSIFY AS IT INTERACTS WITH AN UPPER LEVEL 
TROUGH MOVING OUT OF THE GREAT LAKES...AND INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE 
REGION WILL EXPERIENCE A WIDESPREAD DAMAGING STORM...POSSIBLY OF 
HISTORIC PROPORTIONS.

WIDESPREAD DAMAGING HIGH WINDS ARE POSSIBLE. THE STORM TRACK IS 
STILL UNCERTAIN...BUT THE WORST CASE SCENARIO WOULD HAVE THE STORM 
MOVING INTO THE DEL MARVA PENINSULA DURING THE DAY MONDAY...WHICH  
WOULD PRODUCE A DAMAGING WIND THREAT THAT WOULD DEVELOP DURING THE 
DAY MONDAY AND POSSIBLY LAST INTO TUESDAY. 

IN ADDITION...WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINS...POSSIBLY AS MUCH AS 6 TO 10 
INCHES...WOULD CAUSE SIGNIFICANT FLOODING ON RIVERS AND STREAMS 
ACROSS THE REGION. RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING THE DAY 
SUNDAY OR SUNDAY EVENING...AND CONTINUE INTO MONDAY WHEN IT WILL 
BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES.

A STORM TRACK THROUGH THE MID ATLANTIC STATES INTO SOUTHERN 
PENNSYLVANIA WOULD ALSO MEAN THERE COULD BE THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE 
THUNDERSTORMS...AS WELL AS TORNADOES ALONG AND TO THE RIGHT OF THE 
TRACK OF THE SURFACE STORM.

THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A LARGE AND RECORD SETTING
STORM...WITH WIDESPREAD WIND DAMAGE AND FLOODING THE MOST LIKELY
THREATS. THE COMBINATION OF THE HEAVY RAIN AND WIND WILL CREATE
THE POTENTIAL FOR WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES AND SIGNIFICANT
FLOODING. AT THIS TIME...THE MOST LIKELY TIMEFRAME FOR THE WORST
OF THE RAIN AND WIND LOOKS TO BE MONDAY IN TO TUESDAY. THIS MEANS
THERE IS STILL TIME TO PREPARE.

SOME SUGGESTED PRE STORMS ACTIONS ARE:

1. FUEL UP YOUR VEHICLES.
2. IF YOU HAVE A GENERATOR...ASSURE YOU HAVE ADEQUATE FUEL ON HAND. 
3. TO PREPARE FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF PROLONGED POWER OUTAGES...MAKE 
SURE YOU HAVE A SUPPLY OF FRESH BATTERIES AND A SUPPLY OF CANDLES OR 
FLASHLIGHTS ON HAND.
5. BE SURE TO HAVE SEVERAL DAYS OF FRESH WATER ON HAND FOR DRINKING 
AND COOKING.
6. IF YOU STILL HAVE LAWN FURNITURE OUTSIDE...SECURE OR STORE IT 
INDOORS. SECURE ANY OUTSIDE ITEMS THAT COULD BECOME AIRBORNE IN 
STRONG WINDS.
7. CLEAN OUT ANY STORM DRAINS OR GUTTERS THAT MAY BE CLOGGED BY LEAVES.
8. IF YOU LIVE IN A FLOOD PRONE AREA AND IF POSSIBLE...CONSIDER
MOVING ITEMS THAT MAY BE DAMAGED TO HIGHER GROUND. 
9. IF YOU HAVE LIMITED MOBILITY OR KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO MAY BE
DISABLED...CONSIDER ARRANGING FOR TEMPORARY SHELTER IF THEY LIVE
IN AN AREA THAT MAY FLOOD OR COULD LOSE POWER.
10. IF YOU NEED TO EVACUATE...BE SURE SURE TO CARE FOR YOUR PETS.

$$

LA CORTE/DEVOIR/COLBERT