High wind warnings and flood watches are in effect as Sandy's path affects the Ohio Valley, and local officials are preparing for the worst-case scenarios to get ahead of any impacts the storm might leave in its wake.

- Click here for the latest severe weather alerts

Two-hour delays are already in place for dozens of schools around the Ohio Valley for Tuesday so bus drivers, students and parents have time to make adjustments as rain and high winds sweep through the area.

"It also gives us a chance tomorrow to take a look at the whole situation because no one really knows what's going to happen tomorrow morning, so were just erring on the side of caution," Bridgeport Schools Superintendent Ted Downing said.

- Click here for more school closings and delays as they're reported

Local leaders and cellphone retailers are reminding people that their cellphones can be very important while preparing for the brunt of this storm.

They're advising people to get their phones ready and charged before power possibly goes out. They also said backup cellphone batteries and cellphone car charges are options.

"You can still use the Internet and use text messaging to communicate with friends and family. So actually text messaging is probably the easiest way to get ahold of people. It uses less resources on the networks and goes faster, and you can actually text multiple people at once by sending a group message," said Eric Hersey, store manager at AT&T in Wheeling.

However, if a cellphone tower is damaged or the network is overloaded, then cellphone use can become limited. Officials said they hope that won't be the case, but a scenario like that is possible even on Monday night as conditions worsen.

- All of NEWS9's newscasts are livestreamed on smartphones and tablets even when power is out. Click here to watch NEWS9 on your smartphone, tablet or computer.

In Wheeling, city officials said they are working hard now to prevent flooding issues later. Officials said though wind is the primary threat, their main concern in the city is to make sure more than 2,000 catch-and-drop basins remain clear of leaves and debris.

In residential areas, more trees mean more leaves and a greater threat for drains to clog and water to back up onto streets.


"Right now, with whatever this storm brings, we should be in pretty good shape overall. Like I said, the only problem is, as long as the whole system works, but if you have the drains plugged, the water is not going to get into it and then we're going to have some issues," Wheeling Public Works director Rusty Jebbia said Monday morning.

Jebbia said the storm sewers are supposed to be designed for a 100-year rainfall, so as long as they stay clear, he said he believes the orecast amount of rain shouldn't be an issue. People who do see flooding in Wheeling should call the city's operations center.

In Jefferson County, Emergency Management Director John Parker issued a statement encouraging all residents to be aware of weather reports, watches and warnings.

The Jefferson County EMA is advising residents to have emergency preparedness kits including flashlights, battery-powered radios, cellphone car chargers, blankets, water and nonperishable food.

"We can anticipate power outages and some flooding as this hurricane make(s) landfall, which is why we are urging residents to be prepared now," Parker said in his statement.

At the Ohio Department of Transportation garage in Wintersville, Monday morning was the scheduled dry run for winter weather preparations and workers performed final 150-point inspection of the trucks.

ODOT officials said the preparations were good timing now that their trucks are ready to go for Hurricane Sandy. Officials said they're watching their weather models closely and bracing for the impact later Monday evening. Crews will be on standby in case trees are downed and block roads.

"What our understanding is we are going to have a lot of high winds and just like we do for any storm event, just like we did for last June, we had the high winds, our guys will be ready and we'll be able to assist anybody that may need maybe to get these roads cleared off," said Lloyd Macadam, ODOT District 11 deputy director

Macadam said the new strobe lights on the ODOT trucks should help drivers see ODOT trucks better if they're out on the roads Monday night.

If there are any road blocks from broken tree limbs, ODOT will be out to help clean up the mess and keep roads safe. In addition to the ODOT preparations, Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdella said the county is ready with sandbags in the event of flash flooding. County fire trucks will also have pumps available for any houses that are flooded with water.

In Brooke County, officials are closely watching and preparing for what Hurricane Sandy may bring in the next few days.

Sunday night at the Brooke County Emergency Management Agency Center, officials from every community were on hand for a briefing on Sandy, and the National Weather Service as well as Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin were on a statewide conference call.

With the worst expected to hit the Ohio Valley on Monday night into Tuesday, officials asked residents to bring inside or tie down any loose objects outside, including political signs.

Crews from Mon Power said they are also preparing for the storm and want customers to know that outages could still last up to 10 days. Shelters in Brooke County will be opened at the following locations: Follansbee Community House, Windsor Heights Community Center, Wellsburg Fire House and Free Methodist Church, as well as the church on Mechling Hill.

If residents need any nonemergency assistance in Brooke County, call 304-737-5002.

If power and phone lines go down, the Brooke County EMA Center will still be able to broadcast information over the radio on AM Station 1700.

In Weirton, the Public Works Department, fire crews and police were preparing Monday for the possibility of flooding. The Millsop Community Center will serve as a community shelter for all residents in Weirton, if the city would get to that point.

In a statement, Mayor George Kondik said, "I would personally like to ask all citizens to please check catch basins in your area to make sure all debris has been removed from these areas. Public Works is currently working on cleaning all catch basins, so if you locate one in your area that has been overlooked, please help us in removing the debris from this area."

Residents in downtown Weirton and Marland Heights will not have a garbage pickup on Tuesday. The city asked residents in those areas to have their garbage curbside by 7 a.m. Wednesday. For all other Weirton residents, the city will pick up garbage one day after the normally scheduled pickup day.

Precautionary Actions (Source: National Weather Service Pittsburgh):


1. Avoid unnecessary travel tonight into early Tuesday.

2. Fuel up your vehicles.

3. If you have a generator, assure you have adequate fuel on hand.

4. 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. Secure or store loose items outside as they 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. Have cash available.

11. Do not run generators inside your home to stay warm if the power goes out. This creates a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Stay with Severe Weather Team 9 on air and online for continuing coverage. Click here for complete coverage on our special hurricane and tropical storm section.