Costumes may not be only scary thing in State College this weekend and early next week as the weather may follow suit.
Hurricane Sandy, currently a Category 1 storm, is set to hit Pennsylvania and the other Mid-Atlantic States this weekend and will stay in the area until Wednesday of next week, Alan Reppert, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather in State College said.
The hurricane, known as "Frankenstorm," is expected to dump two to four inches of rain on the State College area throughout three days, Reppert said, and wind gusts from 40 to 50 miles per hour are expected.
Reppert said the storm will also be colliding with a cold front, which is trying to move through the state currently. However, he said snow and ice aren’t expected in the area. Areas east of State College could see flooding, he said, and snow can be expected in the higher elevations.
On Friday afternoon, Gov. Tom Corbett declared a statewide disaster emergency to allow state, county and municipal governments to respond effectively, according to a press release issued by the governor’s office.
The statewide disaster emergency allows state agencies to use all available resources and personnel to help people manage the storm, according to the release. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency recommended the statewide disaster emergency, according to the press release.
Since the storm will potentially bring a lot of rain, the State College Public Works crews will be collecting leaves to clear gutters and sewers, according to a press release issued by the State College Borough. They will be working from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to prevent potential flooding and the normal leaf collection schedule will resume after the storm, according to the press release.
It also recommends that residents prepare for potential flooding by checking that no leaves are blocking storm sewers and to bring any lawn furniture that could be blown away by the wind inside. The press release also encourages residents to stock up on food and other necessities.
