Although the eye of Hurricane Sandy is still offshore of the East coast, Central Pennsylvania is already receiving heavy rainfall and wind from it.

As of 2:30 p.m. Monday, the Shippensburg area received about .9 inches of rain, according to www.wunderground.com, and there is a 100 percent chance of rain through Monday and Tuesday.

The area is under a flood watch and a high wind warning, according to www.weather.com.

Shippensburg University made the decision Sunday evening to cancel classes on Monday, Oct. 29, and the university closed on Monday beginning at noon and continuing through Tuesday.

Shippensburg Area High School also closed Monday and Tuesday in response to the storm.

Gov. Tom Corbett spoke at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Friday to warn Pennsylvania residents on the storm’s severity. He declared a disaster emergency for the state of Pennsylvania.

“This is not a typical storm. It could very well be historic in nature and in scope and in magnitude because of widespread anticipated power outages, flooding and potential major wind damage,” Corbett said.

Pennsylvania residents have been told to stock up on enough food, water and batteries for several days. Power outages are expected all over the state.

The Category 1 hurricane has been producing winds of 75 to 90 mph Monday morning and is flooding shore points in New Jersey and Maryland.

The hurricane is also responsible for 69 deaths in the Caribbean.
Because power outages are very likely, residents have been encouraged to stock up items such as food, water and batteries.

The Red Cross has opened shelters across central Pennsylvania to assist those in need and offer relief supplies.

For Cumberland County, the shelter is located in Mechanicsburg at the Silver Spring Presbyterian Church at 444 Silver Spring Road.

For more information on the storm and on how to be prepared for natural disasters, go to www.ready.gov.

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