While Gov. Tom Corbett has declared a disaster emergency for the state, local municipalities are preparing for what may come this way.
"We're going to be busy next week," said Minersville Borough street supervisor Jeffrey Enders as he sat in a backhoe Friday while another worker raked leaves into the shovel in a concrete swale on the Seltzer Highway in Minersville.
A backup of leaves can prevent the water from entering the stormwater inlet and lead to flooding, said Roger Kellman, a street department laborer.
Workers will also be out next week doing storm-related work, Enders said.
Sandy has left 39 people dead in the Caribbean region, according to The Associated Press.
The National Weather Service, State College, said the worst-case scenario would have the storm hitting the Delmarva Penninsula, which is Delaware and parts of Maryland and Virginia, on Monday and producing damaging winds that could last into Tuesday.
Heavy winds and damaging rains are forecast for the storm that could impact Pennsylvania early to the middle of next week, according to the NWS.
"It should be a large, intense storm," said John LaCorte, a meteorologist with NWS in State College.
Possibly six to 10 inches of rain could fall in the area, LaCorte said.
Rain could start late Sunday into Monday and Tuesday, LaCorte said. Flooding and thunderstorms are also possible, according to the NWS.
Pine Grove Mayor Kimberly Brown-Zerby said the borough has taken steps to confront the storm.
"I'm hoping for the best but we're preparing for the worst," she said.
Work crews have cleaned out storm drains in the borough recently to alleviate any potential problems, she said.
Borough work crews and extra police will be on call as needed.
Residents are requested to bag leaves that will be picked up Thursday, she said.
Roman Dinger, a volunteer firefighter with North End Fire Company, Pine Grove, said firefighters have been checking pumps and filing generators for use if needed.
"We're getting prepared. When it gets here, it gets here," he said.
Schuylkill Haven fire chief Glenn Sattizahn said firefighters have checked chain saws, portable pumps and other equipment.
He believes the borough is prepared.
On Friday evening, the governor activated the state Emergency Operations Center and authorized the transfer of $5 million in surplus funds to pay for disaster-related expenses, according to The Associated Press. The disaster declaration also allows the Pennsylvania National Guard to be activated, if needed.
The move came just hours after Corbett toured an automotive carpeting plant in Bloomsburg, a town devastated last year by flooding spawned by Irene and the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee.
"We are doing everything we can," Corbett said of preparations for the super storm. "We are gearing up and getting ready to go."
At Lowe's, Pottsville, people have been buying generators.
"We're already sold out. We don't have any to sell right now," said Matt Simpson, assistant manager.
He did not know when another order would arrive.
The Schuylkill County Emergency Management Agency said in a press release that county residents should be proactive and remove fallen limbs, leaves, debris and other items from their properties and not to drive through standing water.
The state Emergency Management Agency also has commented on the storm.
"This storm could combine with another system to bring some combination of snow, wind, rain and flooding to much of Pennsylvania," said PEMA director Glenn M. Cannon.
Residents should take precautions by having an emergency kit and a plan in case one is needed.
Martha Herron, PPL's regional community relations director, said PPL is monitoring the storm.
"It looks like it's going to be a major storm. It is predicted to be one of our worst storms," she said.
Emergency personnel are available for the weekend and all next week, she said.
Customers who experienced outages should report them by calling 800-342-5775 or through the online outage center at www.pplelectric.com/outagecenter.
"Be safe," she said.