SUNDAY, Oct. 28 (HealthDay News) -- With Hurricane Sandy set to make landfall somewhere between Rhode Island and the Delmarva Peninsula on Monday, millions of residents made final preparations for weathering the monster storm as officials in major cities ordered evacuations of low-lying areas, ordered public transit shut down and announced widespread school closings.
Punishing rains and winds that will exceed 75 mph at times will continue from Sunday night until Wednesday morning as Sandy makes her way inland and then takes an abrupt turn northward, according to the Washington Post.
Major airlines also announced flight cancellations on Sunday, and Amtrack said it would stop all rail service between Washington, D.C. and New York City on Monday. Since the effects of Sandy are expected to be felt more than 400 miles from its center, states of emergency were declared in Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Maine, the Post reported.
Meanwhile, residents have been advised to prepare in every way possible for the inevitable, and massive, damage Sandy will leave behind.
For starters, be stocked up on prescription medicines, special medical supplies, nonperishable foods -- baby formula and pet foods, too -- and emergency essentials in case the storm knocks out power in your region or makes travel impossible.
"Have a family communications plan as well, in case you get separated during the storm," said Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency medicine physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Decide where to meet and how you will remain in contact.
"Be prepared to be self-sufficient for one to five days without access to grocery stores," Glatter added.
David Bernard, chief meteorologist for CBS News' Miami station, said a confluence of events could potentially turn this storm int
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