Forecasters say wind gusts of up to 60 miles an hour could down trees and cause other damage in Ohio as Hurricane Sandy moves in. And Ohioans in low-lying areas and around Lake Erie are being warned to be ready.
Tamara McBridge with the state emergency management agency says the office has been in contact with local EMAs throughout the state.
"We could have flooding. We could have power outages. So there is certainly some indication that there is going to be some impact, we just don't know how severe," says McBride. "So we're working with our state partners just making sure that everyone is ready and leaning forward so that if anything does strike Ohio, we can be ready out the gate”
On top of the high winds and rain, forecasters say some Ohioans likely will see the season’s first snow Tuesday. McBride is urging Ohioans to get ready now for power outages and straong winds like they experienced after Hurricane Ike in 2008. She advises having batteries, flashlights and nonperishable food items in the house. More than half of Dayton International Airport flights Monday are canceled. A spokesman says the 22 departures and 21 arrivals canceled in Dayton involved eastern cities such as New York and Washington. Flights have also been canceled at airports in Cleveland, Columbus and the Cincinnati region.