completely offshore. i'd give this about a 1% chance now. i think at the very most we could hope is she would just stay off the coast and go up into new england, but staying offshore, 5%, no wind, no rain. scenario two, making landfall around new york city or a bit north, winds 15 to 25 miles per hour for us, probably no flooding, just rain and showers. scenario two, getting closer to us in between atlantic city and new york, winds 20 to 40 miles per hour and probably an inch or so of rain. heavy bands of rain will stay north of us. any time the system makes landfall the highested with uns are always just to the north -- highest winds are always just to the northeast where it crosses land. scenario four not so good. it comes into the delmarva into southeast p.a. and northeast maryland. now we have winds 40 to 70 miles an hour and rainfall up to 8 inches. that will building the worst case scenario. there are still plenty of models that have it doing

something between scenario four and three. we'll keep you posted. it's only friday and it is kind of an evolving system. the reason why hurricanes are so hard to track is there's very little in terms of the steering currents. in the fall and summer it's not so strong. we have to watch it and see if it makes this extreme left turn as we get into monday and tuesday. the time frame is the same, monday night into tuesday bringing us the highest winds and heaviest rains. we'll come back, talk about some preps you can do and the weekend. you'll be able to do some stuff over the weekend. it's not chamber of commerce, but it's not a washout. pepco says it's already put out the call to bring in 2,500 repairmen from other parts of the country in addition to an extra 400 tree trimmers. ken molestina is live in potomac maryland. the utility made these announcements today, right? >> reporter: that's right. here's what's so concerning. there are so many scenarios

that could happen with this storm. you just heard top talking about this. no one knows what it's going to do exactly, but everyone is preparing for the worst. pepco is preparing for the worst. people who live in this potomac neighbor are also bracing for the worst, but the true test of preparedness, we won't see that until early next week. >> this is something that's going to come on our system and sit. >> reporter: pepco officials take tens or even hundreds of thousands of people could be without power for an extended period of time. their ceo tom graham says the warnings are here and this time they're listening. >> we're taking it very seriously and we will respond appropriately. >> reporter: it's a different approach from the derecho storm this summer that left people in the dark for days. >> we went down into the basement. >> reporter: now that a looming 100 year storm is in our forecast, these residents who are still rebounding from the last storm are bracing for yet another massive hit. frank campus hopes pepco

learned from their response during the derecho. he's relying on them to be ready this time. >> it's very important because we depend on electricity for so many things, to keep the food from spoiling and heat in the house. >> reporter: at a news conference earlier today pepco announced plans to bring up to 2,500 additional linemen and over 400 extra tree trimmers. they've initiated what they call an incident response plan. they're lining up all their resources to react to the damages the storm will leave behind. >> we're actually doing everything that we possibly can to prepare, but as i said earlier, i asked our customers to prepare as well. it's about people's lives that are impacted. we're going to do our part, but everyone has to play a role. >> reporter: stocking up on nonperishables, water, flashlights and other essentials is all these potomac residents can do in anticipation of what many are calling the frankenstorm, but as for the power -- >> we shall see. >> reporter: back live here, a couple things to remind you of.

this happened recently. the maryland public service commission said effective immediately utility companies may no longer include the sales loss during the first 24 hours of a major storm. so that will take some of the burden off from people who will undoubtedly be in the dash once this storm hits. we checked in with bge and virginia anyone on. they are also calling in crews -- dominion. they are also calling in crews and putting them on stand-by. you can follow me on twitter, ken wusa9 and let me know if you have trust in your utility company. as we mentioned earlier, maryland's governor, martin o'malley, declared a state of emergency days ahead of sandy's arrival. the sandbags are being stockpiled in ocean city where a spokesperson says the message there, prepare but don't panic. scott broom has more from the beach in this live report.

hey, scott. >> reporter: that's exactly the case, derek. nobody is pushing the panic button down here. everybody knows that they've got at least a day and a half of really good weather. so the bulk of the weekend is to make preparations. >> taking the boat out getting ready for the storm. >> reporter: in ocean city marina workers are scrambling to secure boats for nervous owners. >> get it out today and head back home, just watch it from the house. >> reporter: the city is staging sandbags, prime ministering for possible street closures and tying down rows of lifeguard chairs. on the boardwalk lots of visitors are aiming to squeeze out a full weekend and bit the storm. >> i'm going to be gone. >> we're staying for the redskins game. >> first we're going to batten down the hatches here. then we'll batten down the hatches home. >> i've got 20 it'ses of keys in my car going -- sets of keys in my car going around to my

friends' condos picking up their patio furniture. >> it's a big storm. we have faced that with irene a little bit and because of the size and projected magnitude, it's questionable about where it's going to be and how big it really will building. >> this particular time we have no plans to evacuate ocean city. we have to make decisions with regard to our resident and visitors. we're certainly be prepared to -- we'll certainly be prepared to do. so. >> reporter: if you have plans to be up in rehoboth in delaware for the sea witch festival which attracts as many as 30,000 people, where he -- rehoboth is not cancelling any of that. live in ocean city, i'm scott broom, 9 news now. officials are closing

asoteaque state island and park. vehicles will not be permitted after 7 p.m. the closures will last at least through tuesday as that storm coming in. hurricane sandy having an impact on the race for president already. republican challenger mitt romney canceled an appearance for sunday in virginia beach because of concerns about that storm. sandy is kicking up waves and dumping rain on florida already and while the timing could hardly be worse. >> this is the worst timing for a storm. you have fall ending. there's a lot of loose branches. so the storm itself will be bad, but i worry about the aftermath, people being caught without power. >> the deaths of at least 40 people in the caribbean are now being blamed on hurricane sandy. we've got to take advantage of this weekend to protect ourselves and our homes from the storm. here are some important things to put on your to do list. >> reporter: i'm surae chinn in northwest washington where many of us know what it's like to be in total darkness for

days. that's why it's crucial to to have your home protected and stocked up with candles or flashlights. it's important to take care of any tree trimming you need to do and don't forget to clean out the gutters, charge your phone, fill up your bathtub in case the water supply goes dry. now it would be a good time to eat or drink what's in the refrigerator. empty your fridge, but fill up the tank and buy some ice. >> have to get ready after we get home. we better be ready. >> reporter: now to the grocery store. here's where you want to pick up a three-day supply of food. grab some extra dog food, charcoal, wood, canned food. >> batteries and don't forget your munchies. >> reporter: make sure you've got plenty of water. >> definitely water and wine, have all the chips and munchies and gourmet cheese that you would like to weather out this

storm. >> reporter: in northwest, surae chinn, 9 news now. >> i just heard wine and munchies. >> water, wine and munchies. >> our hurricane sandy coverage will continue on 9news at 7:00. plus maryland residents have some very important questions to decide at the ballot box come election day and some of the language can be confusing. well, maryland's secretary of state will be here in studio a 7:00 to break it all down for all of us. still ahead on 9news on this half hour the law catches up with former italian prime minister silvio bersuloni for the first time ever. >> tropical storm warnings now especially up to hatteras and points across the southeast coast down the east coast of florida. we'll come back with more new information on the track of sandy. we'll explain. >> plus secretary of state hillary clinton reaches a major

milestone today, those stories and more just ahead.

updating breaking news, senate majority leader harry reid is in the accident. he was in an accident earlier today. the nevada democrat was in a car that was rear-ended in las vegas. a police spokesperson says reid's vehicle was one of six involved in in chain reaction

crash. -- in this chain reaction crash. a source close to the 72-year- old democrat says his injuries do not appear to be life threatening. he should be okay. former italian prime minister silvio berlusconi was sentenced to prison today for tax evasion. he was ordered to spend the next four years behind bars. the sentence was later reduced to one year. the 76-year-old former prime minister has dominated italian politics for nearly 20 years. his trial began six years ago and has been subjected to repeated delays. he will remain free while planning for his appeal. it is hillary clinton's birthday today. the former first lady and secretary of state turned 65. by logging more than 900,000 miles and visiting more than 100 countries, she's the most traveled secretary of state in history. earlier this week she reflected on her life during a visit to hey take. secretary clinton says she's -- haiti. secretary clinton says she's going to retire in january. still ahead residents of a

flood prone neighborhood hope voters provide some relief for them. >> meanwhile a hurricane is headed our way. that story is just ahead.

hurricane sandy could bring flooding to our area, of course, and some of the most

flood weary folks are getting ready for the worst. peggy fox has more from fairfax county's huntington community. >> that was pretty scary. >> reporter: people who lived in huntington at least the last year are not easily deceived by the calm waters today of cameron run. september of 2011 tropical storm lee pushed cameron run over its banks and into the neighborhood. >> we kind of have to swim out. >> reporter: you have to swim out? >> yeah. because the water was as high as the pole. >> i'm 6' 3 and the water came up here to me. >> reporter: a mess was left behind with about 180 homes damaged. now people here are preparing for another round. >> clean out all the drains. >> we've been getting everything out of the basement because our basement always floods. >> i'm trying to pay off my house right now and damages and stuff like that, i can't really afford that. >> reporter: the fairfax county fire department came out for a look today. plans are in place to ask residents to move vehicles from the flood zone and to provide

other assistance if needed. >> they flooded three times in the last 10 years and if surgery sandy hits the way we think, there is a strong possibility they'll flood again. people are just paranoid about every time it rains, there's a constant threat of flooding. >> reporter: what huntington residents really want is the $300 million stormwater bond issue passed in the coming election. it would provide the funds necessary to build a levee and pumping station to protect the community from future flooding. the question about building a levee at cameron run is one of four bond issues fairfax county voters will decide on election day, not soon enough for residents here in huntington. >> the army corps of engineers determined a levee and pumping station together would provide the most cost effective way to protect huntington from those waters. a couple new computer models came in in the past couple hours. now some of them are trying to could the storm offshore. again let's prepare and we'll see what happens as we go through the weekend.

right now category 1, winds 75 miles per hour, minimal strength hurricane, wouldn't get hung up, though, on the tropical stats of this storm because it will become a bigger extra tropical storm as it intensifies monday night and tuesday. it will parallel the coast. saturday morning and saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. winds will still be 65 miles per hour, tropical storm strength, and it will buff et savannah and wilson. they're feeling the effects, pretty decent waves, winds 15 to 25 miles per hour. that will continue through tonight and tomorrow and into tomorrow night as well. we'll go back to the computer and watch the storm as it goes north and then takes this incredible heft turn off into the delmarva, not a good track for us, not the very worst -- left turn off into the delmarva, not a good track for us, not the very worst, probably the second worst. because the wind fields are so big everyone within a 200-mile

radius of that point will feel damaging winds, 30 to 60 or 70 miles per hour. here are the wind fields, yellow 39 to 57, orange is 58 to 73 and watch what happens as we get into sunday, 8:00. now we have tropical storm force winds entering the delmarva and buffetting norfolk and virginia beach and by 2:00 monday we've got tropical storm winds back to i-95. the good news is by monday the big wind field is still offshore, but it hasn't taken its left turn yet. if it takes that left turn are then these winds of 50, 60 miles per hour will move ashore or across the delmarva. because the tracks are further south we are more concerned about the beach erosion. sandy prep, security loose objects. bring in small tables and chairs. check your gutters and down spouts. plug in your such poop and put the basketball -- sump pump and put the basketball hoop on its side. live weather cam brought to you

by michael and son, beautiful shot, clouds, temperature-wise a very nice friday evening in the upper 60s, not going to get very cold, nice for high school football. temps 67 rockville, arlington, 65 fairfax and burke and 68 in college park. so monitoring sandy, the threat still monday night and tuesday, mild tonight. keep your tee time saturday and a few more showers sunday, but even sunday won't be a washout. for tonight mostly cloudy and mild, a shower or sprinkle possible, low temps in the 50s and winds continue easterly at 10. next three days, some showers tomorrow, a green alert, 68. showers on sunday 59, more showers monday, 58, heaviest rain monday night into tuesday. next seven days there's the big time wind and rain tuesday, lingering showers for halloween, sorry kids, upper 50s, maybe a shower thursday and then sunshine and mid-50s next friday. 9news will continue right after

this. stay tuned.

and now 9 sports with dave owens. >> well, if pure the 28th ranked defense -- you're the 28th ranked defense, the last thing you need is to be taking resources away. burgundy and gold defense doesn't sack the quarterback much. they're the worst at stopping

the pass and give up almost 30 point a game. wow, what happens if london fletcher doesn't play? i hate to think about that. good news today. he did practice. fletcher is nursing a sore hamstring, saw a specialist for balance problems yesterday. he currently shares the record for most consecutive games made at 231 and was asked today how he's been able to answer the bell so many times in a row. >> i've always taken the mindset of if i'm able to play a game, i'll play a game and it just kind of happened that it's been all the games, every game. that's just how it's been. i love being out there with my teammates and i love being on the field and playing football. so that's just really how i kind of approach it. >> i hope he's out there. if you're a chris cooley fan, don't expect him to start. logan paulsen gets the honor. paulsen caught four balls against the giants 76-yard. cooley was released earlier in the season and reassigned this

week after fred davis tore his achille's. almost every quarterback on the terrapins roster has torn his acl or broken his foot. kalen roe was the only one left. the coach was asked about the state of his football team. he likened it to a mule trapped in a well with no way out. listen. >> the farmer doesn't know how to, you know, get him out of there, so he figures, well, we'll just cover the hole up, mule's old and everything else, but what happens is they start throwing dirt down there and the mule ends up just shaking it off and step up and before you know it, there's enough dirt and he's at the top and the mule comes out of it. >> i love randy. our toyota high school football game of the week, potomac against hilton in prince william county. we had 42,000 voters this week, third most of the season. the highest was actually 58,000. highlights of that game tonight, five games total at 11:00. finally so much for an 82 game season.

the nhl has officially canceled all games through november that, after neither side spoke to one another prior to yesterday's deadline. i don't know how that happened, no one spoke, no word when the two sides plan to meet again. if you like to rock the red, you'll have to wait a while before you see those pictures there with alex ovechkin. >> no one spoke that, seems really counterproductive. >> not going to get done if no one is speaking. >> when you use the analogy of your football or quarterback as a mule, are you saying anything? >> but the dirt is piling up and that mule climbs out. there's a chance. >> they're battling. here's the seven-day, showers tomorrow and sunday, but you have some time to do some prep work and you can keep your tee times tomorrow, 68. all the little league soccer games will be played. mom and dad, get the windbreaker out and also the umbrella. >> halloween does not look good. >> better than tuesday. >> that's all for 9 news at 6:00. good night, everybody.