prepare for extended power outages. possibly as long as ten days. make no mistake sandy is a giant storm with an expanding wind field. almost 550 miles wide. take a look at this video from the international space station. it is just incredible. look at the size of that thing. the latest on the track has added a couple new models. >> reporter: it has. we talked about this yesterday at 11:00. the scenarios and had to give a chance. a 5% chance of it going out to sea. there is a couple model that don't take it out to sea but they don't make that left turn. that would be huge improvement. let's start with the warnings and watches. we do have tropical storm watch now. essentially all the way up into north carolina, just shy of norfolk. they will probably be extended later tonight and tomorrow in the norfolk area and into the

del marva. we have to give that one chance for no rain, no wind that goes out to sea. 5% chance. that is just unlikely. all right scenario two the storm makes a left turn a little farther north up around new york. we still get 15-25 miles an hour winds but we can manage that and showers. i don't see any flooding with that track. it goes a little farther south between atlantic city and new york this is track number three at a 30% chance. now we get 20-40 miles an hour winds and an inch of rain. i still think we will escape the flooding with this track. scenario number four 308% chance. now comes across the delmarv. and into portions of southeast ta and maryland. this is the worst scenario. now we have 30-40 miles an hour. the timetable is still in fact monday night into tuesday. latest track still parallel to southeast coast. that is good. what is bad it starts to turn

right around as it gets to the hatteras area it turns and tries to make this left turn as we get into monday night and tuesday. even when it becomes extra tropical they expect it will be a stronger storm. pressure may be longer. still 60 miles an hour winds on tuesday as the storm moves over the northern bay. so this is not good. this is almost not quite the worst scenario but pretty close. because the windshields are big it doesn't matter where it hits. we'll talk about that and the preps you can do. >> we'll hope for the best. so is pepco. they are beering up for a disastrous weather smack down. while thousands of us could be in the darks for days and days this could be an opportunity for pepco to demonstrate it has learned a few things from the recent storms. >> reporter: neighbors and the utility company out here say they are bracing themselves for this frankenstorm. >> this is something that is

going to come on our system and sit. >> reporter: pepco officials say tens or hundreds of thousands of people could be without power for an extended period of time. ceo tom grant says the warnings are here and this time they are listening. there we are taking it very seriously and we will respond appropriately. >> reporter: it's a different approach from the storm this smithery left people in the dark for days. >> we went down in the basement. >> reporter: now that a looming 100 year storm is in our forecast, these residents that are still rebounding are bracing themselves for another massive hit. frank learned from their response during the duration. >> it's very important. it's very important. we depend on electricity for so many things. to keep the food from spoiling and keep the heat in the house. >> reporter: we also checked in with bge they have called in extra crews to be on stand by to react to whatever damages this storm brings.

>> that is ken reporting. a lot of you were furious when 9 news exposed the law that allows the power company to bill you even when you power has been knocked out. however things will be a bit different this time around for many of us. if the power does indeed go off again. investigative reporter russ is here to explain that solution. russ. >> reporter: we were still meyered in the summer storm when in the aftermath 9 wants to know when they poured through city documents that allowed a rule to allow proposal koa and bge to charge customers even when they were serving no power at all.

customers were not charged for the electricity. the charge they were billed separately from the service fee. that is the service you are getting electricity to the house. even though no one was able to put an exact cost on it, everyone agreed it amounted to less than $1 a customer. now i know that was one of the issues you pointed out. it wasn't a lot of money. but it was a principal for so many people when we broke the story it went national overnight. russian utilities pointed out. poking a bit of fun at the capitalism in america. it proves you can fight city hall. the montgomery county played a big role in fighting this and the angry consumers and now it's overturned. >> no more getting charged for power you don't use.

it's going away. >> fair enough. we'll take it. thank you. you might want to take advantage of this weekend to get your home in order in case we do lose power. we have more on what you can do now so you're not left in the dark later. >> reporter: many of us know what it's like to be in total darkness. that is why it's crucial 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 would be a good time to eat or drink what is in the refrigerator. empty your fridge but fill up the tank. and buy some ice. >> have to get ready. have to get the kids home. >> reporter: now off to the grocery store. here's where you want to pick

up a three day supply of food. grab extra dog food, charcoal and wood. pick up canned food. make sure you have plenty of water. >> definitely water and wine. have all the chips and munchies and gourmet cheese you'd like to weather out the storm. >> marina workers are scrambling securing their boats before the storm hits. city is staging sandbags preparing for possible street closures and tying down life guard chairs. right now there are no plans to evacuate but officials are ready to spring into action should the situation warrant it. and some flood worry people in our area are preparing for the worst. you remember this. last year tropical storm lee pushing cameron runs waters over the bank. nearly 200 homes were damaged. now the people there are preparing for perhaps another

round. >> clean out all the drains. we've been getting everything out of the basement because our basement always floods. >> i've been trying to prepare my house and damages and stuff like that i can't afford that. >> nobody wants to afford something like that. the residents are hoping a $30 million storm water bond passes in the coming election. that would provide the money they need to build a levy and a pumping station and protect the community from further flooding. and the united way wants you to know help is available if you need it. virginia, maryland, or d.c. residents if you are without power, if you're without of food or need shelter or any other number just dial 211. and there are trained multilingual operators monitoring the phones 24 hours a day. if you have a life threatening injury you dial 911. starting tomorrow the department of public works will hand out sandbags at rfk stadium. that is in lot number seven.

we made it easy to track the storm on your smart phone. just text sandy to 25543 and you will get instructions. we're back in a minute.

out on the campaign trail voters have said from day first that their economy was their number one issue. today in ames, iowa mitt romney pounced on newly released economic numbers. >> last quarter our economy grew at just 2%. after the stimulus was passed the white house promised the economy would be growing at 4.3%. over twice as fast. >> the president is off the trail today, but vice president biden was out there telling the voters in wisconsin that a rome

knee presidency would erase out patrol syces obama -- would erase all the progress oh bra bah ma has made. new polls show romney is gaining on the president in colorado and nevada and has pulled ahead in virginia. we take a live look outside right now. very gray all day long but things could get a whole lot worse. after the break with the latest with hurricane sandy it could be a real tough one. and right after the break uncluttering the confusion when it comes to maryland ballot question. john mcdon is here to help assorts it out.

from same sex marriage to expanding gaming north carolina voters have a lot of big decisions to make on november 6th but the language on the ballot can get confusing. here to break it down for us so you know exactly what you're voting for or again maryland secretary of state john mcdonna. i want to thank you so much for taking time. this stuff can get a tad confusing. >> it can. >> let's go to question 7. that is the one everybody knows about. that is the gambling question. if you vote in favor of question seven? >> if you vote for expansion in gaming in. you would be voting for a sixth

site to be located by a commission. and for table games. and some other expansions as well in terms of numbers of machines. >> so if you don't like gambling you should vote against question seven correct? >> yeah that would be your choice. >> okay now. if there is a weird premutation here what if it's awe proved statewide a-- approved statewide -- >> the bill that implements the gaming expansion is specifically says the legislative intent that if it's not approved in prince georges county it shouldn't be implemented. >> but however that is not binding. >> it's hard to imagine a commission going against legislative intent of the general assembly which creates the authority for the commission. >> so it's turned down but approved statewide. it won't be a new casino. >> very, very unlikely.

plus i doubt locally the land use approval would occur either. let's leave with the two competing interests that is true. they are competing very heavily. >> now let's get to question six. this is same sex marriage. you should know this is something approved by the state lawmakers and citizens got the petitions together to get it on the ballot. so i'm curious if i vote in favor of question six does that mean i'm in favor of getting rid of the law? >> no, you vote for the referred bill or against the referred bill. if you vote for the referred bill, that keeps the bill in effect. against a referred pill would prevent it from going into effect. and i want to stress here what you're voting on here are bills. and they do more than one thing. for instance in question six it does not only permit gay marriage but it also adds certain relation protection. >> would religious institutions

have to wary couples of the same gender if this law is passed? >> no. the legislation that was adopted the bill you are voting on specifically exempts ministers or priests or other officials of religions to having to perform marriages not consistent with their religious beliefs. >> if this passes could same sex couples go out and get married? >> they could pursuant to the bill once it goes into effect. yes. civil marriage. we're not discussing religious marriage. >> yes as of november 6th or 7th it could be available. >> once it's implemented. yes. >> let's get to congressional redistricting. this hasn't gotten as much attention and one of the most complicated ballot initiatives there is. >> or one of the more simple ones. you're either for the bill that

adopted the congressional redistricting or against it. that is really the vote. >> right. okay. the ramifications could become complicated. it goes back to the state house. >> if you vote for the referred bill, the redistricts that are currently in place in which you are voting now on next tuesday would remain in effect. that is fairly straightforward. if the referred bill was voted down then the general assembly the governor would submit legislation again and the general assembly would have to adopt a new plan. >> how does that take effect in a place like congressman bart let where he was redistricted and therefore it's harder for him to get reelected? if the voters turn down on question five and therefore have to go back to that effect? >> it does not effect the congressional elections. these congressional elections are according to the districts as in effect today. any changes would be prospective to the next election. >> so no great for congressman

bartlet. >> you are counting him out before the votes are counted. whoever wince the election wins the election. >> that's the point i was making. thank you. we appreciate it. >> i hope i was helpful. >> you were no doubt you were. let's go check out hurricane sandy and other tracks. >> here we go. maximum winds are still 75 miles an hour. but i wouldn't get too focused on how strong she is tropically. she will become a huge extra tropical storm as we get into monday and tuesday. a little transition from tropical to extra tropical. saturday at 2:00 p.m. it should be off the coast of south carolina. it will not evolve off the south carolina coast. she parallels north and south carolina pretty well be she does make a turn. and then right now still forecast to make a left turn into the delmarva and into pennsylvania. this is not a good track for us. it's not the worst case scenario but it's pretty close.

60 miles an hour winds with the storm itself and that is 2:00 p.m. on tuesday. monday night and tuesday the time frame hasn't change. let's talkn't the wind field. look how big the wind field is. it's 300-miles in diameter. so by 8:00 a.m. on sunday there will be tropical storm forced winds across eastern north carolina, haters are, outer banks and out intoner foaling and into del mar. by monday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. the winds that are stronger over 58 miles an hour are still just offshore with the tropical storm forced wind back inland to i-95. problem is at 3:00 p.m. on monday the storm hasn't made a left turn. eventually this big bulls eye of winds will move ashore. because it's so big, doesn't really matter in terms of a 50- mile point where it hits.

everyone will see damaging winds if it takes a track into the delmarva or southern new jersey. sandy preps. well check batteries, flashlights, charge your electronic devices. fill your prescriptions and of course twitter updates follow us. our live weather look this is our weather cam. very nice. still 66 outside. winds out of the east, northeast at 6 and we'll see a pretty nice evening for high school football. 66 in college park. so here we go. monitoring sap di the threat still monday night and tuesday. you have time to do things over the weekend. monday night t-time on saturday. sunday may not be that bad. the showers on saturday and sunday have nothing to do with sandy. 9 weather alert tomorrow. 68 a few sprinkles. showers on sunday, showers on monday temperatures in the

upper 50s. next seven days tuesday big time rain. possibly damaging winds. 52. lingering showers sorry on halloween. temperatures upper 50s. we're drying out on thursday and friday. we'll be back after this.

it's a our report. back at 11:00.

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