FRANKEN-STORM ... OR SUPER-STORM. WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT -- HURRICANE SANDY IS PACKING QUITE A PUNCH... BRINGING HOWLING WINDS FIRST... AND THEN LOTS OF RAIN TO THIS REGION. HERE'S A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PROJECTED TRACK OF SANDY . THE CATEGORY ONE STORM IS EXPECTED TO MAKE A "LEFT TURN" EARLY THIS EVENING.... SLAMMING INTO THE U-S EAST COAST .... NOT FAR FROM NEW YORK CITY. ACROSS SOUTHERN ONTARIO, THE BIGGEST WORRY IS VERY STRONG WINDS, STARTING LATER THIS EVENING. POSSIBLE GUSTS UP TO 90-KILOMETRES AN HOUR. DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES COULD BE THE RESULT. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE ARE JUST ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THE STORM SYSTEM. NEWSWATCH'S MAEGAN KULCHAR TAKES A LOOK AT LOCAL PREPARATIONS.

Kingston Hydro crews are getting ready for what could be a very wet and windy  few days ahead. With Hurricane Sandy lumbering up the east coast, additional crews here in kingston will be on-call throughout the evening, inspecting and addressing potential power outages, flooding as well as cleaning up debris.

" Doing some checks on infrastructure, making sure there's no leaves near catch basins, and looking at trees if something does look at bit dangerous"

Environment Canada has issued a strong wind warning for kingston, Odessa and the Frontenac Islands.....  with hazardous winds that can break tree limbs and knock over weak or shallow rooted trees. The storm comes just as new york city and new jersey have evacuating coastal areas  as well as closing down transportation routes such as subways and central park.

"Work has been cancelled for just about everyone I know,because they can't get there, and I went grocery shopping last night and the line up was three miles out the door"

"As for Kingston the issue is high winds anywhere from 60 to 90 kilometres an hour as well as heavy rains-- we are expecting 10 to 15 millimetres this evening."

For now, the predictions of a monster storm haven't spooked some local residents.

"I'm not worried, if the electricity goes out, well than it does, if it doesn't then I'm lucky"

"It's only the two of us, we are ready for it"

"I'm fine with it, I live downtown, I'll walk if I need to make it to a store"

Still, local emergency planning experts say people should be prepared with 3 days worth of emergency supplies.

"Make sure you have supplies of the essentials batteries for the radio's, drinking water, and food supplies"

While weather conditions can change at any given time, the fact that this storm system isso large -- one thousand kilometres wide -- concerns this Queen's Coastal Expert.

"This storm is a hurricane, its going to hit the coast, and cause erosion, and flooding, but as it moves across the land it is going to transition into an extra tropical storm, and combine with some other systems that are particularly strong."

It all adds up to wicked storm system on the eve of Halloween. Ontario's emergency management centre is advising people to secure outdoor furniture, garbage lids... and even consider bringing in your Halloween decorations. Maegen Kulchar CKWS Newswatch Kingston.