FRANKLIN—Western Tidewater can expect a 100 percent chance of heavy rain on Saturday night with wind gusts of up to 50 mph as Hurricane Sandy makes its way up the East Coast.

A 90 percent chance of heavy rain is expected for Sunday and 60 percent by Sunday evening.

Sandy is predicted to make landfall somewhere along the mid-Atlantic or Northeast coast either as a hurricane or powerful extra-tropical storm. Extra-tropical storms are a type of storm that typically affects the United States

To prepare for the storm, the Commonwealth has activated the Virginia Emergency Response Team.

The Virginia Emergency Operations Center is coordinating the state’s response with increased staffing available 24 hours a day. Virginia State Police personnel have been placed on stand-by. The Virginia State Police Swift Water Rescue Team is standing by in strategic locations.

Chainsaw crews from the Virginia Department of Forestry are standing by with emergency response personnel and to help with debris removal.

Virginia Department of Transportation crews are ready to clear roads and ensure roads are safe for travel.

The Virginia National Guard has been authorized to bring personnel on state active duty and begin prepositioning resources.

The Virginia Department of Health is coordinating with hospitals and long-term care facilities to ensure that they are prepared for storm impacts.

For information about preparing for Hurricane Sandy and for regular updates, visit http://www.vaemergency.gov/. For general information about the storm, dial 211.