PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Government, utility and the National Guard are all bracing for Hurricane Sandy’s arrival here in Pennsylvania.

In addition, the Red Cross is also preparing by packing up its emergency response vehicles.

Shortly after 10 a.m., an armada of Red Cross vans and trucks pulled up to the relief agency’s headquarters on the Boulevard of the Allies.

This is the opening act of the Red Cross’s efforts to help residents if the remnants of Sandy wreak havoc locally.

“It’s looking like more and more and more like we might be opening a few shelters in our region,” Lauren Chapman from the American Red Cross said. “Right now we’re packing up comfort kits. These are kits that can be given to people in shelters they contain hygiene items and things of the sort. We’re also going to be packing up our heater meals, which are meals that we use in shelters.”

“We have about 1,500 volunteers in our region right now we’ve been working to figure out who’s available to help us out.”

Crews are about to put in long hours in the worst of situations and they’re all volunteers.

“It’s a good cause and I truly believe in it and I think I can speak for the team for that,” Thane Clawmann

Now, while these supplies and young people are earmarked for the local area, if more are needed here or anywhere the Red Cross said it’s ready.

“Just like how we have volunteers who deploy to other parts of the country when they’re in need, we’ll also have the same thing happen to us when we’re in need whenever this storm actually hits,” Chapman said.

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