Forecasters at the center said Sandy was expected to morph from a hurricane into a winter low-pressure system as it made landfall, but they warned that it would remain as powerful as a hurricane and would only lose intensity as it churned north across New Jersey, and parts of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and upstate New York.

On Sunday afternoon, the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District and the Bellmore, Merrick, North Bellmore and North Merrick elementary school districts cancelled classes on Monday ahead of Sandy. As of Wednesday, students had not returned to classes. The school closing announcements came at the same time that Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano signed an executive order mandating evacuation of low-lying areas south of Sunrise Highway.

By 8:30 a.m. last Saturday, 50-pound sandbags and generators were sold out at the Freeport Home Depot as people hurried to prepare for Sandy.

Over the weekend, the Freeport BJs and Bellmore-Merrick supermarkets were selling bottled water by the caseload. And many homeowners were shoring up their siding, cutting down tree limbs around their homes and moving their boats from the marinas along the Bellmore-Merrick shoreline to higher ground.

County officials were urging residents to assemble “Go Kits” with food, water, a first-aid kit and their most important documents, and to evacuate where necessary.

LIRR shut down, no power

Hurricane Sandy shut down the Long Island Rail Road. The suspension began as of 7 p.m. on Sunday. The announcement on the LIRR website read: "The LIRR has suspended service system-wide due to Hurricane Sandy. Service will remain suspended throughout the duration of the storm for the safety of customers and employees and to protect railroad equipment and infrastructure. Following the storm, the LIRR will assess damage and restore service when it is safe." The LIRR introduced limited service on Wednesday.