Sandy prompts voluntary evacuations

BOSTON (AP) -- Voluntary evacuation recommendations have been issued in Scituate, Lynn, New Bedford and Plum Island.

The evacuation recommendations have been issued for just certain sections of the communities that could be affected by flooding as a result of Hurricane Sandy that is expected to make landfall in New Jersey on Monday.

State officials say communities with south-facing beaches are expected to take the brunt of the storm surge.

Shelters have already been opened in Fall River, Scituate, Chilmark, Newbury, Weymouth, Yarmouth, Eastham, Northampton, Wareham and Sandwich.

A Red Cross spokeswoman says just a few people stayed the shelters last night, but they are expecting more people overnight Monday and into Tuesday.