Coastal towns brace for Hurricane Sandy

PLUM ISLAND, Mass. (WHDH) -- Newburyport fire fighters are loading trucks with emergency supplies and preparing to bail residents out in wake of Hurricane Sandy’s arrival.

Crews are working to build up the dunes about eight to ten feet and to widen the beaches about 30 feet to protect waterfront homes.

“We're talking from what we’re being told at this point massive erosion of the beaches so we’re just going to have to wait and see,” said Tom Howard, city marshal.

As Hurricane Sandy barrels toward the Northeast, emergency officials said they're most concerned about the people who live in those homes.

“A couple hours after the rain hits, that’s when we really get busy, flooded with calls,” said an emergency responder.

“There's one way on and one way off. Once the tide gets to the point we can't get there it puts people in harm’s way,” said Howard.

A decision on whether or not to have mandatory evacuations won't be made until the storm path becomes clearer. For now it's full steam ahead with the push to protect property that could be left behind.

“All the info we have at this point is pointing to bad info that it's gonna be a severe hit for this area,” said Howard.

Emergency officials will decide Sunday whether or not they will instruct residents to evacuate.