Hurricane Sandy still on track to deliver a major blow But meteorologists said Sandy could still uncoil with the force of a hurricane, as it merges with a jet stream and a nor'easter, triggering what is likely to be several days of destruction on its northern path through eight states. Two weather forecasting models have agreed that the storm likely will reach shore somewhere between the Delmarva Peninsula and Rhode Island. "At first glance, it would appear that Sandy is not the threat it used to be," Brian McNoldy, of The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang, wrote on the group's blog. "Sandy is still forecast to intensify as it heads north," he warned, adding that people will begin to feel the effects well in advance of its arrival. Today is the day to make preparations. As Saturday's bright sun and warm temperatures made the prospect of an epic storm more difficult to imagine, rain was still forecast for Sunday, a lead up for Sandy's arrival, which is expected possibly as early as Monday night. By the storm's end, forecasters are predicting between four and eight inches of rain in mid-Atlantic states. The governors of Maryland and Virginia already have declared states of emergency, as has District Mayor Vincent Gray. Flood watches were issued in the District, as well as in Anne Arundel, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George's, Calvert, Charles, St. Mary's, Arlington and Falls Church counties. A coastal flood watch was issued for all of Maryland's beaches, as well as Virginia Beach. The region's utility providers called on companies outside the area to send as much help as possible. Dominion Virginia Power asked to borrow 2,000 workers, while Pepco asked for 2,500 to be sent to the District and Maryland. Pepco warned that hundreds of thousands of customers may lose power if the storm hits the area as expected. Across the area, people stocked up on food and other supplies, if they could find them. In the District, the flashlight section at the Target in Columbia Heights was bare. Everyone has freaked out. Wow," said Jennifer Gaskins, 59, who drove from her home in Brightwood. Up and down the Chesapeake Bay, owners were trying to secure their boats, and those who could were pulling them out of the water. Greg Wilson, of Grasonville, towed away his fishing boat after receiving a warning "saying we should haul out if we could." "I can always bring it back to go fishing next weekend," he said. Also preparing for a storm were mass-transit systems, airports and airlines. The three major commuter systems - Metro, the Maryland Transit Administration and Virginia Railway Express - plan to continue normal operations until conditions require otherwise. "If conditions really deteriorate on Sunday, we may change that, but at this point, we're proceeding," Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said. The transit agency began placing sandbags around vent shafts and station entrances of the subway system. Crews had also begun checking pumping stations that will funnel water out of the stations, ensuring that drains were clear and that enough chain saws were available if there were downed trees. Also, additional rail and bus supervisors are being called in to work at control centers. The MTA began mobilizing emergency operations and maintenance workers, said spokesman Joe Sviatko. "As long as it's safe, the goal is to keep everything open that we can during our normal operational hours," Sviatko said. The agency has additional diesel trains available for MARC's Penn Line, which typically uses electric trains, to try to ensure that there is MARC service on Monday. MTA officials will assess the storm's path Sunday afternoon to determine the extent of service available on the system's buses, trains and light-rail system. VRE is planning full service on Monday, barring any major weather-related problems. Staff writer Ashley Halsey contributed to this story.