As Superstorm Sandy hits the Northeast of the United States, some University students are keeping up with family members who are in the midst of the storm.

Sandy is a hybrid storm, which is a combination of a tropical cyclone and a cyclone formed outside the tropics, said Barry Keim, geography and anthropology professor and state climatologist.

Sandy will develop the worst characteristics of both types of storms, including a storm surge along the East Coast of 10 to 12 feet. Keim said the surge will range from central New Jersey to southern New England.

Because it is has components of an extra-tropical storm, Sandy will cover some areas of the nation with snowfall. In the mountains of West Virginia, he said there could be snowfall of two to three feet in some places.

Some of Louisiana’s recent cold weather is linked to the storm, Keim said.

Another characteristic that makes Sandy different from other storms is its track. He said Sandy’s path and size differentiates it from the 160-year record of hurricanes. This means that there is greater uncertainty as to her impact.

Sandy’s track is unique to the region, Keim said.

Hybrid storms often occur during the latter part of October because the sea waters are still warm enough to produce strong storms. As the waters cool off, storms are less likely to form, he said.

Keim said Sandy will only last for a couple of days, but it will “rough up” the eastern coast of the nation.

Families in the Northeast stocked up on food and water in preparation for Sandy and bunkered down in their homes.

Communication disorders senior Jessica Griffin is from Haworth, N.J., and said her family loaded up on food and water because it was projected their power could be out for a week. With the high wind speeds, she said it’s possible tree limbs could knock out the power, which is what her family is concerned about.

“Right now they’re less worried about the actual rain, and more worried about the power going out,” Griffin said.

If the power goes out, she said her family has a gas fireplace and a generator.

French junior Kelsey Gibree said her stepfather, mother and stepbrother prepared for Sandy at their home in Auburn, Mass., by making sure they had an adequate supply of wood for their woodstove for heat. She said the weather in Massachusetts was cold and the state could get some snow in the next few days.

She said her family is not expecting the weather to be unmanageable because they have experienced rough weather from blizzards.

“They’re really not too worried,” she said.

Griffin said her cousin works for ABC News in New York City, and because mass transit systems shut down at 6 p.m. Sunday, he was staying in a hotel throughout the storm without his wife and children.

Griffin said her father, who is a volunteer fireman, had to stay in the firehouse in case of electrical fires or trees falling in the road.

“I was just thinking, I’ve had my first hurricane, and now home is getting their first hurricane,” she said.

Because she endured a storm herself, Griffin said she was able to tell her family what to do to prepare for Sandy. She told them to buy extra water and canned foods, and also to fill their bathtubs with water.

“I told everyone to keep their phones fully charged,” she said.

After experiencing Hurricane Isaac in late August to early September, Gibree said she is not too worried about Sandy. She said she knows her family can take care of itself.