SHAWNEE, KS (KCTV) -
All along the East Coast people are bracing for stormy weather. In Florida they're making preparations for Hurricane Sandy, but it could take an even more serious turn when Sandy moves north, colliding with a winter storm.
Forecasters are calling that Halloween eve combination "Frankenstorm" and there are already predictions of major damage.
One Kansas City firm is helping businesses that are facing threats from Mother Nature.
Weather radar is exactly what weather consultants like Weather or Not are looking at - the company helps businesses plan for Mother Nature's worst to keep income flowing and, in this case, to possibly keep Election Day from falling through.
Meteorologists at Weather or Not in Shawnee, KS, can see the storm brewing off the coast of Florida, but businesses can't necessarily see the impending doom.
"(They may ask) 'How long do I need to get to safety?' You and I may need one second to get to the basement - a business may need 20 minutes to get to the shelter," Sara Croke said.
Those are questions Croke's company answers for Midwest businesses like companies that face Frankenstorm on the east coast.
"When you start hearing things like Frankenstorm you want your clients and vendors to remain calm and to know exactly what to expect from you," Croke said.
Besides the economic impact, Croke said the storm could pose real problems for Election Day.
"The question becomes where are you with the electricity in the voting areas," she said.
Croke said the aftermath of Frankenstorm could leave voters stranded or even away from home.
"Are there going to be people who are displaced and leave their present locations because it's safe to be elsewhere," she said.
Croke said Frankenstorm won't have any impacts on Kansas City businesses so far. Her public works clients might have to travel east to help out in cleanup, but even those plans are unclear at this time.
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