Massive Storm Churns Toward East Coast.

Tens of millions of people were hunkered down Monday, bracing for howling winds, torrential downpours and storm surges that authorities warned could bring devastation unlike anything they've seen.

Hurricane Sandy could affect as many as 60 million people.

Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy:

This is the most catastrophic event that we have faced and been able to plan for in any of our lifetimes"

Thankfully, South Dakotans have never heard such a warning from a governor. The most recent effect Sioux Falls has felt from a 'perfect storm' in the Northeast was in 1991 when a monumental blizzard socked us on Halloween night more than two decades ago.

Our Facebook page post on the topic had people remembering:

Jessica - "Very few kids went out to brave the storm and go trick or treating but my brother and I did. And people handing out candy gave you more than usual because there was so few kids out and about."

Kari - "Yes! I was out trick n treating with my kids and we barely made it home. No snow on the ground when we left n about 3ft by the time we got home, up in Volga."

Kim - "Yes! Playoff football game and they had to snow blow the yard lines every quarter."

Dan - "The Twins won the World Series that year. They had to have a snow plow lead the victory parade!"

Stacy - "Sure do, I was pregnant, and hoping and praying that i didn't go into labor!!"

Shellie - "Yep, had to park the car and walk with the kids trick or treating - only went to 2 blocks around our neighborhood!"

Brianna - "Yep, had to park the car and walk with the kids trick or treating - only went to 2 blocks around our neighborhood!"

Krystal - "Yes I do. Tyler was 2 yrs old and we were taking him Trick or Treating for the first time. But we couldn't even get out the front door!"

Still, that seems pretty mild compared to the port cities that are bracing for a storm dubbed "Frankenstorm". References to the "Perfect Storm" in 1991 were also made throughout media outlets.

This massive chaotic system that is churning a northern path toward the eastern seaboard has already claimed lives in the Caribbean and has national and local authorities scrambling to get the warnings out.

An expected storm surge at midnight Monday could raise water levels to 11 feet above normal high tide, bringing "the potential to cause unprecedented damage."

Hundreds of thousands of people have abandoned their homes. New York City landmarks are eerily empty. Mass transit systems have ground to a halt.

The effects of this storm, however, will be widespread and felt through at least a third of the country. Wave heights in Lake Michigan could reach 28 feet Monday night and 31 feet by Tuesday, the National Weather Service said.

Oddly enough, the KIKN 1st Alert Forecast has mild weather ahead for the week.

We have heard from several people who have friends and relatives living on the coast and the best we can do is remind people to keep them in our thoughts and prayers.

Comment below if you have friends and family effected by Hurricane Sandy.