Photo by Kef O. Howard Benwood city employees fill sandbags Friday for businesses and residents to use during potential flooding. The bags will also be used along the city’s floodwall.

WHEELING — People who live in flood-prone areas should prepare sooner rather than later for potential flooding, said Lou Vargo, deputy director of the Wheeling-Ohio County Emergency Management Agency. The latest estimate puts the Ohio River at Wheeling cresting at 38.9 feet at 2 p.m. Monday. If this prediction holds true, the river will crest nearly 3 feet above Wheeling’s flood stage of 36 feet. Vargo said the estimate takes into account about 1.5 inches of rainfall that was forecast to occur last night through today. “The variable tonight is the storm in the Atlantic. ... That’s the determining factor of how it will affect the Ohio Valley,” Vargo said. Because of the threat of flooding, Vargo said West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin declared a state of emergency for 34 counties including the Northern Panhandle. The declaration, Vargo noted, will allow emergency managers to call for additional help from the National Guard, if necessary. “It could go either way,” Vargo said of the river level, noting depending on rain amounts, the river crest could go higher or lower. At 38.9 feet, he noted at least a couple streets on the south end of Wheeling Island will flood. The north end also will see some flooding. Earlier this week, Island residents, such as Tom and Norma Dorsch, were already beginning to prepare, just in case. Dorsch noted her North Front Street boathouse floods at 34.2 feet.