A nor?easter is expected to bring rain and sleet to Long Island Saturday night, and officials worried about what the storm may do to the south shore?s beaches.

Gil Hanse, the emergency manager for the Town of Babylon, says that crews were trying to repair damage and replenish sand losses brought on by past storms. Hanse says this must be done every two to three years in order to minimize beach erosion, but the upcoming nor?easter has caused the crews to change their plans.

The crews were forced to move the dredge, which acts like a vacuum ? sucking sand in and pumping it out. The dredge is a 200 foot long barge, and it was necessary to move it in order to protect it from harm, crews say.

Bulldozers were ready and waiting to smooth the sand, but must remain parked while crews wait out the storm and hope that not too much damage is done to the sands.

?One of the things we have done is put the sand here,? Hanse said. ?Other than that, there isn?t much. We just wait and hope the storm moves quick.?

Hanse said the storm will put the beach erosion project behind schedule, and that Monday evening will be the earliest time they can put the dredge back.

Rain and wind are expected for Sunday. Coastal flooding, erosion and power outages will likely result.