PITTSBURGH -- A driving September rain, diminished foot traffic and the screech of power tools securing screws into plywood and broken brick have turned a once-bustling neighborhood marketplace into a virtual ghost town.

With sweat pouring down their bearded cheeks, shop manager Perry Farina and co-worker Brandon Winters hurriedly board up windows outside their Italian produce store. A storm is brewing, it's headed their way and these proud natives are taking no chances.

But unlike the painful preparations all too familiar to those who endure fall's hurricane season, this potential tempest is human made, but no less frightening.

It's called the G-20 Summit, a meeting of the world's leading industrial nations centered on talks to drive the global economy. And while it is hoped talks here will benefit billions across the world, citizens in the host city of Pittsburgh are holding their breath that the next few days will not turn into the violent demonstrations marking other such meetings.

"There's a lot of fear right now that protesters will break out our windows and shut down our businesses," said Farina. "Everyone's just scared. But seeing our National Guard on the streets has a lot of people around here feeling better."

Safer, because more than 2,500 soldiers and airmen from the Pennsylvania National Guard are joining forces in Operation Steel Kickoff with local, state and federal authorities to keep order should crowd control and riots occur within the region.

"We're hoping that people go out and exercise their rights peaceably and that we aren't needed," said Lt. Col. Dale Waltman, Task Force Security commander of more than 600 joint force soldiers and airmen. "But should the need arise, we are prepared to assist with any contingency."

That suits Kevin Chun, a grocery store owner, just fine.

"We never went through anything like this before," said Chun whose normally busy store was empty today. As a business owner, I'm concerned, but the Guard being here with local law enforcement and others gives us all a piece of mind and we feel safe."

Perhaps that's because 42 agencies from every form of government have been teaming together to make sure protesters can exercise their constitutional rights while world leader foster relationships and the citizens here remain safe.

"Communications with interoperability are always a challenge," said Coast Guard Cmdr. Richard Timme, Task Force Maritime commander and captain of the port. "But we've been together from the beginning and interagency coordination is working really well at this time."

And as the multitude of agencies fan out across the bridges, buildings and businesses, Farina and Winters continue boarding up their storefront, dependent upon hope and the Pennsylvania National Guard just in case.

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