‘Super-storm’ Sandy hit the East Coast yesterday October 30, leaving at least 17 people dead.
No less than a million people were early yesterday October 30 ordered to evacuate their homes with an estimated 50 million others at risk of being affected after a powerful storm, Sandy, hit the US East Coast with hurricane-force winds, bringing flooding, cutting power and claiming at least 17 lives.
As a result, President Barack Obama declared a major disaster in New York. There were reports that a dyke in New Jersey area had burst open with thousands of residents in three towns requiring emergency evacuation. Meanwhile, New York was shut for the second day running as a result of ‘Super-storm’ Sandy. The BBC said there was a record surge of sea water in New York City, flooding subway and road tunnels and plunging much of Lower Manhattan into darkness. At least five million people across several states were without electricity. Public transport was halted in several eastern cities and thousands of flights grounded.
Sandy threatens a 1,290-km swathe of the US, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes in the Mid-West. It lost its hurricane status late on Monday as it neared the coast and collided with winter weather systems, but was still carrying hurricane-strength winds. According to Joseph Lhota, New York City Transport Director, the 108-year-old New York City subway system faced its worst ever disaster on the night of Monday October 29.
Similarly, over 200 patients were evacuated from New York University's Tisch Hospital after its power went out and a backup generator failed. The New York Stock Exchange remained shut yesterday - the first time it has closed for two consecutive days due to weather since 1888. Due to severe storm conditions, all New York City residents were instructed to remain indoors until further notice.
Forecasters said Sandy could linger over as many as 12 states for 24 to 36 hours. President Obama declared emergencies in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In the US capital, Washington DC, Federal Government offices were expected to remain closed until today Wednesday October 31. Public transport was suspended in the US capital, New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Boston. Over the past week, Sandy has killed dozens of people as it carved a path of destruction through the Caribbean.
