This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/30/superstorm-sandy-americans-wake-devastation

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Superstorm Sandy: millions of Americans wake up to devastation Superstorm Sandy: millions of Americans wake up to devastation
(35 minutes later)
Millions of people across the mid-Atlantic region of the United States have woken to a landscape blighted by the "once-in-a-lifetime" post-tropical cyclone Sandy, after punishing winds and devastating floods brought New York City to a standstill, left around 7.5 million people without power and claimed at least 15 lives.Millions of people across the mid-Atlantic region of the United States have woken to a landscape blighted by the "once-in-a-lifetime" post-tropical cyclone Sandy, after punishing winds and devastating floods brought New York City to a standstill, left around 7.5 million people without power and claimed at least 15 lives.
As the storm – which was downgraded from a hurricane shortly before making landfall on Monday near Atlantic City, New Jersey – continued inland with weakened but still powerful winds, Barack Obama declared a "major disaster" in the New York City area, a move designed to free up federal aid for inhabitants.As the storm – which was downgraded from a hurricane shortly before making landfall on Monday near Atlantic City, New Jersey – continued inland with weakened but still powerful winds, Barack Obama declared a "major disaster" in the New York City area, a move designed to free up federal aid for inhabitants.
In the city, where the stock exchange was closed two days running for the first time since an intense blizzard brought it to a halt in 1888, the chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Joseph J Lhota, said Sandy had been the most destructive storm in the subway network's 108-year history.In the city, where the stock exchange was closed two days running for the first time since an intense blizzard brought it to a halt in 1888, the chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Joseph J Lhota, said Sandy had been the most destructive storm in the subway network's 108-year history.
A dramatic fire that destroyed at least 50 homes in Breezy Point, Queens, was still raging on Tuesday, while an unprecedented seawater surge of four metres (nearly 14ft) left much of lower Manhattan flooded, including subway stations and the electrical system that powers Wall Street. The previous record had been set by hurricane Donna in 1960, which prompted a surge of three metres (10ft).A dramatic fire that destroyed at least 50 homes in Breezy Point, Queens, was still raging on Tuesday, while an unprecedented seawater surge of four metres (nearly 14ft) left much of lower Manhattan flooded, including subway stations and the electrical system that powers Wall Street. The previous record had been set by hurricane Donna in 1960, which prompted a surge of three metres (10ft).
"Hitting at high tide, the strongest surge and the strongest winds all hit at the worst possible time," Jeffrey Tongue, meteorologist for the weather service in Brookhaven, New York, told Reuters. "Hopefully it's a once-in-a-lifetime storm.""Hitting at high tide, the strongest surge and the strongest winds all hit at the worst possible time," Jeffrey Tongue, meteorologist for the weather service in Brookhaven, New York, told Reuters. "Hopefully it's a once-in-a-lifetime storm."
Winds as high as 90mph and sustained at 80mph were recorded as Sandy made landfall on the New Jersey coast around 8pm EDT. Officials reportedly connected at least 15 deaths to the bad weather throughout the affected region, with fatalities reported chiefly in New York but also in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Massachusetts and West Virginia. Police in the Canadian city of Toronto said a woman had been killed by flying debris.Winds as high as 90mph and sustained at 80mph were recorded as Sandy made landfall on the New Jersey coast around 8pm EDT. Officials reportedly connected at least 15 deaths to the bad weather throughout the affected region, with fatalities reported chiefly in New York but also in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Massachusetts and West Virginia. Police in the Canadian city of Toronto said a woman had been killed by flying debris.
In the Caribbean, which Sandy had pummelled on its way to the US east coast, 69 people are reported to have died, most of them in Haiti.In the Caribbean, which Sandy had pummelled on its way to the US east coast, 69 people are reported to have died, most of them in Haiti.
As Sandy passed west from New Jersey across southern Pennsylvania on Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center said it was still reaching sustained winds of 65mph. The storm is expected to take a northwards path towards Canada later on Tuesday and heavy snowfall, alongside high winds, are expected in some states. Chicago officials warned residents to stay away from the shore of Lake Michigan amid fears of winds of up to 60mph and waves of more than seven metres (24ft).As Sandy passed west from New Jersey across southern Pennsylvania on Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center said it was still reaching sustained winds of 65mph. The storm is expected to take a northwards path towards Canada later on Tuesday and heavy snowfall, alongside high winds, are expected in some states. Chicago officials warned residents to stay away from the shore of Lake Michigan amid fears of winds of up to 60mph and waves of more than seven metres (24ft).
According to the American Red Cross, nearly 11,000 people spent the night in 258 shelters across 16 states.According to the American Red Cross, nearly 11,000 people spent the night in 258 shelters across 16 states.
In New York, meanwhile, where nearly 2 million people were still without power at 8am on Tuesday morning, a massive clean-up operation will be necessary to get the city back on its feet. In a statement, the MTA's Lhota said it could take between 14 hours and four days to get floodwater out of subway tunnels. "We are assessing the extent of the damage and beginning the process of recovery," he said, adding: "In 108 years our employees have never faced a challenge like the one that confronts us now." In New York, where nearly 2 million people were still without power at 8am on Tuesday morning, a major cleanup operation will be necessary to get the city back on its feet. In a statement, the MTA said it could take between 14 hours and four days to get floodwater out of subway tunnels. "We are assessing the extent of the damage and beginning the process of recovery," Lhota said. "In 108 years our employees have never faced a challenge like the one that confronts us now."
One of the most worrying events of Monday night was the emergency evacuation of 200 patients from New York University's Tisch hospital after the institution's back-up generator failed. NYU's medical dean Robert Grossman told Associated Press that among the people moved were 20 babies from the neonatal intensive care unit who were on battery-powered respirators and who had to be carried to ambulances waiting to take them to other hospitals. One of the most worrying events of Monday night was the emergency evacuation of 200 patients from New York University's Tisch hospital after the institution's backup generator failed. NYU's medical dean Robert Grossman told Associated Press that among the people moved were 20 babies from the neonatal intensive care unit who were on battery-powered respirators and who had to be carried to ambulances waiting to take them to other hospitals.
But, for some, the worst was yet to come. Sandy caused a levee to break in northern New Jersey on Tuesday, flooding the towns of Moonachie, Little Ferry and Carlstadt with 1.2-1.5 metres (4ft to 5ft) of water. Officials told Reuters there were no reports yet of fatalities. Sandy caused a levee to break in northern New Jersey on Tuesday, flooding the towns of Moonachie, Little Ferry and Carlstadt with up to 1.5 metres (5ft) of water. Officials told Reuters there were no reports yet of fatalities.
Writing on Twitter, Governor Chris Christie said the cost of the storm was "incalculable". "The devastation on the Jersey Shore is some of the worst we've ever seen," he said. "The surge was so strong we have rail cars on the Jersey Turnpike this morning. New Jersey is a tough place … We will dig out from under and we will be back." Writing on Twitter, Governor Chris Christie said the cost of the storm was incalculable. "The devastation on the Jersey Shore is some of the worst we've ever seen," he said. "The surge was so strong we have rail cars on the Jersey Turnpike this morning. New Jersey is a tough place … We will dig out from under and we will be back."