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| East coast life heads towards normality after Sandy but devastation still felt | East coast life heads towards normality after Sandy but devastation still felt |
| (7 days later) | |
| Life in America's hurricane battered north-east slowly headed towards normality on Thursday as presidential election campaigning resumed, public transport networks struggled to life and power began to come back on. | Life in America's hurricane battered north-east slowly headed towards normality on Thursday as presidential election campaigning resumed, public transport networks struggled to life and power began to come back on. |
| But the impact of devastating superstorm Sandy was still being felt across the region as more of the damage inflicted by the history-making weather system was revealed, the death toll more than 140, with 74 dead in the US, many more missing and some five million people were still without electricity. | But the impact of devastating superstorm Sandy was still being felt across the region as more of the damage inflicted by the history-making weather system was revealed, the death toll more than 140, with 74 dead in the US, many more missing and some five million people were still without electricity. |
| New Jersey remained the centre of destruction as state officials began to count the cost of the direct hit on the state's famed Jersey Shore of beach towns, casinos and boardwalks. It is thought Sandy will inflict $30bn of damage in New Jersey alone. | New Jersey remained the centre of destruction as state officials began to count the cost of the direct hit on the state's famed Jersey Shore of beach towns, casinos and boardwalks. It is thought Sandy will inflict $30bn of damage in New Jersey alone. |
| In Hoboken, just across the Hudson river from New York, the US National Guard patrolled debris-strewn flooded streets in Humvees hoping to evacuate 20,000 stranded residents. City officials there had launched a desperate appeal for supplies of flashlights, food, generators, fuel and water. | In Hoboken, just across the Hudson river from New York, the US National Guard patrolled debris-strewn flooded streets in Humvees hoping to evacuate 20,000 stranded residents. City officials there had launched a desperate appeal for supplies of flashlights, food, generators, fuel and water. |
| All along the coastline of New Jersey, scenes of disaster emerged, from shattered boardwalks, to coast roads suddenly turned into beaches, to houses reduced to piles of wood. In south Mantoloking, the ruins of home still smouldered after a terrible fire. In Sayreville, it emerged that almost 200 people had been rescued by boat. In Atlantic City, local officials contemplated a huge blow to their casino-based economy amid streets that had been flooded waist deep. In Jersey City, a curfew was put in effect. Across the state, huge queues built up at petrol stations as desperate drivers tried to fill up their cars amid a tightening of supplies. | All along the coastline of New Jersey, scenes of disaster emerged, from shattered boardwalks, to coast roads suddenly turned into beaches, to houses reduced to piles of wood. In south Mantoloking, the ruins of home still smouldered after a terrible fire. In Sayreville, it emerged that almost 200 people had been rescued by boat. In Atlantic City, local officials contemplated a huge blow to their casino-based economy amid streets that had been flooded waist deep. In Jersey City, a curfew was put in effect. Across the state, huge queues built up at petrol stations as desperate drivers tried to fill up their cars amid a tightening of supplies. |
| In Seaside Heights, rows of houses had been effectively flattened by Sandy's enormous flood surge. Seaside's boardwalk, which featured in MTV's hit reality show Jersey Shore, has been uprooted, amusement rides beside Casino Pier have been swept into the sea, and sand covered coastal streets and houses. City officials simply asked people to leave town. "We have to get everyone off the island because there is total devastation," Seaside Heights police chief Thomas Boyd said at an earlier press conference. | In Seaside Heights, rows of houses had been effectively flattened by Sandy's enormous flood surge. Seaside's boardwalk, which featured in MTV's hit reality show Jersey Shore, has been uprooted, amusement rides beside Casino Pier have been swept into the sea, and sand covered coastal streets and houses. City officials simply asked people to leave town. "We have to get everyone off the island because there is total devastation," Seaside Heights police chief Thomas Boyd said at an earlier press conference. |
| One of the main problems many areas have faced is that the flood waters are polluted with oil and chemicals after Sandy struck such a built-up part of the country. Officials also warned that 336,000 gallons of diesel fuel had spilled into the waters around Staten Island and New Jersey after a storage tank was ruptured and lifted from its holdings. Authorities say the fuel, which leaked at the Motiva oil tank facility in Woodbridge, was now contained in booms on the ocean. | One of the main problems many areas have faced is that the flood waters are polluted with oil and chemicals after Sandy struck such a built-up part of the country. Officials also warned that 336,000 gallons of diesel fuel had spilled into the waters around Staten Island and New Jersey after a storage tank was ruptured and lifted from its holdings. Authorities say the fuel, which leaked at the Motiva oil tank facility in Woodbridge, was now contained in booms on the ocean. |
| In New York, however, there were increasing signs of life as America's largest city struggled – sometimes chaotically – to get back to normality. Commuter railway lines sputtered back to life but were inundated with customers. So was the subway system as a limited service began and was immediately swamped by people who began queuing up at 5am to catch a train. The city's streets were often clogged with traffic and massive jams built up as Mayor Michael Bloomberg tried to control the number of cars in the city by barring any carrying less than three passengers. | In New York, however, there were increasing signs of life as America's largest city struggled – sometimes chaotically – to get back to normality. Commuter railway lines sputtered back to life but were inundated with customers. So was the subway system as a limited service began and was immediately swamped by people who began queuing up at 5am to catch a train. The city's streets were often clogged with traffic and massive jams built up as Mayor Michael Bloomberg tried to control the number of cars in the city by barring any carrying less than three passengers. |
| Bloomberg was also currently resisting calls to cancel the New York marathon scheduled for Sunday. Numerous politicians have appealed for him to scrap the event as the city copes with aftershock of Sandy, but so far the famous road race remains on track to takee place. "It's a great event for New York, and I think for those who were lost, you've got to believe they would want us to have an economy and have a city go on," Bloomberg said. | Bloomberg was also currently resisting calls to cancel the New York marathon scheduled for Sunday. Numerous politicians have appealed for him to scrap the event as the city copes with aftershock of Sandy, but so far the famous road race remains on track to takee place. "It's a great event for New York, and I think for those who were lost, you've got to believe they would want us to have an economy and have a city go on," Bloomberg said. |
| All three main airports in the New York area were also expected to be operational on Thursday after waters receded from LaGuardia, the final airport to open, which sits just a few feet above sea level by the East river. | All three main airports in the New York area were also expected to be operational on Thursday after waters receded from LaGuardia, the final airport to open, which sits just a few feet above sea level by the East river. |
| However, as working life returned to some areas of New York, many neighbourhoods were still without power. ConEdison reported that 719,000 of its own customers in the New York area were without power, with 227,000 of those in Manhattan though it was predicting full power would be restored there by Saturday. But for the moment, life in downtown Manhattan is still an eerie experience for those suddenly taken back to living an electricity-free era. Many thousands of residents have simply left to stay with friends and family in other parts of the city. Others are putting up with darkened hallways, no lifts and living by candlelight. | However, as working life returned to some areas of New York, many neighbourhoods were still without power. ConEdison reported that 719,000 of its own customers in the New York area were without power, with 227,000 of those in Manhattan though it was predicting full power would be restored there by Saturday. But for the moment, life in downtown Manhattan is still an eerie experience for those suddenly taken back to living an electricity-free era. Many thousands of residents have simply left to stay with friends and family in other parts of the city. Others are putting up with darkened hallways, no lifts and living by candlelight. |
| Though a few restaurants and food shops are open, the vast majority of businesses on the usually frantic and busy city streets are closed. Many of the areas more famous residents have fled the usually fashionable neighbourhood. The New York Post reported that film stars like Naomi Watts and Russell Crowe, model Helena Christensen and Vogue editor Anna Wintour had all fled uptown for the plush Mark Hotel on the Upper East Side. | Though a few restaurants and food shops are open, the vast majority of businesses on the usually frantic and busy city streets are closed. Many of the areas more famous residents have fled the usually fashionable neighbourhood. The New York Post reported that film stars like Naomi Watts and Russell Crowe, model Helena Christensen and Vogue editor Anna Wintour had all fled uptown for the plush Mark Hotel on the Upper East Side. |
| Others had less options. Diane Ward, a 76-year-old who has lived in the East Village neighbourhood for 45 years, stayed put to look after her cat. She had just gone to a local home supplies store that was hawking candles and batteries on the street. "I bought some candles," she explained. "It is depressing inside when you are living by flashlight. Candles are much nicer." | Others had less options. Diane Ward, a 76-year-old who has lived in the East Village neighbourhood for 45 years, stayed put to look after her cat. She had just gone to a local home supplies store that was hawking candles and batteries on the street. "I bought some candles," she explained. "It is depressing inside when you are living by flashlight. Candles are much nicer." |
| Meanwhile, America's election campaign was back in top gear. | Meanwhile, America's election campaign was back in top gear. |
| President Barack Obama had visited New Jersey on Wednesday in the company of its Republican governor Chris Christie, who is usually a staunch critic. But that rare political truce was over on Thursday as both Obama joined Republican challenger Mitt Romney back on the campaign trail. | President Barack Obama had visited New Jersey on Wednesday in the company of its Republican governor Chris Christie, who is usually a staunch critic. But that rare political truce was over on Thursday as both Obama joined Republican challenger Mitt Romney back on the campaign trail. |
| In Wisconsin, Obama implicitly reminded his audience of Romney's habit of making dramatic changes on issues. "You know what I believe. You know where I stand. You know that I'll make tough political decisions even when they are not popular," Obama said. "After all we've been through together, we can't give up now." | In Wisconsin, Obama implicitly reminded his audience of Romney's habit of making dramatic changes on issues. "You know what I believe. You know where I stand. You know that I'll make tough political decisions even when they are not popular," Obama said. "After all we've been through together, we can't give up now." |
| Meanwhile, Romney was back on the attack, mentioning the president by name for the first time in two days. At a campaign stop in Virginia he slammed an Obama idea to create a new government agency to help businesses create jobs. "I don't think adding a new chair to his cabinet will help add millions of jobs on Main Street," Romney said. | Meanwhile, Romney was back on the attack, mentioning the president by name for the first time in two days. At a campaign stop in Virginia he slammed an Obama idea to create a new government agency to help businesses create jobs. "I don't think adding a new chair to his cabinet will help add millions of jobs on Main Street," Romney said. |
| Romney's campaign also released a highly aggressive attack ad in Florida, linking Obama to high-profile socialists in Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez and Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. | Romney's campaign also released a highly aggressive attack ad in Florida, linking Obama to high-profile socialists in Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez and Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. |
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