Hurricane Sandy and resulting Frankenstorm may impact . . . freakout![thread]

[apples]

Resident Warns People Will Be ‘Fighting In The Streets’ For Gas, Food In Sandy Wake

NEW YORK (AP) — A strengthening Hurricane Sandy churned north Monday, raking ghost-town cities along the Northeast corridor with rain and wind gusts. Subways and schools were closed across the region of 50 million people, the floor of the New York Stock Exchange was deserted, and thousands fled inland to await the storm’s fury.

As the storm closed in on the mid-Atlantic coast, it washed away an old section of the world-famous Atlantic City Boardwalk and left most of the city’s emptied-out streets under water.

The monster hurricane was expected to make a westward lurch and blow ashore in New Jersey on Monday night, combining with two other weather systems — a wintry storm from the west and cold air rushing in from the Arctic — to create an epic superstorm.

Authorities warned that New York City and Long Island could get the worst of the storm surge: an 11-foot onslaught of seawater that could swamp lower Manhattan, flood the subways and cripple the underground network of electrical and communications lines that are vital to the nation’s financial capital.

Because of Sandy’s vast reach, with tropical storm-force winds extending almost 500 miles from its center, other major cities across the Northeast — Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Boston — also prepared for the worst.

“The days ahead are going to be very difficult,” Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley said. “There will be people who die and are killed in this storm.”

By late morning, the storm had strengthened to 90 mph and had already knocked out power to tens of thousands of people. Sandy was about 200 miles southeast of Atlantic City, N.J.

Authorities moved to close the Holland Tunnel, which connects New York and New Jersey, and a tunnel between Manhattan and Brooklyn. Street grates above the New York subway were boarded up, but officials worried that seawater would seep in and damage the electrical switches.

Millions of people in the storm’s path stayed home from work. Subways, buses and trains shut down, and more than 7,000 flights i

http://connecticut.cbslocal.com/2012/10/29/resident-warns-people-will-be-fighting-in-the-streets-for-gas-food-in-sandy-wake/

[apples]

State Highways Ordered Closed As Connecticut Officials Warn Of ‘Most Catastrophic Event’

SOUTHPORT, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) - Connecticut National Guard officials say troops have responded to East Haven and Darien to help with flooding problems.

Col. John Whitford says troops are positioned Monday in East Haven in the Cosey Beach section, where many homes were damaged last year during Tropical Storm Irene. The Guard is helping to evacuate and keep people out of the area.

Guardsmen were also called to Darien to help with possible rescues in flooded areas.

Whitford says 1,100 National Guard soldiers and airmen are on duty. He says troops are stationed at armories across the state and are preparing to respond to any emergencies.

Water from Long Island Sound spilled into roadways and towns along the Connecticut shoreline Monday, the first signs of flooding from a storm that threatens to deliver a devastating surge of seawater.

More than 500 people evacuated to shelters from low-lying areas, and officials urged those who stayed in vulnerable areas to seek higher ground before the shoreline is swamped by Hurricane Sandy. The Red Cross has set up 12 shelters across the state for anyone who has to evacuate.

About 360,000 people in 30 towns have been placed under mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders, according to state officials.

“The water’s got no place to go. It’s been pushed all the way up the coast into this funnel,” said Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, who was knocking on doors in the city as water began spilling onto lawns. “We’ve got to convince people this is very serious.”

Gov. Dannel Malloy ordered the closure of all state highways across Connecticut in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy’s arrival.

“This is the most catastrophic event that we have faced and been able to plan for in any of our lifetimes. And we continue to do

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/10/29/connecticut-officials-urge-residents-to-take-hurricane-sandy-seriously/

[GeronL]

I wrongly assumed at first that people would help each other, then I figured out it was zombieland in the making. Apparently they were planning their looting sprees online!!

[Stan In FL]

We're doomed!  The power is out in a small part of manhattan!!!!!! 

[Stan In FL]

It rained really hard, and thousands upon thousands if self important new yorkers are inconvenienced.  The country must stop and recognize!  Respect will be paid.

[Stan In FL]

it defaced the USA Today sign?!?!?  The carnage.  The horror!  Alert the president.  Maybe he will wake up for this. 

I just wish the storm had added letters;  "bullsh*t today" would be more descriptive.

Superstorm Sandy knocks down capital 'A' from USA Today sign in Virginia
MCLEAN, VA. –  Superstorm Sandy has knocked off the capital 'A' from the USA Today newspaper sign at its headquarters in McLean, Virginia.

The letter came down Monday afternoon when heavy winds from former Hurricane Sandy were blowing ashore.

A newspaper spokeswoman says the letter fell on the headquarters' lawn and has been recovered.

No one was injured.

more

[GeronL]

http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/timessquare/

Times Square webcam

lights still on, people still walking around

http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/timessquare/

[apples]

Sandy Death Toll Climbs To Over 30 As Millions Remain Without Power

NEW YORK (AP) — Millions of people from Maine to the Carolinas awoke Tuesday without electricity, and an eerily quiet New York City was all but closed off by car, train and air as superstorm Sandy steamed inland, still delivering punishing wind and rain. The U.S. death toll climbed to 35, many of the victims killed by falling trees.

The full extent of the damage in New Jersey, where the storm roared ashore Monday night with hurricane-force winds of 80 mph, was unclear. Police and fire officials, some with their own departments flooded, fanned out to rescue hundreds.

“We are in the midst of urban search and rescue. Our teams are moving as fast as they can,” Gov. Chris Christie said. “The devastation on the Jersey Shore is some of the worst we’ve ever seen. The cost of the storm is incalculable at this point.”

More than 8.2 million people across the East were without power. Airlines canceled more than 15,000 flights around the world, and it could be days before the mess is untangled and passengers can get where they’re going.

The storm also disrupted the presidential campaign with just a week to go before Election Day.

President Barack Obama canceled a third straight day of campaigning, scratching events scheduled for Wednesday in swing state Ohio, which got clobbered by Sandy’s winds as the storm pushed west. Republican Mitt Romney resumed his campaign, but with plans to turn a political rally in Ohio into a “storm relief event.”

Lower Manhattan, which includes Wall Street, was among the hardest-hit areas after the storm sent a nearly 14-foot surge of seawater, a record, coursing over its seawalls and highways and into low-lying streets.

Water cascaded into the gaping, unfinished construction pit at the World Trade Center, and the New York Stock Exchange was closed

http://connecticut.cbslocal.com/2012/10/30/superstorm-sandy-kills-17-across-7-states/

[apples]

Last night I was watching CNN Ashley Bandfield.She was in the water someplace and Anderson Cooper was asking her questions...then she blurts out..""yes I a can confirm it ..yes a death because of the storm" Oh she was just so excited.

[apples]

Hundreds evacuated after US levee breaks; people on roofs awaiting rescue

When President Barack Obama urged Americans under siege from Hurricane Sandy to stay inside and keep watch on ready.gov for the latest, he left out something pretty important — where to turn if the electricity goes out.

Despite the heightened expectation of widespread power and cable television failures, everyone from the president to local newscasters seem to expect the public to rely entirely on the Internet and their TVs for vital news and instructions.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1012/83024.html#ixzz2AoBvAWkJ

If sequestration does occur FEMA will lose 900m. 

[apples]

At least 35 dead, millions without power in Sandy's aftermath

NEW YORK –  Millions of people from Maine to the Carolinas awoke Tuesday without electricity, and an eerily quiet New York City was all but closed off by car, train and air as superstorm Sandy steamed inland, still delivering punishing wind and rain. The U.S. death toll climbed to 35, many of the victims killed by falling trees.

The full extent of the damage in New Jersey, where the storm roared ashore Monday night with hurricane-force winds of 80 mph, was unclear. Police and fire officials, some with their own departments flooded, fanned out to rescue hundreds.

"We are in the midst of urban search and rescue. Our teams are moving as fast as they can," Gov. Chris Christie said. "The devastation on the Jersey Shore is some of the worst we've ever seen. The cost of the storm is incalculable at this point."

More than 8.2 million people across the East were without power. Airlines canceled more than 15,000 flights around the world, and it could be days before the mess is untangled and passengers can get where they're going.

The storm also disrupted the presidential campaign with just a week to go before Election Day.

President Barack Obama canceled a third straight day of campaigning, scratching events scheduled for Wednesday in swing state Ohio, which

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2012/10/30/at-least-17-dead-millions-without-power-in-sandy-aftermath/#ixzz2AoEUpX9g

[apples]

Hundreds evacuated after US levee breaks; people on roofs awaiting rescue

MOONACHIE, N.J. - Hundreds of people are being evacuated after a levee broke in a northern New Jersey town early Tuesday.

Bergen County executive chief of staff Jeanne Baratta tells The Record newspaper the entire town of Moonachie is under water and as many as 1,000 people could need to be evacuated.

Baratta says people in a trailer park have had to climb onto the roofs of their trailers to await rescue.

There are no reports of injuries or deaths.

http://news.yahoo.com/hundreds-evacuated-us-levee-breaks-people-roofs-awaiting-104614640.html

[apples]

Tidal surge swamps NJ towns; body found in river

MOONACHIE, N.J. (AP) -- Authorities in northern New Jersey say the body of an unidentified man has been pulled out of the Hackensack River, which overflowed its banks and swamped two towns.

The body was recovered Tuesday from the river in the city of Hackensack.

Superstorm Sandy triggered a tidal surge that sent the river and its tributaries overflowing its banks during the middle of the night.

The towns of Moonachie (moo-NAH'-kee) and Little Ferry just to the south of Hackensack both suffered heavy flooding. Rescues of stranded residents continued Tuesday afternoon.

Bergen County officials say flooding also occurred along the river in Hackensack but was less severe than downriver.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

A huge tidal surge sent water overflowing a creek and gushing out of storm drains in two northern New Jersey towns early Tuesday, filling streets with up to 5 feet of water and setting off a frantic rescue effort by boats and trucks.

Gov. Chris Christie said hundreds of stranded people were rescued when the tidal surge up the Hackensack

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SUPERSTORM_BROKEN_LEVEE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-10-30-06-37-03

[GeronL]

for such a big storm the death toll isn't so bad YET

More probably died from heart attacks, strokes, muggings and such

[GeronL]

Lu An Fo and his "partner" search for their yellow submarine