1.5 Million American's are without Power

What a Terrible Storm!

1.5 million Americans are without power as Hurricane Sandy went beyond all forecastings.

It definitely is one of the biggest storms ever to hit the United States most densely populated region.  The storm, with maximum sustained wind gusts of 150km/h, is about 45 kilometers southeast of New Jersey.  Which it will have already hit at the time of this writing.  Nearly 50 million people from the Mid-Atlantic to the Maritimes in Canada are in the path of the nearly 1,600-kilometre-wide storm, which forecasters said could be the largest to hit the mainland in U.S. history and will have an overwhelming landfall.  There are no estimates as to the amount of damage thus far.  Yet, but from topple trees, damage buildings, causing power outages and trigger heavy flooding.  Have been a devastating effect.  Eastern Americans living along the affected coastal areas were encouraged to evacuate the storm hit before projections - which followed with moving away from evacuation to board up and bunker down.

The public safety director of Atlantic City, N.J. has said most of that city is under water.  “We are certain that this is going to be a slow-moving process through a wide swath of the country, and millions of people are going to affected,” U.S. President Barack Obama said, speaking to reporters from the White House this afternoon.  The storm surge in New York City from Sandy, which flooded Battery Park Monday morning, has already surpassed that of last year’s Hurricane Irene.  “Don’t be fooled, don’t look out the window and say, it doesn’t look so bad,” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said.  “The worst is still coming.”  Officials have been stark in their warnings, as there have been more than 60 deaths already attributed to the hurricane, and say it is likely there will be more.“  There will undoubtedly be some deaths that are caused by the intensity of this storm, by the floods, by the tidal surge, by the waves.  The more responsibly citizens act, the fewer people will die,” Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley told reporters.

This morning, the Nova Scotia built tall ship HMS Bounty sunk in high seas off the North Carolina coast.  Fourteen sailors were rescued but two are missing in very difficult conditions for rescuers.  The Canadian Hurricane Centre says hurricane Sandy will be felt from the Maritimes all the way to Ontario.  Centre spokesman Bob Robichaud says Sandy is forecast to dump 50 to 100 millimeters of rain for the western Maritimes from Tuesday into Wednesday.  He says parts of southern Ontario could see 30 to 50 mm of rain as the storm passes through, though some areas in that region could see higher amounts.

With the election seven days away, Obama canceled a campaign event in Florida today in order to return to Washington and monitor the U.S. government’s response to the storm.  Sandy killed 66 people in the Caribbean last week before pounding U.S. coastal areas as it moved north.  While Sandy does not pack the punch of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans in 2005, it became more potent as it approaches the U.S. coast.  Winds were at a maximum of 150 kilometers an hour, the NHC said in its 11 a.m. report, up from 75 mph nine hours earlier.  It said tropical storm-force winds reached as far as 800 kilometers from the center.  Several feet of water flooded streets in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, which could be right in the target zone of the storm.  Local residents said police knocked on doors on Sunday, reminding everyone there was a mandatory evacuation.  While the police took names, they allowed residents to stay at their own risk.  “If power goes that’s a problem,” said John Brunhammer, 40, a recruiter from Lewes, Delaware, who had come to see the waves crashing up to the dune line at Rehoboth Beach.  “This area isn’t known for prompt utility service.”  New York and other cities and towns closed their transit systems and ordered mass evacuations from low-lying areas ahead of a storm surge that could reach as high as 11 feet.  By early this morning, water was already topping the seawall in Manhattan’s Battery Park City, one of the areas evacuated by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

All U.S. stock markets will be closed on today through till Tuesday pending review.  The operator of the New York Stock Exchange stated last Sunday, reversing an earlier plan that would have kept electronic trading going on today.

The United Nations, Broadway theaters, and New Jersey casinos were forced to close, and more than two-thirds of the East Coast’s oil refining capacity was in the process of shutting down.  Officials ordered people in coastal towns and low-lying areas to evacuate, often telling them they would put emergency workers’ lives at risk if they stayed.

The minimum central pressure – a key measure of a cyclone’s strength – was recorded at 946 millibar overnight, matching the lowest pressure ever measured in the United States north of Cape Hatteras.  The only previous time such a low measurement was recorded was in 1938, when the “Long Island Express” ripped up the coast, meteorologists said.  Transportation systems shut down in anticipation.  Airlines canceled some 7,000 flights, bridges and tunnels closed, and national passenger rail operator Amtrak suspended nearly all service on the East Coast.  The U.S. government told non-emergency workers in Washington to stay home.

The second-largest oil refinery on the East Coast, Phillips 66's 238,000 barrel per day (bpd) Bayway plant in Linden, New Jersey, was shutting down and three other plants cut output as the storm affected operations at two-thirds of the region’s plants.  Oil prices slipped on Monday, with Brent near $109 a barrel.  While Sandy’s 90 mph winds were not overwhelming for a hurricane, its exceptional size means the winds will last as long as two days.“  This is not a typical storm,” Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett said.  “It could very well be historic in nature and in scope.” 

 

Right now Hurricane Sandy is hitting the United States East Coast and Eastern Canada won’t be spared…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPDATED: OCTOBER 31

STATE BY STATE BREAKDOWN:

CAROLINAS

North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue expanded a state of emergency to western

North Carolina, which could see a foot of snow. A woman who was pulled from the Atlantic after abandoning a tall ship died. Power outages: 6,600.

CONNECTICUT

The Long Island Sound flooded roads as the storm toppled trees and power lines Two people died, including an Easton firefighter who was killed when a tree fell on his truck. Power outages: More than 615,000.

DELAWARE

Nearly all residents of flood-prone coastal communities in Kent County heeded calls to evacuate. The Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach resort communities were flooded. Power outages: More than 45,000.

ILLINOIS

High wind warnings and a lakeshore flood warning are in effect Tuesday and Wednesday in Chicago. City officials said Lake Shore Drive is expected to remain open.

KENTUCKY

A winter storm warning is in effect for three southeastern counties until Wednesday. In some areas, winds could gust up to 50 mph through Tuesday.

MAINE

Wind gusts topped 60 mph, shutting down the port of Portland and knocking out power to homes and businesses. Power outages: More than 86,000.

MARYLAND

Floodwaters swamped touristy Ocean City. In western Maryland, snow tied up traffic. A falling tree killed a man in Pasadena. Power outages: 290,000.

MASSACHUSETTS

Strong winds and heavy surf led to mandatory evacuations in sections of coastal Dartmouth and Fall River and voluntary evacuations in other coastal communities. Power outages: More than 300,000.

MICHIGAN

High winds knocked out power to at least 60,000 homes and businesses.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Politicians canceled visits to the presidential swing state on Monday. Power outages: 179,000.

NEW JERSEY

The center of the storm came ashore Monday evening near Atlantic City, which was cut off from the mainland by the storm surge along with other barrier islands, stranding residents who ignored warnings to evacuate. Hundreds of people were being evacuated after a levee broke in the northern New Jersey town of Moonachie. At least three deaths were reported. Power outages: More than 2.3 million.

NEW YORK

A record storm surge that was higher than predicted along with high winds damaged the electrical system and plunged millions of people into darkness. Utilities say it could be up to a week before power is fully restored. The governor’s office said there were five storm-related deaths. A fire burned 50 houses in one flooded section of Queens. Power outages: More than 1.8 million.

OHIO

The Cleveland area and northeast Ohio were being slammed with rain and high winds. Snow was reported in some parts south of Cleveland and south of Columbus. Power outages: More than 250,000.

PENNSYLVANIA

Wind and flooding closing more than 200 bridges and roads. Four people died, including an 8-year-old boy who was killed when a tree limb fell on him. Power outages: 1.2 million.

RHODE ISLAND

Howling winds and storm surges forced mandatory and voluntary evacuations in low-lying and coastal communities. Providence’s hurricane barrier performed well in one of its biggest tests. Power outages: 115,000.

TENNESSEE

Snow expected in higher elevations, where a freeze warning has been issued. High winds expected in many areas.

VERMONT

Winds knocked down trees and power lines, and schools were closed. Power outages: More than 10,000.

VIRGINIA

Utilities brought in crews to help restore power after high winds and snow. A curfew was ordered Monday on Chincoteague Island. Power outages: More than 131,000.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Federal and local governments will remain closed Tuesday along with the courts, public schools and the Metro system that serves 1.2 million weekday customers. Widespread cancellations are expected at the region’s three major airports. Power outages: 25,000.

WEST VIRGINIA

Some areas are buried under more than a foot of snow. A woman was killed in a traffic crash. Power outages: More than 128,000.

WISCONSIN

A village along Lake Michigan suggested residents evacuate Tuesday morning because of the possibility of dangerously high waves and flooding.