The superstorm has so far claimed 16 lives and left over 7.5 million people without power across the 13 States hit by the storm and the death toll put at 66 people in the Caribbean.
Stock trading will be closed in the US for a second day Tuesday, the first time the New York Stock Exchange will be closed for two consecutive days due to weather since 1888, when a snowstorm hit the financial district.
The emergency services have rescued thousands after a levee breach in Bergen Country inundating the many areas with over six foot water and people were forced to take shelters on the rooftops before the rescue teams arrive.
With landfall into the New Jersey coastline devastating the areas by over 83 mph winds on Monday night and hurled an unprecedented 13foot surge of seawater at New York City, causing extensive damage to commercial and residential property.
The insurers estimate the extent of damage between $10-to-$20 billion putting an additional burden on battered economy which had showed some signs of optimism earlier this month.
It is estimated that over 700,000 left with power in New York and adjacent areas out of total 7.5 million people without power in the past 24 hours. Authorities say it may takes a week to ten days to restore power in many areas of the storm hit areas.
The New York subway stations have been inundated as horrific scenes of flooding of tunnels were seen in the early hours following the storm landing on Monday evening.
“There have been no such damage and flooding seen in past 107 years history of the subway systems and it may take four days to pump the water out from the tunnels at the earliest,” according to an official.
The National Hurricane Center said that as of 5am Tuesday, the storm was moving westward across Pennsylvania and was centered about 90 miles west of Philadelphia.
President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in New York and Long Island.
The declaration makes federal funding available to people in the area. It bore the brunt of the sea surge from a superstorm that hit the East Coast on Monday.
The New York Fire Department said that 50 homes in Rockaway Park New York were gutted due to short circuit in the underground power system. More than 180 firefighters battled a fire that destroyed more than 50 homes. The fire fighters were still struggling to contain the damage to two dozen homes in the same vicinity.
Sandy made landfall at 8 pm near Atlantic City, which was already mostly under water and saw a 50-foot piece of its world-famous Boardwalk washed away earlier in the day. Heavy rains and flooding resulted in 14 foot surge in the sea water with report of inundating of 70%to-80% of Atlantic City.
Bahrain issues alert over Superstorm Sandy
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain has warned all Bahraini nationals in the United States, especially in areas bordering the east coast as well as the states Virginia, Maryland, Delaware to New York and southern New England, to be cautious in the coming days over Hurricane Sandy.
In a statement issued, the ministry urged Bahraini citizens in the USA to adhere to safety instructions issued by the concerned local authorities and contact the Kingdom’s Embassy in Washington in case of any emergency by calling the following numbers:
Kingdom of Bahrain’s mission in New York at 0019176892525; 0012122236200 and 0012122236201 or call follow-up office at: 00973 17227555