8 million without power, nearly 3 dozen dead in wake of Hurricane Sandy
The wrath of superstorm Sandy killed at least 33 people in seven states and left more than 8 million customers without power.
President Barack Obama receives an update from officials via video teleconference on the ongoing response to Hurricane Sandy, in the Situation Room of the White House, Oct. 30, 2012. Pictured, from left, are: John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism; Tony Blinken, National Security Advisor to the Vice President; David Agnew, Director for Intergovernmental Affairs; Alyssa Mastromonaco, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations; and Chief of Staff Jack Lew. October 30, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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The 33 victims, the AP reported, died as the hurricane tore through states including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maryland, North Carolina and West Virginia.
“This was a devastating storm, maybe the worst that we have ever experienced,” New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at a news conference today. Seventeen of the victims were in New York state and 10 of those were in New York City, according to the AP.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a press conference Tuesday morning that 750,000 city residents were without power after the storm. ConEd warned on Twitter that customers in Manhattan currently without power will have it restored in 4 days, and that all other areas served by overhead lines will take up to a week.
Power outages in New Jersey and Pennsylvania have “shattered records” with over 3 million without power according to Philly.com.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said that the state “kind of took it in the neck worse than any other place,” but praised Obama and his administration for how they have handled the crisis.
“[Obama] called me last night around midnight to ask what else can be done,” Christie told GMA. “I have to say, the administration, the president himself and FEMA administrator Craig Fugate have been outstanding with us so far. We have a great partnership with them and I want to thank the president personally for his personal attention to this.”
Three nuclear reactors were shut down and a fourth facility is on alert because of the storm.
Sandy has even left 145,000 Canadians without power.
“The New York City subway system…has never faced a disaster as devastating as what we experienced last night,” MTA Chairman Joe Lhota said in a statement.
It was not yet known when the city’s subway system would be back up and running. The nation’s largest commuter rail system was also shut down for a second day, with word expected later today on when operations may resume.
A crane is still dangling perilously over midtown Manhattan, atop a 90-story skyscraper under construction. Neighboring buildings were evacuated as the massive metal crane arm swayed in winds that gusted above 65 miles per hour.
During the press conference Tuesday afternoon, the President calls for authorities to work quickly, cut through red tape and “lean forward” to get services back online as soon as possible.
President Barack Obama participates in a briefing with federal agency partners on preparations for Hurricane Sandy at FEMA’s National Response Coordination Center. At right is FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.
[…] devastation from Hurricane Sandy is shocking and likely to persist for several days. Millions without power, an increasing death toll and lives changed forever – all of this from the natural disaster nicknamed Frankenstorm. […]