Last Updated | 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 30 – We are taking a state-by-state look at the devastation caused in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, including unprecedented flooding damage in New Jersey and New York City, where the subway system will be shut down for at least four days, as our colleagues report. An interactive map shows where more than six million people across the Northeast are without power. At least 39 people have been killed during the mammoth storm that created havoc from North Carolina to New England.
New York Times reporters are delivering live updates from across the region and the Northeast, and Google has built a crisis response map with updates on utilities across storm-stricken areas.
CONNECTICUT
At least two people died as a result of the storm that flooded low-lying areas in coastal towns and left hundreds of thousands of people without power, reports The Hartford Courant on Tuesday.
As of a few minutes ago, approximately 630,000 customers were without power
— Governor Dan Malloy (@GovMalloyOffice) 30 Oct 12
On Tuesday, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who was touring coastal towns to inspect the damage, lifted the restriction banning cars and trucks from state highways.
Malloy: Travel ban, now lifted, prevented loss of life. All schools closed.630,000 customers have no power.
— Connecticut Post (@connpost) 30 Oct 12
A town-by-town list of power failures from Connecticut Light & Power.
More than 360,000 people were evacuated over the weekend from low-lying areas along the coast from Old Saybrook to Fairfield amid growing concern about flooding from the hurricane's surge in Long Island Sound.
WTNH-TV in Hartford delivered this report on the damage the storm caused to Metro North.
After Hurricane Irene last year, power companies in Connecticut were harshly criticized for taking more than a week to restore power to tens of thousands of customers. Luther Turmelle, a reporter for The New Haven Register, reports that Connecticut could once again expect widespread power failures:
Jim Torgerson of United Illuminating's parent company: We expect 50 to 70 percent of our customers to be without power. #ctsandy
— Luther Turmelle (@LutherTurmelle) 27 Oct 12
TRANSPORTATION: Governor Malloy lifted the travel ban on state highways on Tuesday. No commuter rail service. Amtrak canceled service.
EVACUATIONS: Branford, Fairfield, Old Saybrook and East Haven. WTNH-TV published a town-by-town evacuation list.
POWER/UTILITIES: More than 600,000 customers were without power on Tuesday.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER RESOURCES:
Hash tags: #ctsandy, #sandyct
The Twitter account for the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection:
There could be significant power failures with this storm. Call 2-1-1 for shelter information and stay away from downed power lines.
— CTDESPP/DEMHS (@CTDEMHS) 27 Oct 12
The American Red Cross Safety and Preparation Tips for Connecticut Residents
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Facebook
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Twitter
Facebook updates from the Naval Submarine Base, Groton, Conn.
News Media Twitter Accounts:
All the latest on #Sandy: http://t.co/kW6M1xBP and CL&P/UI's preparation for expected outages: http://t.co/CKrimO68
— Hartford Courant (@hartfordcourant) 28 Oct 12
News updates from NBC Connecticut
The New Haven Register on Facebook
The Yale Daily News on Twitter
The Stamford Advocate updates for Fairfield County on Twitter
DELAWARE
RT @seangreenewdel: Sunrise in Bethany – still high water across 26 near the Grottos #SandyDE #StormDE http://t.co/Qi8KjpT3
— Gov. Jack Markell (@GovernorMarkell) 30 Oct 12
Brian Stelter, reporting for The New York Times from Delaware on Tuesday, produced a video showing parts of Lewes, where floodwaters rose even before Hurricane Sandy landed to the north. His report:
"New Jersey's neighbor to the south, Delaware, saw flooding in predictable spots, including along the coastal highway that connects its resorts to Ocean City, Md. But the biggest beach town here, Rehoboth Beach, fared well, with minimal damage visible on Tuesday morning as the sun tried to break through the clouds. Fears of a ripped-up boardwalk did not come to pass, nor was there any evident structural damage in downtown.
A few miles north in Lewes, a low-lying town at the edge of the Delaware Bay, the surge that had surrounded some homes was starting to recede on Tuesday morning, and backhoes were starting to clear away the sand that had piled into parking lots and side streets."
South of Lewes in Rehoboth Beach, the surge tugged sand fences out to sea and swept over the dunes in some spots, leaving seashells and other debris on the boardwalk. But the boardwalk survived.
Rehoboth beach & boardwalk are fine. Grottos is open & people are there w kids & dogs #Sandy #HurricaneSandy http://t.co/AW4BKWzM
— Angel Clark (@SussexAngelC) 30 Oct 12
Over the weekend, evacuations were mandatory in flood-prone parts of the state, from Fenwick Island on the southern border with Maryland to New Castle, a hundred miles north. All businesses within the evacuation zones were ordered closed by 6 p.m. Sunday. People began returning to their homes and many roads and bridges reopened on Tuesday, but flooding remained a problem in some areas.
Indian River Inlet bridge remains closed due to storm damage #NetDe #SandyDE #StormDE http://t.co/ZV19xiM1
— nichellepolston (@nichellepolston) 30 Oct 12
Information, resources and helpful links for residents affected by #SandyDE http://t.co/4pK2gWXE #StormDE
— Gov. Jack Markell (@GovernorMarkell) 30 Oct 12
TRANSPORTATION: Most highways were open except for some roads and bridges, which were flooded because of stormwaters.
EVACUATIONS: Orders were lifted in some areas, allowing people to return to their homes in some of the low-lying areas in Sussex, New Castle and Kent Counties.
POWER/UTILITIES: More than 40,000 customers were without power on Tuesday.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE RESOURCES:
Hash tags: #desandy, #sandyde
Emergency Management on Facebook.
The Delaware Citizen Corps
PrepareDelaware on Twitter
Delaware State Police Newsroom on Facebook
Delaware weather updates on Twitter
The News Journal on Twitter
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Large tree down on Fort Davis street #pepco crews are on site making repairs to hours services http://t.co/MvEWqtM7
— Robert Rovinski (@USDRUBRinURface) 30 Oct 12
Strong winds and rain knocked down trees and power lines, but the Washington area escaped the "brunt of the storm" and was starting to return to normal, as The Washington Post reports.
On Tuesday, the Metro and federal government offices in the District of Columbia remained closed to the public, and nonessential personnel did not have to report to work, the Office of Personnel Management announced.
Public schools were closed on Tuesday. More than 250,000 people were without power, based on an interactive map from The Post.
The nation's capital is far enough inland so it was able to avoid the worst of the winds. The city's low-lying areas, including Georgetown and the tidal basin of the Potomac River, experienced some flooding.
Pepco, the utility company that was criticized for leaving people in the district without power for more than a week after a storm in June, called customers over the weekend reminding them to prepare and issued a warning on Twitter.
We're preparing for the possibility that tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of customers could lose power during this storm.
— Pepco (@PepcoConnect) 26 Oct 12
TRANSPORTATION: Metro subway trains and buses ran a Sunday schedule on Tuesday, and full service was expected Wednesday.
POWER/UTILITIES: Pepco is expecting widespread power failures.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE RESOURCES:
American Red Cross in the National Capital Region on Twitter
Mayor Vincent C. Gray on Twitter
D.C. Homeland Security on Twitter
D.C. Fire and E.M.S. on Twitter
D.C Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs on Twitter
D.C. Department of Transportation on Twitter
The Washington Post's Capital Weather blog on Twitter
The Washington Post's local news updates on Twitter
MARYLAND
Water is receding and Ocean City is open from 17th St. North http://t.co/7RnsXv4y #fb
— OceanCity.com (@OCFun) 30 Oct 12
On Tuesday, officials began assessing the wind and flood damage in Ocean City, Md., as The Baltimore Sun reports.
Crews removed debris along the boardwalk, which was not damaged. But many were mourning the loss of part of the city's famed pier. Half of it was brought down when the ocean crashed over dunes.
Boardwalk pier in Ocean City, MD, was "significantly damaged" overnight, police spokesman tells me. South end of town is getting battered.
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) 29 Oct 12
The Ocean City Pier collapsed into the water. http://t.co/OLYyUvbh
— iℓℓest. (@WheresShane) 29 Oct 12
Route 50 is reopened; Hurricane Sandy clean-up begins http://t.co/zADE2AxW #fb
— OceanCity.com (@OCFun) 30 Oct 12
In Annapolis, residents saw heavy flooding, reports the blog Eye on Annapolis:
"Annapolis Mayor Joshua J. Cohen advises residents that flooding at City Dock will continue until 6:00 p.m. A tide of 2.5 feet above normal is expected. Annapolis' next high tide is around 6:00 p.m., and due to the full moon will be an astronomical high tide. Flood waters are expected to reach above the feet at the Alex Haley statue."
Downtown #Annapolis flooding due to #sandy http://t.co/3RHavz9H
— Kay Moreland (@KayMoreland730) 30 Oct 12
Even in the mountainous western reaches of the state, winds gusted to 45 m.p.h. or more beginning late Monday and lasting through Tuesday. Along with heavy rain, some areas saw snow.
Schools in Baltimore, Montgomery County and elsewhere around the state were closed Tuesday.
Power was beginning to be restored, The Baltimore Sun reports, but more than 180,000 customers were still in the dark.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE RESOURCES:
American Red Cross from central Maryland on Facebook
American Red Cross Lower Shore for Maryland and Virginia on Twitter
Maryland Emergency Management Center on Twitter
Maryland Department of Transportation on Twitter
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport on Twitter
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake of Baltimore on Twitter
Baltimore Police Department on Twitter
The Baltimore Sun on Twitter
NEW JERSEY
At least three people have been killed as a result of the storm, which has caused unprecedented damage along the coast, Gov. Chris Christie said. More than two million people are without power. Search and rescue missions were under way up and down the coast, where an unknown number of people were cut off and without power.
A video of Governor Christie's 10 a.m. briefing on Tuesday and the latest updates from the emergency management command center can be found here.
There are currently 2.4 million households without power, twice the number from Irene. #Sandy
— Governor Christie (@GovChristie) 30 Oct 12
Extreme Coastal Flooding in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. WeatherSnap is preparing to head to Atlantic City, NJ. http://t.co/BN0Jprd1
— WeatherSnap (@weathersnap) 29 Oct 12
In this video, the New Jersey National Guard looks for displaced residents along the coastline of Seaside Heights on Tuesday, in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.
Ocean waters along the New Jersey coast moved inland even before Hurricane Sandy made landfall at about 8 p.m. Monday, filling up streets and washing away piers and boardwalks. Waist-deep floodwaters in some locations wreaked havoc, as The Star Ledger reports. But on Tuesday morning, it was evident that the surge caused record-breaking flooding and unprecedented destruction.
Amusement Park in Seaside Heights is nearly washed out. The log flume is basically in the ocean. #Sandy
— Governor Christie (@GovChristie) 30 Oct 12
Because of the storm's size and strength, its impact stretched for hundreds of miles beyond its center.
PATH and New Jersey Transit service was suspended, and it could take days before full service is restored. The George Washington Bridge was reopened on Tuesday, as was all of the Garden State Parkway.
Flood waters rush in to the Hoboken PATH station through an elevator shaft. #Sandy http://t.co/QosgFyOI
— Port Authority NY&NJ (@PANYNJ) 30 Oct 12
Some photos posted on Twitter offer a glimpse of the effects of the storm, starting Monday.
Margate bridge under water #sandy my home town is getting messed up! http://t.co/UKHwfixt
— Boxing Insider.com (@BoxingInsider) 29 Oct 12
Atlantic City's Stanley Holmes Village in pic sent by Facebook friend Darrell Dixon #acpress #Sandy @AtlanticCity911 http://t.co/pSxEK9Me
— Lynda Cohen (@LyndaCohen) 29 Oct 12
35 foot section of Atlantic City Boardwalk floating down what used to be St. Katherine's place #sandy #acpress http://t.co/MW8Hp3yp
— Jitney Guy (@JitneyGuy) 29 Oct 12
More than 2,200 people remained in shelters in New Jersey, according to the State Office of Emergency Management. But some people in the most vulnerable areas had hunkered down in their homes; in Cape May County, the southernmost portion of the state, officials estimated that perhaps 40 percent of the residents of the county's barrier islands had decided to stay put, complicating search and rescue missions.
TRANSPORTATION: George Washington Bridge and Lincoln Tunnel were opened, as was all of the Garden State Parkway. New Jersey Transit and PATH service was suspended. Hundreds of flights into and out of Newark Liberty International Airport were canceled.
EVACUATIONS: Search and rescue missions were launched up and down the coast. A mandatory evacuation order was issued for thousands of residents in low-lying areas along the coast, and Atlantic City casinos were closed. But not everyone left.
POWER/UTILITIES: More than two million people are without power, more than from Hurricane Irene.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE RESOURCES:
Gov. Chris Christie on Facebook
Gov. Chris Christie on Twitter
Gov. Chris Christie on YouTube
Mayor Cory A. Booker of Newark on Twitter
New Jersey Department of Emergency Management on Facebook
A breaking news Twitter account from The Record
The Star-Ledger on Twitter
The Asbury Park Press on Twitter
N.J. 101.5 News on Twitter
The Atlantic City Press on Twitter
NEW YORK
New York City. A view from Brooklyn: 10.30.12 @patkiernan http://t.co/BOyESvgY
— michael cinquino (@michaelcinquino) 31 Oct 12
New York Times reporters are fanned out across the city and region, covering the aftermath of the storm and providing live updates here. An interactive map showing power failures and flooding and wind damage from the storm.
At least 18 people died in New York City as a result of the storm, as our colleagues report..
In this video, uploaded to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's YouTube channel, he, Senator Charles Schumer and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn survey the damage from the fire in Breezy Point, Queens, that destroyed more than 80 homes.
In an afternoon update, Mr. Bloomberg outlined the daunting challenges ahead to get the city back up and running and restore service to what transit officials said was a severely damaged transit system.
Seven photos posted on Twitter showing the effects of the storm in the city.
Morning breaks in flooded Coney Island http://t.co/loXjYsrO
— Stephen Nessen (@stephen_nessen) 30 Oct 12
Taxi hit by a huge tree branch while driving on the Upper West Side – wife took pic walking the dog #HurricaneSandy http://t.co/TTwSQjD7
— Elias Lopez (@elopez_nyc) 29 Oct 12
#RedHook underwater at high tide with paddle boats making small rescues. #flooding #NYC #sandy http://t.co/3dSfQV8j
— Caxtons (@Caxtons) 30 Oct 12
The Gowanus flooding on 2nd has spilled over into the lot next door to the street http://t.co/25RCC2No
— Hunter Walker (@hunterw) 29 Oct 12
Gowanus Canal also flooding on 4th and Bond http://t.co/8zIV0ohG
— Hunter Walker (@hunterw) 29 Oct 12
No flooding here but there's a pretty big tree down by St. John the Divine Cathedral. http://t.co/ZkBEzUDL
— Brooke H (@BHisaRockstar) 30 Oct 12
Flooding in building's garage. This car is floating. http://t.co/cboEGTWL
— Dana B (@DanaB_NYC) 30 Oct 12
Power failures remained a major problem across the region, including much of Manhattan. Con Edison said there were additional outages in southern Brooklyn and Staten Island on Tuesday.
#NYOUTAGES: 2,097,545 NY'ers w/o power
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) 30 Oct 12
An explosion at a Con Edison plant contributed to a power failure that plunged people and businesses into darkness in Manhattan from 34th Street to the Battery.
On Long Island, there was widespread flooding, and hundreds of thousands of customers were without power on Tuesday. The Long Island Power Authority has this interactive map with the latest on the power failures and what actions are being taken.
Our correspondent Sarah Maslin Nir, reporting from the eastern end of Long Island.
.@NYTMetro Montauk residents gape at Westlake Drive on Long Island Sound, unrecognizable, covered with sand & rubble. http://t.co/EL2UTdiR
— Sarah Maslin Nir (@SarahMaslinNir) 30 Oct 12
Crews sawing up felled trees tangled in downed power lines on Cooper lane http://t.co/9qLdUFIQ
— Sarah Maslin Nir (@SarahMaslinNir) 30 Oct 12
In Midtown Manhattan, a high-rise crane was dangling some 80 stories over the sidewalk at 157 West 57th Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, as our colleagues report. The police blocked off the area and were evacuated surrounding buildings.
The storm created major transportation problems. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo shared this photo on Twitter showing a boat in the middle of the commuter rail tracks in a town in northern Westchester County.
Metro-North RR crews discovered this boat washed onto tracks at Ossining #sandy #surge: http://t.co/ruVlqZOG
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) 30 Oct 12
The Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, the Holland Tunnel and the Queens Midtown Tunnel remained closed, along with the two Rockaway bridges, because of flooding and damage. The Lincoln Tunnel is open, and all bridges into Manhattan reopened at noon Tuesday.
Floodwaters fill the approach to the Hugh Carey / Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel. #Sandy http://t.co/AxjmPASG
— MTA (@MTAInsider) 30 Oct 12
The subways may not be operational for four to five days; however, the M.T.A. restored limited bus service at 5 p.m. and waived fares. Mr. Bloomberg said more bus service could be restored by Wednesday. Limited cab service returned, too.
Mayor: We need New Yorkers to share cabs. As of 4:30, there were 4,000 yellow cabs on the streets. #Sandy
— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) 30 Oct 12
Mr. Bloomberg said that New York City public schools would be closed Wednesday, the third day in a row classes had been canceled. After-school activities and Public Schools Athletic League events were also canceled. The New York Times has a detailed list of closings and transportation updates.
TRANSPORTATION: Unprecedented damage to portions of the city's subway, commuter rails and tunnels. All bridges into Manhattan reopened Tuesday, but the Rockaways Bridges continue to be closed. Only the Lincoln Tunnel is open.
EVACUATIONS: More than 375,000 people were ordered on Sunday to evacuate low-lying areas in Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. About 6,400 people were in emergency shelters as of Tuesday evening, Mr. Bloomberg said.
Mayor: 6,400 people remain in our 76 evacuation centers, and I want to thank the 2,900 people who are staffing the centers. #Sandy
— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) 30 Oct 12
POWER/UTILITIES: More than two million customers remained without power in New York State, including residents and businesses in Manhattan from Lower Manhattan to 39th Street. Kevin Burke, the chief executive of Con Edison, said it was the worst storm the utility had ever experienced. Governor Cuomo provided updates on his Twitter account on Tuesday evening.
#NYOUTAGES Central Hudson 57,700; ConEd 792,956; LIPA 949,544; Nat. Grid 16,275; NYSEG 113,234; Orange and Rockland 143,302; RG&E 18,556
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) 30 Oct 12
SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE RESOURCES:
Live updates from the New York Times Metro Desk on Twitter
Live updates from Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
New York mayor's office on Twitter
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg on Twitter
Rachel Sterne, chief digital officer for New York City, on Twitter
Notify NYC on Twitter
New York State Office of Emergency Management on Twitter
New York State agencies, via NY-Alert, on Twitter
American Red Cross in Greater New York on Facebook
New York City Evacuation Centers on FourSquare
Nassau County Office of Emergency Management on Twitter
Suffolk County Fire Department and Emergency Services on Facebook
Westchester County government on Facebook
Westchester County government on Twitter
Newsday on Long Island on Twitter
Suffolk County News on Twitter
New York 1 Weather Twitter
NORTH CAROLINA
Missie W. Smith's photo taken from top of hill at Wright Brothers monument in Kill Devil Hills #obx #ncwx #sandy http://t.co/sG0B8Q7k
— Sam Walker (@SamWalkerOBX) 29 Oct 12
Hurricane Sandy battered hundreds of miles of the North Carolina coast on Monday, causing flooding and damage, but it wreaked the most havoc and cost two people their lives when a 180-foot three-masted ship sank in rough seas near the Outer Banks. The ship is a well-known replica of the one made famous in the 1960 film "Mutiny on the Bounty." It was also used in the film "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."
The Coast Guard staged a daring helicopter rescue, captured on video, early Monday morning, pulling 14 crew members from the sea. Two people remained missing, according to the Coast Guard.
The ship had set sail from Connecticut, bound for Florida. Although its crew was aware of the impending storm, the members believed they could sail around it. But with Hurricane Sandy spanning more than 500 nautical miles, they were unable to avoid running into it.
Because the hurricane moved north in the Atlantic far off the North Carolina coast, the state was not confronted with the full force of the storm. Still, there were reports of major flooding in the Outer Banks, with roads and highways being shut down. One casualty was the Avalon Pier in Kill Devil Hills.
From ON Avalon Pier…its cut in TWO PLACES (Justin Grizzard photo) #obx #ncwx #Sandy http://t.co/bY7rfXmI
— Sam Walker (@SamWalkerOBX) 29 Oct 12
A Web cam in Kill Devil Hills on the Outer Banks delivered a live view of the storm.
TRANSPORTATION: Flooding was reported on some highways and roads. State Highway 12 was closed in some places.
EVACUATIONS: No evacuations were ordered in the state.
POWER/UTILITIES: Scattered power failures were reported.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE RESOURCES:
Latest Update from Dare County Emergency Management just released. Next update 9:30 a.m. tomorrow morning. Be safe! http://t.co/eqCOiUt7
— Dare County EM (@DareCoEM) 28 Oct 12
North Carolina Emergency Management on Facebook
North Carolina National Guard on Twitter
Cape Fear Red Cross on Twitter
Carolina Region Red Cross
PENNSYLVANIA
Philadelphia skyline with the leftovers of Sandy hovering above. http://t.co/wQfchHoy
— Steve W (@LilWorm33) 30 Oct 12
While high gusts and heavy rain downed trees and power lines, blocking roads and plunging hundreds of thousands of people across Pennsylvania into darkness, much of Philadelphia and its suburbs escaped serious flooding and the level of destruction that crippled New York and devastated coastal towns in New Jersey. Authorities attributed the deaths of at least five people across the state to the storm.
On Wednesday, Philadelphia will be open for business with public offices, courts and schools resuming normal schedules, according to a report by NBC-TV's Channel 10.
#BREAKING: SEPTA to resume Regional Rail tomorrow morning at normal schedules. See attached photo of press release. http://t.co/bylnVAAM
— PhillyInquirer (@PhillyInquirer) 30 Oct 12
All speed reductions have been lifted #HurricaneSandy
— Governor Tom Corbett (@GovernorCorbett) 30 Oct 12
Late Tuesday, the storm's center was located about 50 miles northeast of Pittsburgh with maximum sustained winds of 45 m.p.h., according to the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, causing power failures across the state.
About 550,000 Peco customers were without power as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, NBC10 Philadelphia reports.
#Sandy Power Outages: 436,000 total
Bucks 175,000
Chester 34,000
Del 67,000
Mont 128,000
Phila 32,000— Christine Maddela (@christnemaddela) 30 Oct 12
Some hospitals relied on generators.
Eight hospitals statewide, including LVH and Easton Hospital, are on backup generators, the Guv says, #superstorm
— Capitol_Ideas (@Capitol_Ideas) 30 Oct 12
Downed trees and power lines are presenting a big challenge for utility crews and people trying to make their way around. Dozens of roads across eastern Pennsylvania are blocked because of inland flooding, fallen wires and trees.
Morgan Zalot, a reporter for The Philadelphia Daily News, said she saw multiple downed trees in the area.
Tree fell onto a house on Verree Road. Can't drive a few blocks without spotting a downed tree. #SandyInPhilly http://t.co/ansaeAam
— Morgan Zalot (@morganzalot) 30 Oct 12
I'm sorry I questioned you #Sandy. This will be a great reminder. @NBCPhiladelphia http://t.co/61WNMuoj
— Chris Johnson (@JohnsonC89) 30 Oct 12
Peco said it could take up to a week to restore power to everyone in the wake of the storm, Philly Burbs reported.
But don't look for updates from Peco on Twitter, notes Philadelphia magazine. Unlike many other utility companies around the region that are using Twitter to communicate with customers and to respond to reports about downed trees and dangerous power lines, an account that claims it is Peco is private.
After landfall in New Jersey at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, the storm weakened but still packed a considerable punch as it moved west across Pennsylvania. On Tuesday, Red Cross shelter managers were expecting some Harrisburg-area residents would be unable to go home for at least one more night, The Patriot-News reports.
TRANSPORTATION: Service on Septa (Southeast Pennsylvania Transit Authority) will resume Wednesday morning. Speed restrictions lifted on major highways. Some secondary roads remain blocked and bridges closed because of inland flooding.
EVACUATIONS: People began to leave the shelters that were set up in Philadelphia and made available to more than 10,000 people who live in flood-prone areas.
POWER/UTILITIES: More than a half-million customers were still without power on Tuesday in several counties.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE RESOURCES:
Mayor Michael A. Nutter on Twitter
American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter on Facebook
Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management on YouTube
Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management on Twitter
The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Philadelphia Daily News on Twitter
The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Philadelphia Daily News on Facebook
Glenn Schwartz, a meteorologist for NBC10, on Twitter
NBC10 News on Twitter
6ABC's "Action News" on Twitter
RHODE ISLAND
Sandy floods Island Park, leaves Portsmouth powerless: PORTSMOUTH — Hurricane Sandy flooded Island Park three ti… http://t.co/26ln4VbW
— eastbayri.com (@eastbayri) 30 Oct 12
More than 80,000 customers were without power Tuesday as officials began to assess the damage from the flooding along the Rhode Island coast and inland.
Like much of the East Coast, the state was under a state of emergency Monday, and mandatory evacuation orders were issued in coastal and low-lying parts of Bristol, Charlestown, Middletown, Narrangsett, South Kingstown, Tiverton and Westerly, according to WPRI.com.
Officials in Newport and East Providence called for voluntary evacuations in those cities. Ten shelters opened around the state for people in areas considered dangerous.
By early Monday evening, more than 80,000 National Grid customers in Rhode Island were without power.
All the ports in southeastern New England, including Narragansett Bay and Mount Hope Bay, were closed to vessel traffic on Sunday evening, and remained closed Tuesday.
EVACUATIONS: Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for some low-lying communities.
POWER/UTILITIES: More than 80,000 people were without power Tuesday.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE RESOURCES:
Call 2-1-1 for information and assistance with issues such as food, shelter, and transportation. #SandyRI #211RI http://t.co/kLstAXuY
— Governor Chafee (@LincolnChafee) 29 Oct 12
If you experience an outage, call 1-800-465-1212 #MA & #RI or 1-800-867-5222 #NYC & #UNY to expedite restoration.
— National Grid US (@nationalgridus) 29 Oct 12
Rhode Island Emergency Management on Facebook
Providence Emergency Management Department on Twitter
Providence Department of Public Safety on Twitter
VIRGINIA
Norfolk continues to get hit hard by #Sandy #HRSandy http://t.co/MS9QAGE0
— Martin Cornick (@MartinMMC) 29 Oct 12
There was significant flooding in Norfolk and Virginia Beach on Monday and other parts along the coast of eastern Virginia, while heavy snow fell in the elevated parts of the state's southwest and western counties.
"You've got flooding in south and southeast Virginia," Gov. Robert F. McDonnell said. "You've got blizzard in western and southwest Virginia. And you've got high winds and heavy rain in northern Virginia. That's what it's going to look like now for the next 24 to 36 hours."
Mr. McDonnell said he would seek an expedited emergency declaration from the federal government to speed aid to battered parts of the state.
"This is going to be a long haul," he said when he declared a state of emergency before the storm. "We will no doubt have rain and high winds through Tuesday, and in Northern Virginia significant wind and rains into Wednesday. People are going to have to be patient," he told reporters.
The coastal area known as Hampton Roads saw flooding early in the day in what Governor McDonnell called an "astronomically high tide" and powerful surf. With more than 100 secondary roads closed because of flooding, the state suspended high-occupancy restrictions to increase use of highways.
Authorities closed the Midtown Tunnel in Norfolk, and some low-lying areas were evacuated.
Ahead of the storm, the commander of United States Fleet Forces ordered all Navy ships in the Hampton Roads area to prepare for a sortie as Hurricane Sandy traveled up the East Coast. The Navy posted a video on YouTube showing the preparations.
TRANSPORTATION: At least 100 secondary roads, as well as parts of Interstate 77, were closed because of flooding, and some areas reported ice on the roads. The state lifted high-occupancy vehicle restrictions on highways. The Midtown Tunnel between Portsmouth and Norfolk was closed.
EVACUATIONS: The state did not mandate any evacuations or order lane reversal to aid traffic away from the coast, but some residents evacuated coastal areas. Governor McDonnell said 28 emergency shelters had been opened.
POWER/UTILITIES: Dominion Virginia Power reported already restoring power to some 40,000 outrages by Monday afternoon, but the number of homes likely to lose power was expected to rise sharply as the full brunt of the storm came ashore. The utility brought in more than 2,500 extra workers to respond to the storm. Long term, widespread power failures were expected.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE RESOURCES:
Virginia State Police on Facebook
Virginia Department of Emergency Management on Facebook
Virginia Department of Emergency Management on Twitter
Gov. Robert F. McDonnell on Twitter
Virginia Department of Transportation on Twitter
Red Cross of Southeastern Virginia on Twitter
Red Cross of Southeastern Virginia on Facebook
The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk on Twitter
WEST VIRGINIA
Why did my hotel loose power this morning!!? And we have snow!! The one time I want to be in Michigan. Thanks #Sandy http://t.co/sRTFMLSV
— Kenyatta Jones (@kenji_lee_) 30 Oct 12
Snow snow snow http://t.co/x6L8ysdf
— WVCountryPrincess (@wv_countrylady) 30 Oct 12
As Hurricane Sandy collided with a warm front over the Mid-Atlantic on Monday afternoon, rain and heavy, wet snow fell more and more steadily across West Virginia.
Talk of "how much are we going to get" turned into "what's closed," reports Cynthia McCloud, a writer who is contributing to this report.
Some school districts called off classes for Tuesday. Some counties' government offices were closed, including courts. Some people took out their skis.
Snow plows out in Appalachia, ski resorts opening: CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Snow plows were out in parts… http://t.co/mpStBtba
— Daily Charleston (@DailyCharleston) 30 Oct 12
Early voting in Morgan County on Tuesday was suspended because of the storm, according to Secretary of State Natalie Tennant. Her office sent out a warning to all early voters to use caution if going to the polls during the storm.
A utility company map of power failures in northern West Virginia showed the number steadily climbing, reaching thousands of customers, with most of them in Morgan County.
Power problems in some cities caused traffic lights to go out. Production in at least one Tucker County coal mine was idled for a time because of a power failure. The mine was operating again by late Monday afternoon.
At least one fatal automobile accident was blamed on the storm.
The June 29 "derecho" windstorm cut off power to hundreds of thousands of the state's residents, and many did not get power back for two weeks. There is a high likelihood that power will take a long time to restore this time, as well.
This time, though, the storm will be followed by cold weather, making shelter a bigger issue. The Charleston Daily Mail reports that T.D. Lively of the state Division of Homeland Security said the American Red Cross had several shelters on standby, adding that "typically West Virginia doesn't have a large need for sheltering because people tend to stay with family."
TRANSPORTATION: Amtrak service was canceled. All forms of transportation were affected by up to two feet of snow.
EVACUATIONS: None are expected, but shelters may be needed.
POWER/UTILITIES: Long-term, widespread power failures are expected. Information on how to report a power failure is at appalachianpower.com and dom.com.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE RESOURCES:
If you lose pwr, report online at http://t.co/1WZo2iCV (mobile outage site too) or call Va1-800-956-4237; WV1-800-982-4237; TN1-800-967-4237
— Appalachian Power (@appalachianpowe) 28 Oct 12
West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management on Twitter
West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management on Facebook.
John H. Cushman from Washington; Jon Hurdle from Philadelphia; Brian Stelter from Lewes, Del.; Thomas Kaplan from Little Egg Harbor, N.J.; Jennifer Preston, Christine Hauser, Ashwin Seshagiri, Sharon Otterman, Marc Santora and Michael Schwirtz from New York contributed to this report.
