[update] Super-storm Sandy devastates US East Coast

[thenry]

U.S. NEWS - East Coast Prepares for Storm's Arrival

Hurricane Sandy, a menacing monster of a storm that forecasters said would bring "life-threatening" flooding, churned toward some of the nation's most densely populated areas on Sunday, prompting widespread evacuations and the shutdown of New York City's transit system.

Officials warned that the hurricane, creeping north from the Caribbean, where it killed more than 60 people, could disrupt life in the Northeast for days. New York went into emergency mode, ordering more than 370,000 people evacuated in low-lying communities from Coney Island in Brooklyn to Battery Park City in Manhattan and giving 1.1 million schoolchildren a day off on Monday.

mobile.nytimes.com/2012/10/29/us/east-coast-braces-for-severe-storm-surge.xml

hope it loses its intensity

[Pierre]

I predict a non-event.

Be interesting to see how it affects the election. It's emerged Romney wanted to close FEMA and give the money to the states and Obama has a chance to look like a President but if it causes a lot of damage then who knows.

I wouldn't want to be a weather man over there if this does turn out to be a non event because according to the NY taxi driver on sky news this morning they will get tarred and feathered unless it's at least a cat4-5

Originally Posted by martyh

I wouldn't want to be a weather man over there if this does turn out to be a non event because according to the NY taxi driver on sky news this morning they will get tarred and feathered unless it's at least a cat4-5

They'll probably be happy not to be in Italy where I imagine they would go to jail for the money lost in shutting down the city.

[Taf]

Has it risen above "British Summer" intensity yet?

Hope this does turn out to be a big non event as the potential damage and loss of life doesn't bear thinking about my thoughts are with the yanks for the next couple of days hope they get by without anything major. As for the election if it does do a lot of damage obama will make or break his presidency on how he responds to it and how he gets the numerous federal agencys to respond another new orleans and he is sunk.

[Hom3r]

Originally Posted by Pierre

I predict a non-event.

Not for the 14 people on the HMS Bounty (2 still missing)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/20124128

It's not a non-event but it may not be as bad as it could have been as the storm is now moving faster...

[papa smurf]

i've been fishing in worse

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Pierre

I predict a non-event.

OK, it's a bit worse than a non-event.............................

I've updated the thread title given the seriousness of the storm, and also in a slightly geeky way because it's not a tropical storm any more, it can't be classed as a hurricane. Technically it's a post-tropical cyclone, but I've decided to go with the headline writers on this one.

Thankfully my niece and her son have survived.They lost power but they are intact.I just hope the death toll doesn't prove to be higher.

This Storm formed 10 days ago and hit Cuba, killing 40 or more people - In the US the Death toll is currently around 16, 50 homes are on fire in Queens, New York and one woman in Canada has been killed by flying Debris.

[Osem]

Not looking like much of a non event...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20133158

"Super-storm" Sandy has swept into the US East Coast with hurricane-force winds, bringing flooding, cutting power and claiming at least 13 lives.

Sandy caused a record surge of seawater in New York City, flooding subway and road tunnels and plunging much of Lower Manhattan into darkness.

President Obama has declared a "major disaster" in New York state, AFP says.