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Sandy watch: US East Coast braced for hurricane | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
People along the East Coast of the US are preparing for Hurricane Sandy, which has killed nearly 60 people across the Caribbean. | |
States of emergency have been declared in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington DC and a coastal county in North Carolina. | States of emergency have been declared in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington DC and a coastal county in North Carolina. |
Sandy currently has maximum sustained winds of 75mph (120km/h) and is moving north at 11mph. | |
It is expected to make landfall along the eastern US coast late on Monday. | |
At 14:00 EDT (18:00 GMT), the eye of the storm was about 335 miles (539km) south-east of Charleston in South Carolina, href="http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT3+shtml/271756.shtml" >according to the National Hurricane Center. | |
Tropical storm warnings are in effect in both South and North Carolina, as well as Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds. | |
Further strengthening possible | |
Sandy is expected to move along the US eastern seaboard, bringing a rise of coastal flooding. | |
Gale-force winds are expected to arrive along parts of the mid-Atlantic coast by Sunday evening, reaching Long Island and southern New England by Monday. | |
The NHC said further strengthening was possible on Sunday, before Sandy touches down anywhere between Virginia and southern New England late on Monday or early Tuesday. | |
"We're expecting a large, large storm," said Louis Uccellini, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Center for Environmental Prediction. | "We're expecting a large, large storm," said Louis Uccellini, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Center for Environmental Prediction. |
The US Navy base in Norfolk, Virginia, has reportedly sent a whole fleet of ships out to sea to avoid possible damage caused as the storm hits land. | |
The threat of the storm has already led to people stocking up on supplies and political rallies ahead of the 6 November presidential election being cancelled. | |
Loretta Moneez, whose home in Delaware lies along the projected path of the storm, said Sandy was causing sleepless nights. | |
"You're just listening to the howling winds and the rain and it's always a great concern about trees coming down," she told the BBC. | |
'Be ready' | |
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has urged the city's residents to be prepared. | |
"If we have to make a mistake we would rather make a mistake on being cautious," he said. | "If we have to make a mistake we would rather make a mistake on being cautious," he said. |
Officials are already considering closing down public transport before the storm hits. | Officials are already considering closing down public transport before the storm hits. |
There is concern that the bad weather could affect the presidential elections by causing power cuts or preventing people from getting to the polls. | |
Republican candidate Mitt Romney cancelled an event scheduled for Sunday in Virginia, a key election state, because of the weather, said one of his aides. | Republican candidate Mitt Romney cancelled an event scheduled for Sunday in Virginia, a key election state, because of the weather, said one of his aides. |
On Friday, the White House declined to speculate on whether President Barack Obama's campaign plans would be affected, saying the storm's path was still uncertain. | On Friday, the White House declined to speculate on whether President Barack Obama's campaign plans would be affected, saying the storm's path was still uncertain. |
Meteorologists have warned Sandy could merge with a winter storm over the sea, creating what they have dubbed "Frankenstorm". | Meteorologists have warned Sandy could merge with a winter storm over the sea, creating what they have dubbed "Frankenstorm". |
Up to 10in (25cm) of rain, 2ft of snow and extreme storm surges are forecast. | Up to 10in (25cm) of rain, 2ft of snow and extreme storm surges are forecast. |
Earlier in the week, Sandy caused havoc as it ploughed across the Caribbean, killing 11 people in Cuba and at least 44 in Haiti. | |
Haitian authorities say the death toll could rise further as further assessments were made in the country, which is still struggling to recover from a devastating earthquake in 2010. | |
"This is a disaster of major proportions," Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe told the Associated Press news agency. "The whole south is under water." | |
Four fatalities were reported across the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and the Bahamas. | |
Are you in the path of Hurricane Sandy or have you already been affected by it? You can send us your experiences using the form below. | Are you in the path of Hurricane Sandy or have you already been affected by it? You can send us your experiences using the form below. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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