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| Sandy batters US east coast | Sandy batters US east coast |
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| The full force of hurricane Sandy bore down on the most densely populated corridor of America on Monday putting the presidential election on pause, battering a string of coastal towns and suspending daily life for 60 million people between North Carolina and New England. | The full force of hurricane Sandy bore down on the most densely populated corridor of America on Monday putting the presidential election on pause, battering a string of coastal towns and suspending daily life for 60 million people between North Carolina and New England. |
| Sandy, an unprecedented cross between a category one hurricane and wintry northeaster, unveiled its destructive potential early in what forecasters warned would be a long and dangerous storm. | Sandy, an unprecedented cross between a category one hurricane and wintry northeaster, unveiled its destructive potential early in what forecasters warned would be a long and dangerous storm. |
| By 6pm it had sunk a tall ship 90 miles off the coast of North Carolina, killing at least one crew member, the first confirmed US fatality from the storm, and swamped a string of coastal resorts including the gambling mecca of Atlantic City. | By 6pm it had sunk a tall ship 90 miles off the coast of North Carolina, killing at least one crew member, the first confirmed US fatality from the storm, and swamped a string of coastal resorts including the gambling mecca of Atlantic City. |
| High winds felled a construction crane perched on top of an 80-storey building in midtown Manhattan, and knocked out power to more than 1.5m homes across several states. The frontage of a four-storey building on Eighth Avenue also crumbled but no casualties were reported. | High winds felled a construction crane perched on top of an 80-storey building in midtown Manhattan, and knocked out power to more than 1.5m homes across several states. The frontage of a four-storey building on Eighth Avenue also crumbled but no casualties were reported. |
| That was just the beginning. As Sandy made its westward turn towards the coast, the storm continued to gather strength, sustained winds reaching 90mph with gusts of up to 115mph. The centre of the storm was moving at up to 30mph, significantly faster than at the start of the day, heading for two cold-weather systems to form a hellish super-storm. | That was just the beginning. As Sandy made its westward turn towards the coast, the storm continued to gather strength, sustained winds reaching 90mph with gusts of up to 115mph. The centre of the storm was moving at up to 30mph, significantly faster than at the start of the day, heading for two cold-weather systems to form a hellish super-storm. |
| Forecasters said the combined "Frankenstorm", as it has been nicknamed, could bring a foot of rain in some places, as well as potentially lethal storm surges, especially in lower Manhattan. High winds may produce power outages that last for days, while residents of West Virginia, North Carolina and Kentucky were told to expect up to 2ft of snow. | Forecasters said the combined "Frankenstorm", as it has been nicknamed, could bring a foot of rain in some places, as well as potentially lethal storm surges, especially in lower Manhattan. High winds may produce power outages that last for days, while residents of West Virginia, North Carolina and Kentucky were told to expect up to 2ft of snow. |
| The storm has killed at least 69 people on its path through the Caribbean, including 51 in Haiti. As Sandy began to lurch westwards towards the east coast, Barack Obama and authorities in nine states appealed to people to stay calm and out of harm's way. "This is a serious and big storm and my first message is: 'You need to take this very seriously,'" Obama told a briefing at the White House on Monday. | The storm has killed at least 69 people on its path through the Caribbean, including 51 in Haiti. As Sandy began to lurch westwards towards the east coast, Barack Obama and authorities in nine states appealed to people to stay calm and out of harm's way. "This is a serious and big storm and my first message is: 'You need to take this very seriously,'" Obama told a briefing at the White House on Monday. |
| He reinforced instructions to residents from local authorities. "Please listen to what your state and local officials are saying. When they tell you to evacuate, you need to evacuate," the president said. "Do not delay, don't pause, don't question the instructions that are being given, because this is a serious storm and could potentially have fatal consequences if people haven't acted." | He reinforced instructions to residents from local authorities. "Please listen to what your state and local officials are saying. When they tell you to evacuate, you need to evacuate," the president said. "Do not delay, don't pause, don't question the instructions that are being given, because this is a serious storm and could potentially have fatal consequences if people haven't acted." |
| The storm forced Obama and his challenger, Mitt Romney, to suspend their campaigns, at least through Tuesday. | The storm forced Obama and his challenger, Mitt Romney, to suspend their campaigns, at least through Tuesday. |
| Nine states declared a state of emergency, shutting down transport systems and schools and ordering residents of low-lying areas to head for higher ground. More than 12,000 flights were cancelled across the region, and the main rail service suspended. | Nine states declared a state of emergency, shutting down transport systems and schools and ordering residents of low-lying areas to head for higher ground. More than 12,000 flights were cancelled across the region, and the main rail service suspended. |
| In lower Manhattan, which was expected to get the worst of the storm, New York City's mayor, Michael Bloomberg, warned that authorities were braced for an 11ft surge of seawater that could leave low-lying areas of the city under water. The city advised some 370,000 people in low-lying areas to evacuate at the weekend. | In lower Manhattan, which was expected to get the worst of the storm, New York City's mayor, Michael Bloomberg, warned that authorities were braced for an 11ft surge of seawater that could leave low-lying areas of the city under water. The city advised some 370,000 people in low-lying areas to evacuate at the weekend. |
| By late morning, the authorities were moving to shut down the tunnels that connect Manhattan to Brooklyn and New Jersey. Subways, buses, trains and schools were shut, as was the New York stock exchange, and Bloomberg warned normal services should not be expected before Wednesday. | By late morning, the authorities were moving to shut down the tunnels that connect Manhattan to Brooklyn and New Jersey. Subways, buses, trains and schools were shut, as was the New York stock exchange, and Bloomberg warned normal services should not be expected before Wednesday. |
| In the meantime, Sandy continued to churn up the coast. In North Carolina, the crew was forced to abandon the tall ship HMS Bounty after it began to take on water. The coast guard plucked 14 crew members from lifeboats. Late last night, the body of one crew member, named as Claudene Christian, 42, was discovered by a helicopter crew. The captain, Robin Walbridge, 63, was missing. | In the meantime, Sandy continued to churn up the coast. In North Carolina, the crew was forced to abandon the tall ship HMS Bounty after it began to take on water. The coast guard plucked 14 crew members from lifeboats. Late last night, the body of one crew member, named as Claudene Christian, 42, was discovered by a helicopter crew. The captain, Robin Walbridge, 63, was missing. |
| The storm also hammered coastal resort towns. "In some places we have 2.5ft to 3ft of water on the ground and this is low tide," the Atlantic City mayor, Lorenzo Langford, told CNN. "When Mother Nature sends her wrath your way we're at her mercy." | The storm also hammered coastal resort towns. "In some places we have 2.5ft to 3ft of water on the ground and this is low tide," the Atlantic City mayor, Lorenzo Langford, told CNN. "When Mother Nature sends her wrath your way we're at her mercy." |
| There were reports of power outages from Virginia to Massachusetts. | There were reports of power outages from Virginia to Massachusetts. |
| Away from the water in Manhattan, police cars drove slowly along streets broadcasting warnings: "You must evacuate this area by 7pm today. Any person who knowingly violates this order may be charged with a class B misdemeanour." | Away from the water in Manhattan, police cars drove slowly along streets broadcasting warnings: "You must evacuate this area by 7pm today. Any person who knowingly violates this order may be charged with a class B misdemeanour." |
| But Mark Gluck, a professor at Rutgers University, said Sandy was not about keep him from his daily cycle route. "A bit of drizzle, a bit of wind, it's a perfectly fine day to go cycling," Gluck said. | But Mark Gluck, a professor at Rutgers University, said Sandy was not about keep him from his daily cycle route. "A bit of drizzle, a bit of wind, it's a perfectly fine day to go cycling," Gluck said. |
| He had already stocked up his apartment to ride out the storm. "I'm well prepared, I've got food and water, I think it'll be fine." | He had already stocked up his apartment to ride out the storm. "I'm well prepared, I've got food and water, I think it'll be fine." |
| Most, though, appeared to heed the warnings to hunker down at home or get out of town. But that created its own sense of dread. In Washington DC and other cities, many supermarkets ran out of staples such as bottled water and batteries well before the storm bore down. | Most, though, appeared to heed the warnings to hunker down at home or get out of town. But that created its own sense of dread. In Washington DC and other cities, many supermarkets ran out of staples such as bottled water and batteries well before the storm bore down. |
| New York City's mandatory evacuation saw people crowding into evacuation centres across the five boroughs. Around 80 stayed overnight at the John Jay high school in Park Slope, Brooklyn, with many more expected last night. | New York City's mandatory evacuation saw people crowding into evacuation centres across the five boroughs. Around 80 stayed overnight at the John Jay high school in Park Slope, Brooklyn, with many more expected last night. |
| After last year's hurricane Irene, staff and volunteers were ready for them. A handwritten sign inside the door divided newcomers into two categories: people to the right, animals to the left. | After last year's hurricane Irene, staff and volunteers were ready for them. A handwritten sign inside the door divided newcomers into two categories: people to the right, animals to the left. |
| "This time last year we had 1,000 people in here," said one of three officials as he stood outside on a break. "We had two rooms full of dogs and cats too. This year we've even got a turtle. And that snake's got his eye on the mouse. It's not gonna happen." | "This time last year we had 1,000 people in here," said one of three officials as he stood outside on a break. "We had two rooms full of dogs and cats too. This year we've even got a turtle. And that snake's got his eye on the mouse. It's not gonna happen." |
| Inside, people from Coney Island, Red Hook and other low-lying areas of Brooklyn gathered to wait out the storm. They were served a cooked breakfast and there was BBQ chicken for lunch. | Inside, people from Coney Island, Red Hook and other low-lying areas of Brooklyn gathered to wait out the storm. They were served a cooked breakfast and there was BBQ chicken for lunch. |
| Staff were surprised there were not more of them and wondered whether last year, when Irene passed New York without major incident, had given people false sense of security. "They ran out last year thinking it was the end, and it wasn't. But this one's different." | Staff were surprised there were not more of them and wondered whether last year, when Irene passed New York without major incident, had given people false sense of security. "They ran out last year thinking it was the end, and it wasn't. But this one's different." |
| "It's horrible," said Davon Little, who manages a supermarket in the Brookland neighbourhood of north-east Washington after he ran out of water for a second time. "The line's been going all the way down the aisles. It's crowded and there are no carts outside. I've had two arguments over beer." | "It's horrible," said Davon Little, who manages a supermarket in the Brookland neighbourhood of north-east Washington after he ran out of water for a second time. "The line's been going all the way down the aisles. It's crowded and there are no carts outside. I've had two arguments over beer." |
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