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| Sandy makes landfall and batters US east coast | Sandy makes landfall and batters US east coast |
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| Hurricane Sandy slammed into America's east coast on Monday night, fully living up to its billing as a once in a lifetime storm, clobbering a series of coastal towns before putting a broad swath of New Jersey and parts of lower Manhattan underwater. | Hurricane Sandy slammed into America's east coast on Monday night, fully living up to its billing as a once in a lifetime storm, clobbering a series of coastal towns before putting a broad swath of New Jersey and parts of lower Manhattan underwater. |
| The storm, with punishing winds and heavy rains that caused flooding along the entire Eastern seaboard, made landfall near Atlantic City at 8pm eastern time. | The storm, with punishing winds and heavy rains that caused flooding along the entire Eastern seaboard, made landfall near Atlantic City at 8pm eastern time. |
| But that was just the beginning of what the authorities warned would be a long and merciless storm. By the time Sandy made landfall, it had already sunk a tall ship off the coast of North Carolina, killing at least one crew member in the storm's first US fatality. | But that was just the beginning of what the authorities warned would be a long and merciless storm. By the time Sandy made landfall, it had already sunk a tall ship off the coast of North Carolina, killing at least one crew member in the storm's first US fatality. |
| Atlantic City's historic boardwalk was submerged, and downtown streets were knee-deep in water. | Atlantic City's historic boardwalk was submerged, and downtown streets were knee-deep in water. |
| In New York, the city that never sleeps had gone into lockdown. High winds cracked and broke a construction crane perched atop an 80-storey building in midtown Manhattan. By 9pm local time there were reports that as many as five people had been killed, as the city was battered by 80mph winds and water surged into lower Manhattan. One of the victims was a 30-year-old man who was killed when a tree fell on a house in Queens shortly after 7pm. | In New York, the city that never sleeps had gone into lockdown. High winds cracked and broke a construction crane perched atop an 80-storey building in midtown Manhattan. By 9pm local time there were reports that as many as five people had been killed, as the city was battered by 80mph winds and water surged into lower Manhattan. One of the victims was a 30-year-old man who was killed when a tree fell on a house in Queens shortly after 7pm. |
| The New York mayor, Michael Bloomberg, said backup power had been lost at />New York University hospital and the city was working to move people out. | |
| In a news conference the mayor said rain was the tapering off in the city and the storm surge was expected to recede by midnight. He urged residents not to call 911 unless it was an emergency and implored them to stay off the roads so emergency vehicles could get around. "The storm has met our expectations," Bloomberg said. | |
| Authorities reported a record surge more than 13ft high at the Battery at the southern tip of Manhattan, from the storm and high tide combined. Pictures showed extraordinary scenes of cars floating in the streets. | |
| In an attempt to reduce the damage from the storm, New York City's main utility company cut power to about 6,500 customers in lower Manhattan. Authorities were working to try and stop seawater from seeping into the New York subway and crippling it. By Monday night there were already reports that both subway and car tunnels had been flooded. | In an attempt to reduce the damage from the storm, New York City's main utility company cut power to about 6,500 customers in lower Manhattan. Authorities were working to try and stop seawater from seeping into the New York subway and crippling it. By Monday night there were already reports that both subway and car tunnels had been flooded. |
| More than 3.1 million people were without power , and normal life was suspended for about 60 million people as authorities shut down transport services, closed schools and ordered evacuations. | More than 3.1 million people were without power , and normal life was suspended for about 60 million people as authorities shut down transport services, closed schools and ordered evacuations. |
| But the storm was reserving its worst destruction for lower Manhattan, Long Island, and parts of New Jersey, which were soon underwater. Water topped the sea wall in New York's financial district and flooded subway tunnels. | |
| The storm, an unprecedented cross between a category one hurricane and a wintry northeaster, made landfall earlier than expected, travelling at speeds of up to 30mph. It reached maximum sustained winds of 90mph with gusts of up to 115mph. It headed straight for two cold-weather systems to form a hellish super-storm. | The storm, an unprecedented cross between a category one hurricane and a wintry northeaster, made landfall earlier than expected, travelling at speeds of up to 30mph. It reached maximum sustained winds of 90mph with gusts of up to 115mph. It headed straight for two cold-weather systems to form a hellish super-storm. |
| Forecasters said the combined "Frankenstorm", as it has been nicknamed, could bring one foot of rain in some places, as well as potentially lethal storm surges, especially in lower Manhattan. High winds could produce power outages that may 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 one foot of rain in some places, as well as potentially lethal storm surges, especially in lower Manhattan. High winds could produce power outages that may 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.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 was suspended. | The storm has killed at least 69 people on its path through the Caribbean, including 51 in Haiti.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 was suspended. |
| In lower Manhattan, New York City's mayor, Michael Bloomberg, warned that the 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, New York City's mayor, Michael Bloomberg, warned that the 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 well as 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 well as 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, crew were forced to abandon the tall ship HMS Bounty after it began to take on water. Coastguards plucked 14 crew from lifeboats. One crew member, Claudene Christian, 42, was killed and the captain, Robin Walbridge, 63, was still missing. | In the meantime, Sandy continued to churn up the coast. In North Carolina, crew were forced to abandon the tall ship HMS Bounty after it began to take on water. Coastguards plucked 14 crew from lifeboats. One crew member, Claudene Christian, 42, was killed and the captain, Robin Walbridge, 63, was still missing. |
| The storm also got in licks at coastal resort towns of Virginia Beach, Ocean City, and Bethany Beach. Atlantic City had reports of water three blocks inland, and towns along the Jersey Shore reported record sea surges. | The storm also got in licks at coastal resort towns of Virginia Beach, Ocean City, and Bethany Beach. Atlantic City had reports of water three blocks inland, and towns along the Jersey Shore reported record sea surges. |
| "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," he said. | "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," he said. |
| Rolling waves were already washing straight over the promenade wall in Battery Park, Manhattan, on Monday morning. | Rolling waves were already washing straight over the promenade wall in Battery Park, Manhattan, on Monday morning. |
| The area – a popular tourist spot with its views of the Statue of Liberty – was part of Bloomberg's mandatory evacuation zone. Away from the water police cars were driving slowly along streets broadcasting warnings that people should leave. "You must evacuate this area by 7pm today. Any person who knowingly violates this order may be charged with a class B misdemeanour," the warning said. | The area – a popular tourist spot with its views of the Statue of Liberty – was part of Bloomberg's mandatory evacuation zone. Away from the water police cars were driving slowly along streets broadcasting warnings that people should leave. "You must evacuate this area by 7pm today. Any person who knowingly violates this order may be charged with a class B misdemeanour," the warning said. |
| The walkway – normally packed with people jogging and cycling – was almost entirely deserted, 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. | The walkway – normally packed with people jogging and cycling – was almost entirely deserted, 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 said he planned to cycle to the Upper West Side later in the day for lunch. He had already stocked up his apartment for the storm.For the most, though, it appeared as if residents were heeding the official warnings to hunker down at home. | He said he planned to cycle to the Upper West Side later in the day for lunch. He had already stocked up his apartment for the storm.For the most, though, it appeared as if residents were heeding the official warnings to hunker down at home. |
| 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. | 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. |
| New York City's mandatory evacuation saw throngs of people crowding into evacuation centres across the five boroughs. Around 80 had stayed overnight at the John Jay high school in Park Slope, Brooklyn, with many more expected. | New York City's mandatory evacuation saw throngs of people crowding into evacuation centres across the five boroughs. Around 80 had stayed overnight at the John Jay high school in Park Slope, Brooklyn, with many more expected. |
| They included three dogs, a cat, a turtle, a snake and a mouse. | They included three dogs, a cat, a turtle, a snake and a mouse. |
| A handwritten sign inside the door divided newcomers into two categories: people to the right, animals to the left. | 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 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 even got a turtle. And that snake's got his eye on the mouse. It's not gonna happen." |