ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. —
A furious Hurricane Sandy made the westward lurch that forecasters feared and took dead aim at New Jersey and Delaware on Monday, washing away part of the Atlantic City boardwalk, putting the presidential campaign on hold and threatening to cripple Wall Street and the New York subway system with an epic surge of seawater.
Gaining speed and power through the day, the storm knocked out electricity to more than 1.5 million people and figured to upend life for tens of millions more. It clobbered the boarded-up big cities of the Northeast corridor, from Washington and Baltimore to Philadelphia, New York and Boston, with stinging rain and gusts of more than 85 mph.
As it drew near, Sandy moved closer to converging with two cold-weather systems to form a hellish superstorm of snow, rain and wind. Forecasters warned of 20-foot waves bashing into the Chicago lakefront and up to 3 feet of snow in West Virginia.
Airlines canceled more than 12,000 flights, disrupting the plans of travelers all over the world, and storm damage was projected at $10 billion to $20 billion, meaning it could prove to be one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history.
President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney canceled their campaign appearances at the very height of the race, with just over a week to go before Election Day. The president pledged the government’s help and made a direct plea from the White House to those in the storm’s path.
“When they tell you to evacuate, you need to evacuate,” he said. “Don’t delay, don’t pause, don’t question the instructions that are being given, because this is a powerful storm.”
Sandy, which killed 69 people in the Caribbean before making its way up the Atlantic, began to hook left at midday and was about 40 miles south of Atlantic City by evening, moving west-northwest at almost 30 mph — faster than forecasters expected.
Pete Wilson, who owns an antiques shop in Cape May, N.J., at the state’s southern tip and directly in Sandy’s path, said the water was 6 inches above the bottom edge of the door. He had already taken a truckload of antiques out but was certain he would take a big hit.
“My jewelry cases are going to be toast,” he said. “I am not too happy. I am just going to have to wait, and hopefully clean up.”
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said people were stranded in Atlantic City, which sits on a barrier island and was mostly under water late Monday. He accused the mayor of allowing them to stay there.
With the hurricane fast approaching, Christie warned it was no longer safe for rescuers, and advised people who didn’t evacuate the barrier islands to “hunker down” until morning.
“I hope, I pray, that there won’t be any loss of life because of it,” he said.
By early evening, the hurricane was expected to barrel into southern New Jersey or Delaware. That would put New York City and Long Island along its dangerous northeastern wall, facing perhaps 11 feet of water.
While the hurricane’s 90 mph winds registered as only a Category 1 on a scale of five, it packed “astoundingly low” barometric pressure, giving it terrific energy to push water inland, said Kerry Emanuel, a professor of meteorology at MIT.
“We are looking at the highest storm surges ever recorded” in the Northeast, said Jeff Masters, meteorology director for Weather Underground, a private forecasting service. “The energy of the storm surge is off the charts, basically.”
In New York City, authorities worried that salt water would seep through the boarded-up street grates and through the sandbags placed at subway entrances, crippling the electrical connections needed to operate the subway.
Authorities also feared the surge of seawater could damage the underground electrical and communications lines in lower Manhattan that are vital to the nation’s financial center.
Hours before landfall, there was evidence of the storm’s power.
A construction crane atop a luxury high-rise in New York City collapsed in the wind and dangled precariously over the streets. Forecasters said the wind atop the building may have been close to 95 mph.
Off North Carolina, a replica of the 18th-century sailing ship HMS Bounty that was built for the 1962 Marlon Brando movie “Mutiny on the Bounty” went down in the storm, and 14 crew members were rescued by helicopter from rubber lifeboats bobbing in 18-foot seas. Two other crew members were missing. They were believed to be wearing survival suits capable of protecting them from cold water for 15 hours.
At Cape May, water sloshed over the seawall, and it punched through dunes in other seaside communities. Sandy also tore away an old section of Atlantic City’s historic boardwalk.
“When I think about how much water is already in the streets, and how much more is going to come with high tide tonight, this is going to be devastating,” said Bob McDevitt, president of the main Atlantic City casino workers union. “I think this is going to be a really bad situation tonight.”
In Maryland, at least 100 feet of a fishing pier at the beach resort of Ocean City was destroyed, and Gov. Martin O’Malley said there would be devastating flooding from the swollen Chesapeake Bay.
“There will be people who die and are killed in this storm,” he said.
At least half a million people had been ordered to evacuate, including 375,000 from low-lying parts of New York City, and by the afternoon authorities were warning that it could be too late for people who had not left already.
Millions of people stayed home from work. Sheila Gladden evacuated her home in Philadelphia’s flood-prone Eastwick neighborhood, which took on 5 1/2 feet of water during Hurricane Floyd in 1999, and headed for a hotel.
“I’m not going through this again,” she said.
Those who stayed behind had few ways to get out. New York’s subways, which serve 5 million people a day, were shut down. The Holland Tunnel connecting New York to New Jersey was closed, as was a tunnel between Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Stock and bond markets were closed Monday and Tuesday, the first shutdown since the days after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001 and the first two-day closing of the stock market because of weather since a blizzard in 1888. The New York Stock Exchange is inside the mandatory evacuation zone in lower Manhattan, blocks from New York Harbor.
If the storm reaches the higher estimate of $20 billion in damage, that would put it ahead of Hurricane Irene, which raked the Northeast in August 2011 and caused $16 billion in damage. Hurricane Katrina, which killed 1,200 people, cost $108 billion.
Homepage
Related Photos
-
Hurricane Sandy was poised Monday afternoon to begin its assault on the northeastern United States. Map courtesy of NOAA
Superstorm Sandy takes aim at Atlantic coast
- Local News
-
-
Pearl River Utility Authority makes emergency repairs to system
Circle Drive has been partially closed and detour routes set up so that the Pearl River Utility Authority can make emergency repairs to the failing 12 inch sewer line.
-
It’s been a good year for Pigott’s teams
It's been a pretty good season for baseball teams that Picayune's Justin Pigott used to play for.
-
House blaze determined to be arson
A Picayune residence fire that occurred on June 12 has been determined to be arson.
-
BLAST SITE
An elevator well exploded Thursday evening at QUIKRETE® cement and concrete plant, located at 130 Huey Stockstill Rd., due to a buildup of propane gas, according to Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department officials. Coast Electric technicians were actively working at the scene on Thursday and Friday, making repairs to damaged electrical equipment.
-
BLAST DEBRIS
Debris from the explosion could be seen near the edge of the property; it was cordoned off by police tape. Sheriff officials reported that only minor injuries were sustained due to the explosion. QUIKRETE® could not be reached for comment.
-
Pearl River Utility Authority makes emergency repairs to system
- Sports
-
-
It’s been a good year for Pigott’s teams
It's been a pretty good season for baseball teams that Picayune's Justin Pigott used to play for.
- Bulldogs are Omaha bound
- Hickman earns top statewide honor
- Northrop is in All-Star game
- Hickman, Taylor earn all-state honors
-
It’s been a good year for Pigott’s teams
- Lifestyles
-
-
Lions Club marks seventy years of service
Recently, an awards and anniversary reception was held at the Crosby Memorial Library to mark the 70th Anniversary of the Picayune Lions Club.
- Vocability
- City and PRC school work together for flower power
- Miller partners with sponsor for Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month
- Arboretum Paths: Summer Nature Camp time
-
Lions Club marks seventy years of service
- State News
-
-
2nd victim dies after blast at La. chemical plant
An explosion and fire at a Louisiana chemical plant claimed a second victim Friday as federal authorities were piecing together the cause of the blast that injured dozens more.
- 1 dead, 73 hurt in La. plant explosion
- Body of 4th drowning victim found off Gulf coast
- Levees, removable walls proposed to protect NYC
- What’s the problem with PRISM?
-
2nd victim dies after blast at La. chemical plant
- International
-
-
Barbara becomes hurricane off Mexican coast
Barbara rose to hurricane strength Wednesday as it steamed toward a sparsely populated stretch of Mexico’s southern Pacific coast, where it was expected to quickly make landfall.
- Argentine Jorge Bergoglio elected Pope Francis
- Pope Benedict VXI resigning
- Suicide bomber kills guard at US Embassy in Turkey
- EU summit ends without budget deal
-
Barbara becomes hurricane off Mexican coast
- Opinion
-
-
We all need to be prepared for disasters
When my father was alive, he left New Orleans only two times in his life. The first was to serve his country in Korea. The second was when the federal government evacuated him to San Antonio in 2005.
- How much spying needed for security?
- State lags in early child ed
- A hard rain is gonna fall...
- Not your mother’s Ladies’ Home Journal
-
We all need to be prepared for disasters
- News Distribution Network
-
A method of facial mapping is demonstrated in Clearwater, Fla., on June 4 by Scott McCallum, systems analyst and co-administrator of the facial recognition program for the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office utilizes one of the most advanced facial recognition programs available to law enforcement in the country.
-
State photo-ID databases become troves for police
The faces of more than 120 million people are in searchable photo databases that state officials assembled to prevent driver's-license fraud but that increasingly are used by police to identify suspects, accomplices and even innocent bystanders in a wide range of criminal investigations.
- Mass. madam's arrest could prove embarrassing
- Police arrest man accused of dining and then dashing
- When did sunscreen get so complicated?
- Drowning doesn't look like drowning
-
State photo-ID databases become troves for police
- CNHI Special Projects
-
A man check his car on Interstate 35 after a tornado ripped through Moore Monday afternoon.
-
Audio: How can we better prepare for tornadoes?
An NPR broadcast examines the question of how communities can better prepare for tornadoes like the one that struck Moore, Okla. on Monday. The broadcast features commentary from Michael Fitzgerald, who reported a five-part disaster series for the CNHI News Service.
- The Big One: Preparing for mid-America earthquake
- Technology speeds disaster alerts, response
- Warning Signs: Technology speeds disaster alerts, response
- Tips for tornado readiness
-
Audio: How can we better prepare for tornadoes?
Man Who Disrupted Flight Ranted About CIA
Feds: 7-Eleven Stores Exploited Immigrants
Fla. Teen Catches Ride With Whale Shark
G8 Leaders Huddle on Syria
Raw: Obama, Putin Meet at G8
Iran's Rowhani Urges 'Path of Moderation'
Daughter: Mandela Doing 'Very Well'
Investigators Probe Origin of Colo. Wildfire
Ex-NFL Star Chad Johnson Out of Jail
'Game of Thrones' Boosts N. Ireland
Raw: Prince Philip Leaves Hospital After Surgery
Zimmerman Jury Selection Turns to Media Exposure
Raw: FBI Meets Plane After Poison Threat
Family Tweets Say Kim Kardashian Gives Birth
US, EU Leaders Announce Free Trade Talks
