Superstorm Sandy Ravages the East
At least 33 people have been killed across seven states and more than 8 million have lost power as result of superstorm Sandy's inland advancement. More than half of the deaths occurred in the tri-state area, a region that includes Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.
According to the National Hurricane Center's most recent advisory, the storm is now moving west across Pennsylvania with sustained winds at 45 mph. While this speed does downgrade the natural disaster from Category 1 hurricane into what officials are calling a "post-tropical cyclone," its effect on some areas of the east coast has been devastating.
The storm has had an especially devastating impact on New York City, whose subway system, streets and air travel have been closed due to flooding.
"The New York City subway system is 108 years old, but it has never faced a disaster as devastating as what we experienced last night," MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota said in a statement on Monday. He said that while the MTA has begun the process of recovery, its flooded tunnels, railroads and bus garages have presented an unprecedented challenge for his employees.
The extent of the damage in New Jersey is still being evaluated, but according to the Associated Press, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says its damage is "incalculable" and "some of the worst we've ever seen."
"I've heard, based on my Twitter feed, that in New York City it looked like the 4th of July as the transformers were blowing all around Long Island, all around New York City and all around the New Jersey area," said Jillian Angeline, New Jersey resident and USC alumnus.
As many as 16,000 flights have been canceled across the U.S., and some transportation barriers have even extended as far out as Los Angeles.
Los Angeles International Airport has cancelled 182 flights today due to the superstorm -- which includes 92 departures and 90 arrivals to and from cities including Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago and other eastern and Midwestern cities.
Officials are urging departing passengers to check in with their airline before headng to the airport.
Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration is working to restore its facilities that were impacted by the storm. "The FAA's top operational priority is to quickly re-establish air traffic service to support disaster relief efforts," it said in a statement.
Angeline said winds are strong enough to be felt from within households.
"There were times [last night] when our house was shaking and you could feel the wind coming through our house," said Angeline.
