IS THIS THE OCTOBER SURPRISE? 2012 East Coast Franken Super Storm Sandy AFTERMATH

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – As of the latest National Hurricane Center update Sunday night, Sandy hasn’t changed it’s course or intensity much. It remains a Category 1 hurricane with low central pressure, and is still tracking toward the northeast, though that will change overnight (in fact, I’m starting to detect a more northward push looking at the most recent satellite. This is a HUGE storm, with a diameter of over 700 miles wide and a tropical storm wind field over 400 miles wide, meaning that it will impact a very large number of people for an extended period of time.

Unlike many storms that move up the coast and are in and out quickly, Sandy will be arriving almost perpendicular to the New Jersey coastline, and then weakening but dawdling as it moves inland. That means even in Philadelphia and the suburbs, tropical storm force winds could last over 48 hours!

We still have the same expectations of Sandy’s impact:

- 5-10″ of rain with the higher end of that spectrum occurring from the city on south into NJ and DE
- wind gusts over 60 mph in the city, over 70 mph down the shore
- major, possibly record, coastal flooding and storm surge in our shore communities
- widespread power outages and road closures

Keep in mind that we’re not talking about a couple hours of strong winds, here – we’re talking about DAYS. That means that even generally strong trees and branches might start to fall under the impact of such a prolonged beating.

Here the chemtrailing has started again. The thick soup is back on the menu. Wish I had time to look at whats going o else where but traveling today, will look into to it oin further detail tonight. We can try and put the bigger picture together then. Until then, good luck to the New Yorkies. Thoughts going your way.



t

BULLETIN
HURRICANE SANDY ADVISORY NUMBER 29
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL182012
1100 AM EDT MON OCT 29 2012

...SANDY FORECAST TO TURN NORTHWESTWARD SOON...
...EXPECTED TO BRING LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE AND COASTAL
HURRICANE WINDS PLUS HEAVY APPALACHIAN SNOWS...


SUMMARY OF 1100 AM EDT...1500 UTC...INFORMATION
-----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...37.5N 71.5W
ABOUT 205 MI...330 KM SE OF ATLANTIC CITY NEW JERSEY
ABOUT 260 MI...415 KM SSE OF NEW YORK CITY

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...90 MPH...150 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNW OR 330 DEGREES AT 18 MPH...30 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...943 MB...27.85 INCHES

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT...

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* NORTH OF SURF CITY TO DUCK NORTH CAROLINA
* PAMLICO AND ALBEMARLE SOUNDS

IN ADDITION...HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED ALONG PORTIONS OF
THE COAST BETWEEN CHINCOTEAGUE VIRGINIA AND CHATHAM MASSACHUSETTS.
THIS INCLUDES THE TIDAL POTOMAC FROM COBB ISLAND TO SMITH POINT...
THE MIDDLE AND UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY...DELAWARE BAY...AND THE COASTS
OF THE NORTHERN DELMARVA PENINSULA...NEW JERSEY...THE NEW YORK CITY
AREA...LONG ISLAND...CONNECTICUT...AND RHODE ISLAND.

TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED NORTH OF CHATHAM TO
MERRIMACK RIVER MASSACHUSETTS...THE LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAY...AND
SOUTH OF CHINCOTEAGUE TO DUCK NORTH CAROLINA...THE NORTHERN
ENDPOINT OF THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING.

OTHER COASTAL AND INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT FOR
THESE AREAS. PLEASE SEE STATEMENTS FROM LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE FORECAST OFFICES.


DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
AT 1100 AM EDT...1500 UTC...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE SANDY WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 37.5 NORTH...LONGITUDE 71.5 WEST. SANDY IS
MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST NEAR 18 MPH...30 KM/H. A TURN
TOWARD THE NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED SOON...FOLLOWED BY A TURN TOWARD
THE WEST-NORTHWEST TONIGHT. ON THE FORECAST TRACK... THE CENTER OF
SANDY IS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL ALONG OR JUST SOUTH OF THE
SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY COAST THIS EVENING OR TONIGHT.

REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT
THE MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 90 MPH...150
KM/H...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SANDY IS EXPECTED TO TRANSITION INTO A
FRONTAL OR WINTERTIME LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM PRIOR TO LANDFALL.
HOWEVER...THIS TRANSITION WILL NOT BE ACCOMPANIED BY A WEAKENING OF
THE SYSTEM...AND...IN FACT...A LITTLE STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE
DURING THIS PROCESS. SANDY IS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN AFTER MOVING
INLAND.

HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 175 MILES...280 KM...
MAINLY SOUTHWEST OF THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS
EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 485 MILES...780 KM. SUSTAINED WINDS TO
TROPICAL STORM FORCE ARE OCCURRING FROM LONG ISLAND SOUTHWARD ALONG
THE COASTS OF NEW JERSEY...DELAWARE...AND EASTERN VIRGINIA...AND
EXTEND AS FAR INLAND AS THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN CHESAPEAKE BAY AND
DELAWARE BAY. A WEATHERFLOW REPORT INDICATES A SUSTAINED WIND OF 53
MPH...85 KM/H...WITH A GUST TO 63 MPH...102 KM/H...HAS RECENTLY
OCCURRED ON LONG ISLAND AT EATONS NECK NEW YORK.

THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE RECENTLY REPORTED BY
RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT WAS 943 MB...27.85 INCHES.


HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
WIND...TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS...OR GALE-FORCE WINDS...ARE ALREADY
OCCURRING OVER PORTIONS OF THE MID-ATLANTIC STATES FROM NORTH
CAROLINA NORTHWARD TO LONG ISLAND. GALE-FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO
CONTINUE TO SPREAD OVER OTHER PORTIONS OF THE MID-ATLANTIC
COAST...NEW YORK CITY...AND SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND TODAY.
HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS COULD REACH THE MID-ATLANTIC STATES...
INCLUDING NEW YORK CITY AND LONG ISLAND...BY THIS EVENING. WINDS
AFFECTING THE UPPER FLOORS OF HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS WILL BE
SIGNIFICANTLY STRONGER THAN THOSE NEAR GROUND LEVEL.

STORM SURGE...THE COMBINATION OF AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS STORM SURGE
AND THE TIDE WILL CAUSE NORMALLY DRY AREAS NEAR THE COAST TO BE
FLOODED BY RISING WATERS. THE WATER COULD REACH THE FOLLOWING
DEPTHS ABOVE GROUND IF THE PEAK SURGE OCCURS AT THE TIME OF HIGH
TIDE...

NC NORTH OF SURF CITY INCLUDING PAMLICO/ALBEMARLE SOUNDS...4 TO 6 FT
SE VA AND DELMARVA INCLUDING LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAY...2 TO 4 FT
UPPER AND MIDDLE CHESAPEAKE BAY...1 TO 3 FT
LONG ISLAND SOUND...RARITAN BAY...AND NEW YORK HARBOR...6 TO 11 FT
ELSEWHERE FROM OCEAN CITY MD TO THE CT/RI BORDER...4 TO 8 FT
CT/RI BORDER TO THE SOUTH SHORE OF CAPE COD INCLUDING BUZZARDS
BAY AND NARRAGANSETT BAY...3 TO 6 FT
CAPE COD TO THE MA/NH BORDER INCLUDING CAPE COD BAY...2 TO 4 FT
MA/NH BORDER TO THE U.S./CANADA BORDER...1 TO 3 FT

SURGE-RELATED FLOODING DEPENDS ON THE RELATIVE TIMING OF THE SURGE
AND THE TIDAL CYCLE...AND CAN VARY GREATLY OVER SHORT DISTANCES.
GIVEN THE LARGE WIND FIELD ASSOCIATED WITH SANDY...ELEVATED WATER
LEVELS COULD SPAN MULTIPLE TIDE CYCLES RESULTING IN REPEATED AND
EXTENDED PERIODS OF COASTAL AND BAYSIDE FLOODING. IN ADDITION...
ELEVATED WATERS COULD OCCUR FAR REMOVED FROM THE CENTER OF SANDY.
FURTHERMORE...THESE CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR REGARDLESS OF WHETHER
SANDY IS A TROPICAL OR POST-TROPICAL CYCLONE. FOR INFORMATION
SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE SEE PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.

RAINFALL...RAINFALL TOTALS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES ARE EXPECTED OVER FAR
NORTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM TOTALS OF 8
INCHES POSSIBLE. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE EXPECTED
OVER PORTIONS OF THE MID ATLANTIC STATES...INCLUDING THE DELMARVA
PENINSULA...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 12 INCHES POSSIBLE.
RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF
5 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE FROM THE SOUTHERN TIER OF NEW YORK STATE
NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH NEW ENGLAND.

SNOWFALL..SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 3 FEET ARE EXPECTED IN THE
MOUNTAINS OF WEST VIRGINIA WITH LOCALLY HIGHER TOTALS TODAY THROUGH
WEDNESDAY. SNOWFALL OF 1 TO 2 FEET IS EXPECTED IN THE MOUNTAINS OF
SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA TO THE KENTUCKY BORDER...WITH 12 TO 18 INCHES
OF SNOW EXPECTED IN THE MOUNTAINS NEAR THE NORTH CAROLINA/TENNESSEE
BORDER AND IN THE MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN MARYLAND.

SURF...DANGEROUS SURF CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE FROM FLORIDA THROUGH
NEW ENGLAND FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT3+shtml/252035.shtml

Sandy a nightmare for fliers as airlines ground 9,000 flights
http://www.usatoday.com/story/todayinthesky/2012/10/26/sandy-airline-flights/1660875/

- PREVIOUS UPDATE (from Sunday night): Hurricane Sandy is still more than 24 hours away from making landfall in the U.S. Northeast, but already travelers from from Hawaii to Europe and Asia are feeling the storm's wrath.

Airlines have preemptively canceled nearly 7,000 flights in advance of the storm, affecting not only big U.S. airlines like United and Southwest but also international carriers such as Qatar Airways and Lufthansa.

Flight operations will grind to a trickle -- if not an outright halt -- tomorrow (Oct. 29) at major airports like New York JFK, Newark Liberty, Philadelphia and Washington Dulles as Sandy nears.

The thousands of preemptively grounded flights include many domestic routes, everything from New York-Los Angeles transcontinental flights to short hops connecting cities such as Washington and Harrisburg, Pa., or Philadelphia and Ithaca, N.Y. Even Hawaiian Airlines' New York-Honolulu nonstop flight has succumbed to the weather.

Also on the chopping block are many high-profile long-haul international routes, such as Qatar Airways' New York and Washington flights, Asiana's Seoul-New York flight and a number of German carrier Lufthansa's flights to the U.S. Northeast.

"This is the most catastrophic event that we have faced and been able to plan for in any of our lifetimes," Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy warned. An expected storm surge at midnight could raise water levels to 11 feet above normal high tide, bringing "the potential to cause unprecedented damage." Some people in Delaware who had ignored mandatory evacuations needed to be taken to shelters overnight. Although Gov. Jack Markell, on Twitter, said the people were being "rescued from flooding," the state government later told CNN that 24 people were brought to shelters and that the operations were not emergency rescues. Officials across the Eastern Seaboard had implored residents over the weekend to obey evacuation orders, emphasizing that local authorities could be put in danger if they tried to save them. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie put it most bluntly: "Don't be stupid. Get out!"

Mass transit grinds to a halt

Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced from their homes. New York City landmarks are eerily empty. The nation's capital is emptied of government workers. Much of the region was settling into paralysis, bracing for what's to come.
From North Carolina to Maine, forecasters warned that Sandy was likely to collide with a cold front and spawn a "superstorm" that could generate flash floods, snowstorms and massive power outages. The National Grid, which provides power to millions of customers, said forecasts now suggest 60 million people could be affected -- up from a previous estimate of 50 million.

"It could be bad," said U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Steven Rattior, "or it could be devastation."
The impact isn't limited to the East Coast. Wave heights in Lake Michigan could reach 28 feet Monday night and 31 feet by Tuesday, the National Weather Service said.

Forecasters are predicting 36 hours of sustained winds.

A state-by-state breakdown of hurricane preparation efforts, impacts: MAINE; NEW HAMPSHIRE; MASSACHUSETTS; RHODE ISLAND; CONNECTICUT; NEW YORK; NEW JERSEY; PENNSYLVANIA; DELAWARE; MARYLAND; DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA; VIRGINIA; NORTH CAROLINA; SOUTH CAROLINA
http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/27/us/Tropical-Weather-State-By-State/index.html


'Superstorm' Sandy unpredictable
http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/26/superstorm-sandy-unpredictable/?iref=obnetwork
Meteorologist Chad Myers' northeast forecast for impact of Hurricane Sandy: "We've never gone through this before ... we honestly simply don't know." Stay tuned to CNN for updates


Northeast in crosshairs of 'superstorm' Sandy
http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/26/us/tropical-weather-sandy/index.html
Worst case, Sandy could merge with a strong cold front from the west. The double threat could morph into a "superstorm" that could sit over New England for days, making untold trouble for millions of residents. Weather experts said it's a recipe not unlike 1991's "Perfect Storm."

As far north as New Jersey, residents prepare for long-term power outages.

(CNN) -- Hurricane shutters, water jugs and batteries are not the only things to consider when extreme weather threatens the coast.nPower outages and evacuations can pose safety issues, especially for those managing chronic illnesses.

Here are some tips to stay healthy when the lights go out:

Managing your medications
The elderly and chronically ill need to take note of their medications when the power goes out. Insulin and some liquid medications may require cooling, says Dr. David Seaburg, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians. Lunch bags containing a cool pack are a good option for those products.

For those facing evacuation, it's important to have a record -- either a piece of paper or a computer accessible file -- with the names and dosage information of your prescription drugs. Ideally, it should be prepared in advance.

Food safety during emergencies Scrambling to prepare for Sandy

For diabetics, a supply of snacks is essential, along with insulin and any other medications, says Dr. David Ross, a Colorado Springs, Colorado, emergency physician who assisted victims of the Waldo Canyon Fire this summer.

Ross also suggests that people have an emergency one-month supply of prescription medications, so they will not be caught short-handed.

And Seaburg adds, "If you have a chronic illness or take prescription medications and you are evacuated or choose to go to a community center, make someone aware that you have a medical condition, so they will know what to check for if your behavior seems a little unusual."

Gadgets to help you survive a power outage

Breathing easy
Another consideration during a loss of power is for patients with chronic breathing problems.People who require continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, devices for sleep apnea or other sleep issues will need an alternative source of power. There are options available for most machines, including CPAP battery packs, DC power options, marine battery adapters and travel-specific CPAP machines to provide power in the event of an electrical outage.

Chowing down
Keeping food at a healthy temperature may be a challenge during a power loss.

Refrigerators keep dairy products, meat, fish, poultry and eggs at a healthy temperature if they are 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. If your power goes out, your refrigerator will stay at the proper temperature for about four hours if it's unopened. Placing ice bags or dry ice will help to maintain healthy cooling.

A full freezer will remain cool for about 48 hours, or for about 24 hours if half full. It's a good idea to have digital thermometers on hand to check the temperature.

Once the thermometer goes above the recommended temperature, avoid eating any dairy products, meat, fish, poultry or eggs. Throw away items that have been compromised.

(Personal note: One-burner camper propane stove can be used to heat water for tea, coffee, cocoa, soup and make hard boil the eggs. Meat and fish can also be put into soup or cooked on a bar-b-que. Keeping hard-boiled eggs on hand is a good idea and helps ward off hunger. They're good with soy sauce.

When the power goes out for some where a pump is powered to make the water go into the home these homes will be left without the use of their toilets (this note is based on personal experience). When that happens there are some tips that work to care for human waste. Urine can go down a bathtub drain. Used toilet paper stored in plastic shopping bag(s) so as not to clogg toilet when it is in use again. Toilet seats can be placed over 5 gallon buckets that have plactic bag liners for stools where bags can be sealed and removed outside.

Entertainment: deck of cards, books, music, games, drawing, knitting, preparing meals without electricity....

The USDA suggests keeping a supply of canned and packaged foods that do not require refrigeration. Coolers are a good solution if your power will be on within 24 hours. And knowing where to purchase ice and dry ice is a good way to plan for an emergency.

Disaster dining: Stay safe, fed, caffeinated and entertained

Meal ideas
The Mayo Clinic suggests stocking up on condiments, particularly those that are vinegar-based and have a long shelf life, such as ketchup, mustard and soy sauce.

Keep canned protein such as chicken, salmon, beans and peanut butter on hand, the clinic recommends, and keep boxes of powdered milk or shelf-stable milk cartons handy. Also, don't forget a manual can opener.

Eating out of a can doesn't have to be boring, says Ron Stone, assistant director of nutrition at the Mayo Clinic in Florida.

"There are many options to mix and match from your pantry, and with advance planning and a little creativity, you can provide healthy and delicious meals for your family," Stone says.

Clinic interns have created sample three-day meal plans (PDF) to feed a family of four without the use of power or refrigeration, including desserts and energy bars.

lawlessline wrote:Here the chemtrailing has started again. The thick soup is back on the menu. Wish I had time to look at whats going o else where but traveling today, will look into to it oin further detail tonight. We can try and put the bigger picture together then. Until then, good luck to the New Yorkies. Thoughts going your way.



t

Hi Tom,

Something odd happened last night and I think the time-line shifted again for the better. While in bed, before dropping off to sleep, I was praying asking for Divine intervention regarding Superstorm Sandy. Unbeknown to me another friend was doing the same - as we suspect many others were praying as well. I literally slept like the dead and finally woke up around 5:30 am - usually I wake at 3 am - and felt hung-over. In the past when this type of sleep experience happens I've notice a time-line shift and will see in the news someone who I know has died is now alive. If you recall Mercuriel and I have posted about this in the past on another time-line shift thread.

I was talking about how I thought the time-line shifted again with my husband this morning, who of course didn't notice anythig different other then I was dead to the world last night, which is unusual and asked how I knew it shifted. The phone rings and it's another friend (a sensitive) from 4,000 miles away who also spoke of the time-line being altered last night to a much more positive outcome. I call that validation.

We have a feeling that as bad as this Super storm can be - the worse case scenario has been altered to a more positive outcome. Of course our focus is on safety of those in its path and visualizing this storm moving back out to sea as compared to being trapped over the land mass for days on end. More then likely the damage will be bad - yet, loss of life at a minimum. Meanwhile, we will continue to monitor what is happening, alert and warn those that we can and pray for a positive resolution as possible given the circumstances.

Ironically, last ngiht - my friend who is trapped in New Jersey had her email account hacked and all of her accounts deleted. Early this morning my husband getst a fake message from her out of London stating that she is stranded there and to send money. Since I spoke with her last night, we knew her being in London was not the case. However we did have this happen to us a couple of years ago with another friend here in Hawaii where we ended up sending $700 to something like a FedEx in London and lost the money, but was able to save a number of her other friends here from being bilked because of going immediately to the police to report it. They went to the Fed Ex locations here and literally stopped some folks from going in alerting them to the scam.

We are sending out an email alert to her friends asking them to forward the message onto anyone that they know that she was in email contact with along with a copy of their email to her so that she can rebuild her email list and let them know she is okay for now.

I find it ironic how this is going on in the midst of this superstorm and wonder how many others will end up being scammed as a result of communications being down. And just for general information - this type of scam has been going on for years, so hopefully - no one else will get sucked in.

Irrespective of the chem trails and HAARP, I feel all of this is part of god's plan to help wake up humanity where they learn to function from a hieghtened sense of conscious awareness learning that the only true way to survive on this planet is to help one another. Disasters tend to bring out the best and worse in folks. From the reposts coming in it appears that folks on the east coast are working together to survive this Superstorm and that is a good thing.

The National Weather Service has issued a public warning describing the storm as "

AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS STORM TO IMPACT THE AREA..."

THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE AN HISTORIC STORM, WITH WINDS TO THE REGION. THE STORM IS A LARGE ONE. THEREFORE DO NOT FOCUS ON THE EXACT CENTER OF THE STORM AS ALL AREAS WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS.

THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE AN HISTORIC STORM, WITH WIDESPREAD WIND DAMAGE AND POWER OUTAGES, INLAND AND COASTAL FLOODING, AND MASSIVE BEACH EROSION. THE COMBINATION OF THE HEAVY RAIN AND PROLONGED WIND WILL CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR LONG LASTING POWER OUTAGES AND SERIOUS FLOODING.

It goes on to urge residents to heed evacuation warnings, adding, "THINK ABOUT THE RESCUE/RECOVERY TEAMS WHO WILL RESCUE YOU IF YOU ARE INJURED OR RECOVER YOUR REMAINS IF YOU DO NOT SURVIVE."

This is unusually blunt language from the National Weather Service. In fact, I don't recall ever seeing NWS warnings with this kind of urgent language.

Immediately after this story was published, the NWS pulled its online warning, but we captured a screen shot of the full alert before it was pulled. Here it is:

1. IF YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO EVACUATE A COASTAL LOCATION BY STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS, PLEASE DO SO.

2. IF YOU ARE RELUCTANT TO EVACUATE, AND YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO RODE OUT THE '62 STORM ON THE BARRIER ISLANDS, ASK THEM IF THEY COULD DO IT AGAIN.

3. IF YOU ARE RELUCTANT, THINK ABOUT YOUR LOVED ONES, THINK ABOUT THE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS WHO WILL BE UNABLE TO REACH YOU WHEN YOU MAKE THE PANICKED PHONE CALL TO BE RESCUED, THINK ABOUT THE RESCUE/RECOVERY TEAMS WHO WILL RESCUE YOU IF OU ARE INJURED OR RECOVER YOUR REMAINS IF YOU DO NOT SURVIVE.

4. SANDY IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS STORM, THERE WILL BE MAJOR PROPERTY DAMAGE. INJURIES ARE PROBABLY UNAVOIDABLE, BUT THE GOAL IS ZERO FATALITIES.

5. IF YOU THINK THE STORM IS OVER-HYOED AND EXAGGERATED, PLEASE ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION

WE WISH EVERYONE IN HARMS WAY ALL THE BEST. STAY SAFE!

SUPERSTORM SANDY: Anyone who doubts the value of space exploration should watch this video of hurricane Sandy approaching the east coast of the United States on Oct. 26-28. Without weather satellites and space-age sensors, residents in the storm's path wouldn't know what was coming until the storm surge arrived.

NASA's fleet of Earth-observing satellites is doing more, however, than just tracking the storm. It is collecting valuable scientific data on Sandy's inner workings:

An animation of satellite observations from Oct. 26-29, 2012, shows Hurricane Sandy move along the U.S. East coast and into the Mid-Atlantic and northeastern U.S. Sandy had still not made landfall by the end of this animation. This visualization was created by the NASA GOES Project at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., using observations from NOAA's GOES-13 satellite. Credit: NASA/NOAA GOES Project

This graphic shows the structure of Sandy's eye illuminated on Oct. 28th by a radar onboard the TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission) satellite. TRMM will continue to monitor the organization of the eye as Sandy merges with a cold front to become a deadly superstorm. Data from TRMM and other satellites will help forecasters anticipate future storms even more accurately than Sandy.

On Monday, Oct. 29, Hurricane Sandy was ravaging the Mid-Atlantic with heavy rains and tropical storm force winds as it closed in for landfall. Earlier, NASA's CloudSat satellite passed over Hurricane Sandy and its radar dissected the storm get a profile or sideways look at the storm. NASA's Aqua satellite provided an infrared view of the cloud tops and NOAA's GOES-13 satellite showed the extent of the storm. The National Hurricane Center reported at 11 a.m. EDT on Oct. 29 that Hurricane Sandy is "expected to bring life-threatening storm surge and coastal hurricane winds plus heavy Appalachian snows."

NASA's CloudSat passed over Sandy at 10:32 a.m. EDT on Oct. 27, 2012. Light to moderate precipitation associated with parts of the outer bands of Hurricane Sandy were moving on shore into parts of North Carolina where CloudSat intersected the system. Cloudsat showed heavier showers and thunderstorms further south and east of the Atlantic coastline over the open water. Credit: NASA/JPL/The Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA), Colorado State University
› Larger Image CloudSat Provides a Profile of Hurricane Sandy

To understand the structure, extent and behavior of Sandy, NASA's CloudSat passed over Sandy at 1832 UTC (10:32 a.m. EDT) on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012, when the storm was about 335.5 miles (540 km) southeast of Charleston, S.C. CloudSat data was used to create a profile image of Hurricane Sandy by Shigeru Suzuki at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

Sandy Pounding the Mid-Atlantic on Oct. 29

On Oct. 29 at 1 a.m. EDT the National Hurricane Center (NHC) noted that the center of Hurricane Sandy was located near latitude 37.5 north and longitude 71.5 west. This was about 260 miles (415 km) south-southeast of New York City, and 205 miles (330 km) southeast of Atlantic City, N.J. Sandy was moving north-northwest at 18 mph. Maximum sustained winds have increased to 90 mph (140 kph).

According to the National Hurricane Center, hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 485 miles (780 km). Sustained tropical-storm-force winds are occurring along the coasts of southern New Jersey, Delaware, and eastern Virginia, and extend as far inland as the central and southern Chesapeake Bay.

The minimum central pressure estimated from hurricane hunter Aircraft data is 943 millibars, which dropped from 946 millibars at 8 a.m. EDT. A drop in atmospheric pressure indicates intensification.

NHC noted that surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle and can vary greatly over short distances. Because of Sandy's large wind field, elevated water levels could span multiple tide cycles resulting in repeated and extended periods of coastal and bayside flooding. Dangerous surf conditions will continue from Florida through New England for the next couple of days.

To view NASA images and more detail go to link http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hurricanes/archives/2012/h2012_Sandy.html

October 29, 2012 – NEW YORK – The latest models have Sandy making landfall along the coast of South Jersey on Monday evening between 8 and 10 p.m. “This storm is HISTORIC,” said Katie Fehlinger. CBS 3 meteorologists say this is the “worst case scenario” as it will make landfall very close to high tide and say the storm pressure is currently stronger than the Long Island Express Hurricane of 1938. Pressure as of 11 a.m. was down to 943mb and the storm was located 205 miles southeast of Atlantic City. Maximum winds were at 90 mph and it is moving north – northwest. “It is accelerating and making the turn toward the coast,” said Kathy Orr. The National Hurricane Center issued a powerful warning stating, “Sandy expected to bring life-threatening story surge and coastal hurricane winds plus heavy Appalachian snows.” “This is the worst-case scenario,” said Louis Uccellini, NOAA. In New Jersey, the dunes have already been breached in Beach Haven and in Ocean City, New Jersey, officials say during this morning’s high tide, the Ocean met the bay. Officials say, “they’ve never seen anything like it.” –CBS

October 29, 2012 – NEW YORK – As Long Islanders hunkered down, Hurricane Sandy grew stronger and faster early Monday, bringing a “life-threatening storm surge” to the East Coast and the risk of hurricane-force winds to Suffolk County, forecasters said. Shortly before dawn, Freeport director of emergency management Richard Holdener said he was concerned that flooding in his South Shore community could be potentially “catastrophic.” Water was already “spilling over the bulkheads” of local canals Monday morning, more than one hour and 40 minutes before high tide at 8:41 a.m., Holdener said. At about 9:30 a.m. Freeport was 2 feet above flood stage. Holdener said he was fearful “tonight’s high tide will be one for the record books.” The National Weather Service warned of winds gusting up to 90 mph in Suffolk County and along a stretch of the Connecticut coast to the north. “Winds will be capable of downing trees and snapping off large tree branches,” a weather service advisory said. Sandy, in the meantime, started to move inland and continued to gain strength. By 8 a.m., Sandy was 265 miles southeast of Atlantic City and 310 miles south southeast of New York City, the National Weather Service said. Its maximum sustained winds had increased to 85 mph, up 10 mph from 2 a.m., and was moving inland north northwest toward south central New Jersey at 20 mph, an increase of 5 mph from its 5 a.m. speed, the National Weather Service said. And more strengthening is possible as Sandy transitions into “a wintertime low-pressure system” before landfall, the hurricane center said. The potentially historic storm is sure to bring significant coastal flooding, bursts of heavy rain and powerful winds that may reach hurricane strength on Long Island, forecasters said. President Barack Obama declared emergencies in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania, authorizing federal relief work to begin well ahead of time, The Associated Pressreported. He promised the government would “respond big and respond fast” after the storm hits. Meteorologist David Stark of the National Weather Service said the hurricane’s increased force early Monday was expected, as the storm pushed inland and interacted with other systems. Stark said the combination of high winds, gusting to 85 mph in some instances, and coastal flooding made the hurricane a life-threatening event. One of the meteorologists on staff even provided his contact information, issuing a personal plea urging those who think the storm is “overhyped” to call and yell at him on Friday if it ends up not being as bad as they think. –Newsday

http://www.euronews.com/ As Hurricane Sandy picks up strength before it is expected to hit the east coast of the United States on Monday night, the weather is also causing disruption to the presidential election campaign.

Both Republican challenger Mitt Romney and US President Barack Obama and have been forced to cancel some events, with Obama warning the public to be on their guard.

"This is a serious and big storm and my first message is to all the people across the eastern seaboard, mid-Atlantic, going north, that you need to take this very seriously," said Obama.

Sixty-six people across the Caribbean have been killed by Hurricane Sandy, and now Atlantic City in New Jersey is bracing itself. Across the state, public transport has been shut down, low lying areas have been evacuated and schools are closed.

Braving the ferocious winds, New Jersey resident Louise Germanario said: "Yeah, I'm far enough away from the water. I don't think I'm going to have a problem. I don't like the wind, but what are you going to do?"

Gusts of 140 kilometres per hour have been measured 615 kilometres away from New York City.

Tiffany Sobers, who lives in New York, was concerned about the closures to public transport:
"I think it's ridiculous. New York City is the melting pot of people just going to work and trying to make a living and we can't even get around publicly."

Sandy could be the largest ever storm to hit mainland America and the President has declared emergencies in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania, authorising relief work to begin in advance.

SOUTHPORT, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) - Connecticut National Guard officials say troops have responded to East Haven and Darien to help with flooding problems. Col. John Whitford says troops are positioned Monday in East Haven in the Cosey Beach section, where many homes were damaged last year during Tropical Storm Irene. The Guard is helping to evacuate and keep people out of the area. Guardsmen were also called to Darien to help with possible rescues in flooded areas. Whitford says 1,100 National Guard soldiers and airmen are on duty. He says troops are stationed at armories across the state and are preparing to respond to any emergencies. Water from Long Island Sound spilled into roadways and towns along the Connecticut shoreline Monday, the first signs of flooding from a storm that threatens to deliver a devastating surge of seawater. About 360,000 people in 30 towns have been placed under mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders, according to state officials.

“The water’s got no place to go. It’s been pushed all the way up the coast into this funnel,” said Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, who was knocking on doors in the city as water began spilling onto lawns. “We’ve got to convince people this is very serious.”

Gov. Dannel Malloy ordered the closure of all state highways across Connecticut in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy’s arrival.

“This is the most catastrophic event that we have faced and been able to plan for in any of our lifetimes. And we continue to do everything in our power to make sure that we’re ready and that our citizens are fully cognizant of what they should be doing,” Malloy said.

State highways are now shut down to all traffic. Malloy implemented a two-part shutdown of the highways, first barring trucks as of 11 a.m. before the full closure took effect for all vehicles at 1 p.m. The worst time is expected to be between Monday late afternoon and 3 a.m. Tuesday.

Forecasters say the storm surge could exceed nine feet in western Long Island Sound, driven party by a full moon and high tides, and officials fear winds from the hurricane will keep the water from draining at low tide. Officials say the flooding at high tide overnight could cause more damage than a 1938 New England hurricane, known as the Long Island Express.

Gov. Malloy said even after the storm surge, the flood waters pose dangers.

“Stay away from flood waters. Don’t walk in them, don’t drive through them, don’t do anything with them if at all possible. The water can easily become contaminated and will and does pose health risks,” Malloy said, about 12 hours before high tide is due to hit.

Reporters: Pia Gadkari and Tom Geoghegan @abzik89, from Manhattan, NY, tweets: Man, #sandy is getting serious
https://twitter.com/hashtag/sandy

Hurricane Sandy is closing in on highly populated areas of the US east coast, threatening storm surges and devastating flooding.

New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo tweets: The Robert F. Kennedy/Triborough Bridge will stay open as long as consistent with safety #Sandy

1746: Governor Christie said he spoke on the phone to Mr Obama this afternoon, and the president said if the New Jersey governor needed anything from the federal government, to call him directly

Jallah Kennedy, in Galloway, New Jersey, emails: The wind is becoming heavier. Power and heating has just returned a few minutes ago. My family of 10 is still expecting the worst. When the actual landfall arrives, we are prepared to evacuate, provided flooding does not hold us back. Not sure though where we will go.

1742: New Jersey's Governor Chris Christie says in a press conference that evacuations are now suspended, due to safety concerns. Hurricane Sandy expected to hit Atlantic City in an hour, he says.

1732: As evening closes in, visibility reduces as rain and wind intensify in Marshfield, Massachusetts

1728: The National Hurricane Center has discontinued its tropical storm warnings for the state of North Carolina, but the area is still designated as "hazardous".
@arraaaffff, tweets: Praying for my brother in Maryland and my family on the Jersey Shore. #staysafe

Andrew Cuomo, New York Governor tweets: Hurricane #Sandy Helpline: 1-888-769-7243

Paul Johnson, in New York, emails: We're on holiday in New York staying just a couple of blocks away from the collapsing crane! The streets around the crane have been closed off by the police and lots of people are looking on and taking photos - despite the instructions to stay inside with the blackout curtains closed.

1713: The National Hurricane Center has just issued its 17:00 EDT (21:00 GMT) update, which shows Hurricane Sandy is just 40 miles (65km) off the coast of Atlantic City now. Maximum sustained wind speeds remain high, at 90mph (150km/h).

1704: In New York City, rising wind speeds could mean bridges are closed earlier than 19:00 EDT (23:00 GMT), the governor has tweeted. @SlaterJ13, tweets: Praying my family in New York, New Jersey and Long Island are okay #prayersfortheeastcoast

1659: For more information, we've put together this list of useful links to help you prepare for Hurricane Sandy. And there's this Twitter page for the latest updates.

The Weather Channel tweets: Atlantic City's public safety director says most of city under water.

1646: Public schools will remain shut on Tuesday in New York City, Philadelphia and Washington DC on account of the hurricane. In Washington, the metro will not operate either.

1644: Not sure if the hurricane picture you just saw on your favourite social network is genuine? Mashable has collated 5 Fake Hurricane Sandy Photos You're Sharing on Social Media which features some of the most common examples.

1639: In an updated advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Sandy is now 65 miles (105km) away from Atlantic City, and has maximum sustained winds of 90mph (150km/h). The NHC estimates that the centre of Sandy could reach the coast of southern New Jersey or central Delaware within the next three to five hours.

1636: The New York governor earlier announced the Tappan Zee Bridge was closing. He has now said the following bridges will also shut at 19:00 EDT (23:00 GMT): George Washington, Verrazano-Narrows, Throgs Neck, Whitestone, Henry Hudson and Cross Bay Veterans.

1625: Officials issue a final evacuation warning to residents that have not followed mandatory evacuation notices - leave now. We are approaching the hour where it will not be possible to evacuate, officials say.

1623: Governor Cuomo says the worst of the storm has not yet hit New York. The first high tide on Tuesday morning will also be dangerous, and residents need to remain vigilant throughout the night, he says.

1613: The city of Baltimore in Maryland has banned all vehicle travel from 6pm until noon on Tuesday, except for hospital and emergency vehicles.

1607: Here is a picture of beach homes in New York's Shinnecock Hills, in an exposed part of Long Island, as powerful waves beat the shore.

1605: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has called another news briefing, and officials are saying the hurricane is approaching a little faster than expected. They say coastal areas such as Nassau County can expect to see storm surge, rain and winds intensify as the afternoon draws on, peaking around 18:00 EDT (22:00 GMT) around high tide.


Jake Tapper, ABC News White House correspondent tweets: Dept of Energy: As of 2pm EDT, the impacted states report a total of 316,563 customers without power in the affected areas. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick No serious damage or injuries reported yet.

1543: The Reuters news agency is reporting that Consolidated Edison, a major utility provider in New York City, is warning customers it may shut down power for lower Manhattan on Monday evening. The blackout could extend as far north as 34th Street, but would only affect avenues close to the Hudson and East River, and near the tip of the island, a spokeswoman said.

1535: That makes a total of eight states, plus the District of Columbia, that are to receive federal emergency funds.

1533: President Obama has now signed a declaration of emergency for the state of Delaware, clearing the way for federal aid to assist the response and recovery efforts to Hurricane Sandy.

1529: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that the Tappan Zee Bridge across the Hudson River will close at 16:00 EDT (20:00 GMT).

1525: Officials are warning residents to stay indoors. Some people are still on the streets, but in Baltimore rising winds seem to be making it harder to get around.

1517: Matthew Wells, in Brooklyn, New York says New York Public Radio is reporting that 10,000 people are already without power around the city. The wind is picking up outside, slowly but surely.

1511: There are 3,500 residents left with no way off the island of Chincoteague, Virginia. The water is reported to be 3ft (90cm) deep in some places and there is no emergency shelter. Officials imposed a noon curfew and have told everyone to stay indoors.

1511: Reports of flood damage are coming in from other parts of the East Coast. The tiny, 37-square-mile island of Chincoteague, Virginia, is under water, the Associated Press has reported.

1508: Lt Kevin Sullivan told the BBC the ship capsized as the crew were getting into life rafts. "They had to swim clear of the boat and try to get in the life rafts from there." The search goes on for the missing two.

1507: Now an update on what happened when the 16-strong crew of the replica tall ship HMS Bounty abandoned ship off the N Carolina coast. Two crew are still missing.

1505: This picture shows that incident in more detail. The arm of the crane appears to have snapped, leaving it dangling above West 57th Street. No injuries are reported and the Fire Dept is attending.

1458: In the middle of New York's densely populated Midtown neighbourhood, CNN's Piers Morgan has reported that a crane has snapped under the force of driving winds. The storm is still several hours away from the mainland and conditions are expected to deteriorate as the day goes on.

1455: Earlier on Monday both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney cancelled campaign events on account of the storm. Now, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley has suspended early voting on Tuesday.

1454: With the presidential election looming next week, some political commentators have been asking what the impact of Hurricane Sandy might be on the race for the White House.

1453: As the water level advances in New York, local radio station WNYC have created this flood gauge watch with information across the region impacted by Sandy.

Laura Trevelyan BBC News, New York tweets: #Sandy wind howling beneath manhattan bridge. We are pulling back to a more sheltered location.

Arthur Varanelli, South Dennis, Massachusetts writes: "Watching and feeling the wind gusts coming off the Atlantic and Massachusetts Bay onto Cape Cod, it has become very clear that Sandy is a very, very serious storm. The wind is forecast now to worsen until late afternoon, but even that can become unpredictable."

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tweets: RT @NOAASatellites: #Sandy is moving toward NJ shore more quickly: See our animated imagery: http://go.usa.gov/Yvuw

1439: The BBC has put together a series of graphics to help illustrate the immense size of the storm system. We've also got a timelapse from Nasa of the hurricane as it tracks towards the East Coast.

1437: In and around Philadelphia, utilities companies are now reporting that tens of thousands of people have lost power, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. An estimated combined total of 62,000 outages have been reported by PECO, Atlantic City Electric, PSE&G, Delmarva Power & Light, and PPL Electric, the newspaper says.

1428: Waterfront properties are being damaged at Ocean City in Maryland, says CNN's Sandra Endo, reporting from the very windswept beach. The wind and rain are relentless, she adds.

Ewan Baird in New York posted this photo on Twitter, commenting: "@BBC_HaveYourSay @bbcnewsbeat getting wetter here in NYC #Sandy"

1418: So we have tunnels from Manhattan to New Jersey and Brooklyn shut now. Boston is also closing its subway, bus and train network now. Public transit systems were closed earlier on Monday in Washington DC, New York City and Philadelphia.

1417: More from the National Hurricane Center. Sandy is moving forward at 28mph (44km/h) with maximum sustained winds of 90mph (150km/h), with hurricane force winds expected across a wide swathe of the US East Coast - between Chincoteague, Virginia, and Chatham, Massachusetts.

1409: The National Hurricane Center is out with its 14:00 EDT (18:00 GMT) update: Hurricane Sandy is closing in on Atlantic City, it is now 110 miles (180 km) offshore, 175 miles (285 km) south-east of New York City.

1407: Laura Trevelyan BBC News, New York The Holland Tunnel and Brooklyn Battery Tunnel have just closed, and officials are warning residents in evacuation zones to get out now, just hours before Sandy makes landfall.

1402: Earlier on Monday, we heard from US President Barack Obama, who warned the public to follow instructions from state and local officials and act quickly. New York Mayor Bloomberg also sent a message to New Yorkers, asking them to evacuate promptly.

Edward Henry in Somerville, Massachusetts writes: "I live across the river from Boston. It is still early; we're being told the worst is yet to come. So far lots of strong wind gusts all morning, rain off and on. The wind is getting stronger now. The whole Boston area public transit network is shutting down in 10 minutes."

1357: The storm could affect up to 50 million people in the densely populated region, and is likely to last through the day on Tuesday.

1356: This huge, late-season storm is colliding with a cold front moving south from Canada and is expected to result in blizzard conditions as far inland as West Virginia.

1355: For those just joining us now, to recap - Hurricane Sandy is approaching the US East Coast, expected to make landfall in the state of New Jersey on Monday evening.

1353: Trying to travel today? Airports up and down the East Coast are experiencing major delays and cancellations, with more than 7,000 flights affected by the hurricane. The Federal Aviation Administration has created a searchable map of airports in the region, with information about service conditions.

1352: We've also got a collection of stories from East Coast residents facing the storm.

1339: The New York Stock Exchange has now confirmed it will stay shut tomorrow, as the storm ploughs through. It is aiming to re-open on Wednesday.

1331: This detailed timeline from #HurricaneHackers, a crowdsourced information and resource platform on Hurricane Sandy, shows that electricity has been shut off in some parts of New York's Zone A evacuation area. Storm surge has been reported in southern New York City neighbourhoods - Red Hook, Brooklyn and Battery Park, Manhattan.

1327: Jennifer Davis of Fox News, Norfolk, Virginia says the storm surge could be four to six feet above normal levels and there are serious concerns about flooding.

1325: Storm surge is expected to peak this evening, during high tide

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo tweets: #Sandy tip: Keep curtains & blinds closed. Do not be fooled if there is a lull; it could be the eye of the storm - winds will pick up again

1316: With East Coast cities rushing to prepare for Sandy to arrive, this map pinpoints the location of ships as they move towards safe waters ahead of the storm.
Catherine Kadar in New York City tweets: "Winds gusting up to 30 MPH in my neighborhood and Sandy isn't even nearby yet. Scary #Sandy"

1304: As Sandy approaches, the resort towns along the New Jersey shoreline are bearing the brunt of the hurricane's force. A real estate agent in Sea Isle is updating his website with images of flooded properties and streets.

Linda Poke in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire writes: "My 17-year-old son and his classmates are on an American exchange in New York. They were due to fly home today, but obviously their flight has been cancelled. Would like to wish them all well and say a huge thank you to their lovely American host families who still have them in their homes. God willing they'll be home soon."

1257: New Jersey local media are receiving reports that waves are topping 20ft (6m), and storm surge is expected to get worse during high tide, plus a full moon coinciding with the arrival of the hurricane is expected to increase tidal intensity. The next high tide is expected at about 19:30 EDT (23:30 GMT).

1254: The president only answers one question - what effect the hurricane may have on the election. Mr Obama says the election will "work itself out" next week, and his immediate concern is for families and first responders.

1252: Everybody is taking this very seriously, the president adds. Look at the government's website on how to prepare for the storm if you need more information, he says.

1250: It may take time for any power outages to be fixed, says the president.

1250: The president says the good news is that officials have had a few days to prepare for the onset of the storm. But members of the public will be putting first responders in harm's way if they do not leave when told to, he says.

1249: We are making sure food, water and emergency power generation is available, Mr Obama adds. He says his most important message to the public is to follow instructions from your state and local officials, and act quickly.

1247: President Barack Obama speaking now. "This is going to be a big and powerful storm."

1247: The BBC's Laura Trevelyan tweets: #sandy alarming down here on the waterfront between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges - very strong winds, trees bending over

Emma Lewis from London emails: "I'm on holiday, currently holed up in a hotel in Providence, Rhode Island. It's already incredibly windy here, but the rain isn't too bad yet, just a heavy drizzle. Went for a walk around earlier and buses are still running but the streets are pretty deserted otherwise and all of the shops are closed."

1243: NYC Mayor's Office tweets: If you are still in Zone A and have a way to get out, leave IMMEDIATELY. Conditions are quickly getting worse. #Sandy. The mayor's office has produced this map to let you know if you're in Zone A.

1231: If you are trying to locate emergency resources on the East Coast, Google has compiled this handy map.

1229: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie also addresses children staying at home today: "There is no reason to be scared. Adults are taking care of business."

1221: We're hearing from the New Jersey Governor Chris Christie now. He tells residents to go to their county shelters if they need to leave their homes, and to use this website to find their closest centres. He emphasises the need to remain calm, but also to follow instructions and take precautions to avoid loss of life.

1219: Clementine in Teeside, UK texts: "My family live just outside Ocean City, Maryland and are one of the few homes still to have electricity. Just waiting for it to happen is the worst. Prayers with you all."

BBC Weather ‏@bbcweather #Sandy has strengthened today. Winds will cause problems but bigger issue will be flooding from heavy rain & massive storm surge

1215: Meanwhile, President Obama has signed emergency declarations for Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia, according to the White House.This paves the way for federal assistance with preparations and recovery. The BBC's Jonny Dymond tweets: #Romney events Monday and Tuesday cancelled. #Sandy wreaking havoc on final week of campaign. @BBCNewsUS

1203: Sonia Heaton in New York writes: I'm on holiday staying in an apartment in Wall Street. The apartment manager has just told us the electricity and water will be shut off at 2pm, having told us yesterday that electricity wouldn't be a problem because of the back-up generator. I've been out looking for torches but the only shops open are sold out.

1159: Water levels are rising in New York City - streets in the borough of Queens are now under water.

The Maryland emergency services tweeted: Cannot stress this enough! @governoromalley: We're urging everyone except first responders and essential personnel to stay off the roads.

1153: Earlier, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley gave a gloomy forecast of the impact of the hurricane for his state. "There will be people who die and are killed in this storm," he said.

1151: Sandy's wind speeds are picking up, the latest forecasts say, with sustained speeds of 90 mph (145km) as it approaches the US mainland.

1149: Mark in Brooklyn, New York emails: I've been living in Brooklyn for six years after moving from England. New York City's response to this situation is very impressive. Very organised and very proactive. People taking it very seriously. We are all preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.

1148: With Hurricane Sandy still several hours away from making landfall, the pier in Ocean City, Maryland, has suffered significant damage, the Baltimore Sun reports, after being battered by rough waves overnight.

1143: New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is giving a press conference now. He says the greatest danger to New York is likely to come from storm surge and coastal flooding, but that the storm is expected to change from a hurricane to a "Nor'easter" - ferocious blizzards that strike the north-eastern US in the winter - as it heads inland, and this could have significant implications for the city.

1138: Despite the worsening weather conditions across the East Coast, the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier, at Arlington Cemetery, Virginia, continues uninterrupted.

1134: The Reuters news agency is reporting that the New York Stock Exchange, which is closed, might remain shut on Tuesday as Hurricane Sandy continues to barrel over New York City. This is the first time the markets have closed on account of the weather in 27 years, it says.

1132: For more information, we've put together this list of useful links to help you prepare for Hurricane Sandy.

1123: Derrick Chen sent in this image of the New York Stock Exchange making ready for the arrival of Hurricane Sandy with sandbags.

Like a hand pushing water in a bathtub, the winds of a hurricane push the water of the Atlantic Ocean. When the windblown water runs up against land, the water piles up and flows inland. That describes a storm surge. “It’s almost a little bit like a tsunami,” said Klaus H. Jacob, a scientist at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

When Hurricane Sandy makes landfall late Monday or early Tuesday, the pulse of windblown water will be “in a word, bad,” Dr. Jacob said. “It’s of course still somewhat uncertain. It all depends on the exact timing.”

Storm surges like those accompanying Hurricane Sandy as it churns north are, at their simplest, a function of strong winds driving too much water into too small a space. But other factors, some of which will come into play as this storm approaches the New York area, can combine to make surges higher and more destructive, experts said.

“A storm surge is really caused by one thing,” said Pat Fitzpatrick, an associate research professor at Mississippi State University who studies the phenomenon. “When a storm is approaching land, it starts to encounter shallow water. The water tends to pile up.”

read more at link http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/29/science/earth/shallow-waters-and-unusual-path-may-worsen-surge.html?ref=science

The National Hurricane Center issued a powerful warning stating, “Sandy expected to bring life-threatening storm surge and coastal hurricane winds plus heavy Appalachian snows.” “This is the worst-case scenario,” said Louis Uccellini, NOAA.

In New Jersey, the dunes have already been breached in many shore towns and Atlantic City seems to be among the hardest hit.

Gov. Chris Christie during a 5:30 p.m. said some people are stranded in Atlantic City and he’s blaming the mayor for not setting up shelters inland. The stranded are staying in shelters on the barrier island. The governor said anyone left on the island will have to ride out the storm until Tuesday as rescue operations have been suspended until daylight. read more at link above.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Much of New York was plunged into darkness Monday by a superstorm that overflowed the city's historic waterfront, flooded the financial district and subway tunnels and cut power to hundreds of thousands of people.

The city had shut its mass transit system, schools, the stock exchange and Broadway and ordered hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers to leave home to get out of the way of the superstorm Sandy as it zeroed in on the nation's largest city.

Residents spent much of the day trying to salvage normal routines, jogging and snapping pictures of the water while officials warned the worst of the storm had not hit.

By evening, a record 13-foot storm surge was threatening Manhattan's southern tip, howling winds had left a crane hanging from a high-rise and utilities deliberately darkened part of downtown Manhattan to avoid storm damage.

"It's really a complete ghost town now," said Stephen Weisbrot, from a powerless 10th-floor apartment in lower Manhattan.

read more at link above...

SUPERSTORM SANDY SLAMS INTO NEW JERSEY COAST
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SUPERSTORM_SANDY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-10-30-00-19-06
NEW YORK (AP) - Superstorm Sandy slammed into the New Jersey coastline with 80 mph winds Monday night and hurled an unprecedented 13-foot surge of seawater at New York City, flooding its tunnels, subway stations and the electrical system that powers Wall Street. At least 13 U.S. deaths were blamed on the storm, which brought the presidential campaign to a halt a week before Election Day. For New York City at least, Sandy was not the dayslong onslaught many had feared, and the wind and rain that sent water sloshing into Manhattan from three sides began dying down within hours.

Still, the power was out for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and an estimated 5.7 million people altogether across the East. And the full extent of the storm's damage across the region was unclear, and unlikely to be known until daybreak.


Power shut off in part of Lower Manhattan
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/30/us-storm-sandy-conedison-idUSBRE89S1CP20121030

Markets shut on Tuesday, eyes now on Wednesday
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/29/us-storm-sandy-markets-idUSBRE89S11B20121029
(Reuters) - Hurricane Sandy will close stock markets for a second day on Tuesday, as Wall Street turned its attention to whether markets would be able to resume functioning on the month's final trading day on Wednesday. Stock markets closed on Monday due to weather for the first time in 27 years. Bond markets closed early, at noon, as winds and waves from Hurricane Sandy lashed the Eastern seaboard.

Economy may skirt direct hit from Sandy
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/29/us-storm-sandy-transportation-idUSBRE89S11K20121029
(Reuters) - Transportation ground to a halt along the U.S. Northeast coast on Monday, stranding local rail commuters, cruise passengers and air travelers from as far away as Europe and Asia, as Hurricane Sandy prompted closure of air, ship, rail and even highway service. The transport woes also hit cargo operations, adding another dimension to the storm's economic toll. New York said it would close seven major bridges at 7 p.m. EDT (2300 GMT) on Monday, including the George Washington Bridge and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. "With storm gusts expected to be up to 80-85 mph, the bridges in the NYC area are quickly becoming unsafe," Governor Andrew Cuomo's office said in a statement.

Hurricane Sandy hits travel, cargo operations
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/29/us-storm-sandy-transportation-idUSBRE89S11K20121029
(Reuters) - Transportation ground to a halt along the U.S. Northeast coast on Monday, stranding local rail commuters, cruise passengers and air travelers from as far away as Europe and Asia, as Hurricane Sandy prompted closure of air, ship, rail and even highway service. The transport woes also hit cargo operations, adding another dimension to the storm's economic toll. New York said it would close seven major bridges at 7 p.m. EDT (2300 GMT) on Monday, including the George Washington Bridge and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. "With storm gusts expected to be up to 80-85 mph, the bridges in the NYC area are quickly becoming unsafe," Governor Andrew Cuomo's office said in a statement. Other bridges remained open but under restricted use, and authorities warned that closures could occur at any time.

NEW YORK (AP) - Superstorm Sandy slammed into the New Jersey coastline with 80 mph winds Monday night and hurled an unprecedented 13-foot surge of seawater at New York City, flooding its tunnels, subway stations and the electrical system that powers Wall Street. At least 13 U.S. deaths were blamed on the storm, which brought the presidential campaign to a halt a week before Election Day. For New York City at least, Sandy was not the dayslong onslaught many had feared, and the wind and rain that sent water sloshing into Manhattan from three sides began dying down within hours.

Still, the power was out for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and an estimated 5.7 million people altogether across the East. And the full extent of the storm's damage across the region was unclear, and unlikely to be known until daybreak. As the storm closed in, it converged with a cold-weather system that turned it into a superstorm, a monstrous hybrid consisting not only of rain and high wind but snow in West Virginia and other mountainous areas inland. Authorities reported a record surge 13 feet high at the Battery at the southern tip of Manhattan, from the storm and high tide combined.

In an attempt to lessen damage from saltwater to the subway system and the electrical network beneath the city's financial district, New York City's main utility cut power to about 6,500 customers in lower Manhattan. But a far wider swath of the city was hit with blackouts caused by flooding and transformer explosions.

The city's transit agency said water surged into two major commuter tunnels, the Queens Midtown and the Brooklyn-Battery, and it cut power to some subway tunnels in lower Manhattan after water flowed into the stations and onto the tracks. 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.

"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."

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. Another crew member was found hours later but was unresponsive. The captain was missing.

Those who stayed behind had few ways to get out.

AT THIS LINK: http://weather.aol.com/2012/10/29/east-coast-grinds-to-halt-as-superstorm-nears/weather.aol.com/2012/10/28/photos-superstorm-kicks-up-waves-threatens-coast#photo=4

Good one Oxy.

I got that one from Sherry Shriner.

Well there you go. She tends to be on top of things.