National News

Superstorm Sandy's wrath: Deaths, flooding, outages - and no end in sight

Posted: Oct 30, 2012 11:19 AM by CNN
Updated: Oct 30, 2012 11:26 AM

UPDATE: CNN - The U.S. death toll from superstorm Sandy has risen to 29, with another death reported in Pennsylvania and two in Virginia.

The toll includes 15 in New York; three in New Jersey; three in Pennsylvania; two in Maryland; two in Connecticut; two in Virginia, one in West Virginia, and one on the HMS Bounty.

One person was killed in Canada, and 67 were killed in the Caribbean, including 51 in Haiti. The overall death toll stands at 97.

CNN - The destruction caused by Superstorm Sandy mounted Tuesday morning as electrical fires and record power outages added to the misery of devastating flooding in the Northeast.

More than 7.5 million customers shivered without electricity in 15 states and the District of Columbia in Sandy's chilly wake.

Sandy also claimed at least 26 lives across the United States, bringing the total number of deaths to at least 94 after the storm wreaked havoc in the Caribbean.

The storm sent trees crashing down and left neighborhood streets looking like rivers. Homes washed off their foundations and onto a New Jersey state highway. Floodwaters rushed into New York's subway tunnels.

Hundreds of people were stranded in one New Jersey town alone Tuesday morning. And Connecticut's governor offered ominous advice in a Twitter post: "If u find urself surrounded by water, call 4 help if u can, then get 2 highest level of home. Hang a white sheet out a street-side window."
Photos: Sandy's destructive path Photos: Sandy's destructive path
New Jersey's stranded rescued
Blood shortage due to Sandy
Sandy spawns blizzard in West Virginia

Authorities scrambled in boats to rescue trapped residents in several towns after a berm broke in Moonachie, New Jersey.

"Within 30 minutes, those towns were under 4 or 5 feet of water," said Jeanne Baratta, chief of staff for the Bergen County executive.

Hundreds of people had been rescued Tuesday morning, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said.

"We'll have to rescue hundreds more," he said.