Various schools across the East Coast were closed in advance of hurricane Sandy. The government declared a state of emergency and troops are waiting to intervene in case major incidents will be produced by “Frankenstorm”, Reuters reports.
Hurricane Sandy could hit New York on October 30, just a day before the Halloween celebration. The storm is expected to produce lots of damages, so 400,000 people could be evacuated in the following days. The government declared a state of emergency and various measures have been adopted, such as the closing of schools and airports.
According to recent weather reports, Sandy is due to arrive in New York on late Sunday evening. Governor Cuomo allowed the 62 counties to have access to federal funding and national guard in order to better prepare themselves for the arrival of the dreadful storm. Cuomo estimates that $1 billion worth damages will be caused by “Frankenstorm”, so people residing in low-lying areas like Battery Park City, Coney Island, Manhattan Beach, Far Rockaway and Midland Beach should be evacuated as soon as possible.
The National Weather Service declared that people living on the East Coast should expect to face heavy winds of up to 80mph for at least a 24-hour period. Heavy rain, flooding, as well as downed trees and power lines will most likely occur within the following days as experts think this could be the worst storm, so far. According to longtime weatherman Chad Myers, hurricane Sandy poses the greatest risk to human life.
Stores and hypermarkets were crowded this weekend with residents buying non-perishable food, water, battery-powered radios, first aid kits, flashlights and batteries for storm kits. President Barack Obama urged the nation to prepare itself for one of the biggest storms in the history of America. He and his opponent, Mitt Romney were forced to cancel some campaign programs because of the bad weather conditions.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie ordered people in coastal towns to evacuate their homes and head towards higher areas where they would be safe. Authorities warn people that emergency workers’ lives would be put at risk if they continue to stay in these regions.
