the storm were left stranded last night. the new jersey governor announced no rescue services until today. >> i cannot in good conscience send them into the dark, given all the various hazards that would occur. >> reporter: new york city was hit by a 13-foot surge of seawater, flooding the newly unveiled ground zero memorial, subway stations, and tunnels. >> i'm in new york. i have never seen anything like this particularly going into a tunnel. >> reporter: in rockaway park, queens, emergency crews scrambled to rescue people trapped in the path of a fire raging out of control. in manhattan hundreds of patients at this hospital, including babies, had to be evacuated after a backup generator failed. the city closed all tunnels and bridges. subway and bus service had already been shut down. the stock exchange is closed again today, the first time weather has caused it to close for a second consecutive day since the 1800s. sandy spawned snowstorms in west virginia and fear of flooding as far west as chicago. here in ocean city we've been getting freezing rainfall on and