Sandy. When we all opened our eyes this morning after experiencing firsthand the unrelenting power of last nights recordbreaking hurricane, the more than light revealed unimaginable destruction in sandys wake. Make no mistake about it. This was a devastating storm, maybe the worst that we have ever experienced. The level of devastation at the jersey shore is unthinkable. The death toll tonight, at least 30 people have died across eight states. Nearly 8 Million People in the northeast and the mid atlantic are without power tonight, and the estimated costs of the storm, and its only fair to say, this is only preliminary, given that the destruction is still being evaluated. Right now were already looking at as much as 20 billion, and that is only for lost business and Property Damage. The destruction is not over, because look at this picture. This is new jersey. Floodwaters have turned neighborhoods into islands there. For many people, the only way out is by boat. Of course, there has bee
Downed power liens started this fire. The big problem for the firefighters, a lack of water appreciate your. 50 homes have burned to the ground. Two dozen more are in the process of burning. We are following the story for you as the day continues. Well have more information on that. More to tell you about, including floods and Power Outages. New york city brought to its knees in a large way. Superstorm sandy was an epic weather event, many people are calling it. Millions of lives have been disrupted now. A transformer explosion happened at a con ed plant about 15 blocks from where im standing right now. What that has done is put basically this neighborhood in Lower Manhattan completely in the dark. They were concerned about this transformer so theyve shut it off as well. That has plunged tens of thousands, people here but more than 600,000 people across new york and into Westchester County are without power today. Backup generator failed at nyu langone Medical Center, probably about 35
Bergen county, new jersey, after a levee break there. Right now an enormous fire is burning in the queens section of new york. 50 homes have destroyed. A transformer explosion to tell you about. Ripped through the night as people described a powerful explosion, very loud. Look at those pictures. Update you on what happened at that con ed plant. 260 patients including babies from the nicu evacuated from a Major Hospital in new york city. Historic recordbreaking flooding consuming manhattan and parts of the northeast, as well. Homes are under water and more than 6 Million People are in the dark this morning. Transportation is at a standstill. Could be days before things get back to normal. Cnn is covering the aftermath of the storm, and Superstorm Sandys next path, like no other network can. It is tuesday, october 30th, and special coverage begins right here on starting point. Lots to get to this morning. Lets start with breaking news. Rescue efforts are now under way in three new jersey
Only by helicopter and surveillance but as you can see, on foot and by rescue boats as well. Just a few moments ago a live reporter watching as rescuers brought out a small baby, a child, and an elderly woman all at the same time. Were going to be listening in throughout the next few moments. Lets hear whats happening now. Reporter every time there is a major emergency and these guys are just stepping up and women stepping up to the plate. Let me see if i can get somebody gentlemen, can you sorry. Actually just trying to figure out if theres more coordinated effort. Let me walk over one more time in the staging area and show you some of the faces here, mike, if we can over in the area with some of the people who are waiting here to be rescued should i say to be taken away and find emergency shelter. You know, theres a woman who is just standing there with the one we saw earlier with her dog and her little bag and she looks so cold. And, you know, as we said earlier, the People Holding
Good morning thanks for joining us im kristen sze. Im eric thomas. President obama has declared new york and long island disaster areas because of the damage theyve suffered from Superstorm Sandy live look at new jersey flooding is a big problem. So far 17 deaths are attributed to the storm. More than seven million up and down the east coast without power, 13 foot storm surge caused widespread flooding. Tahman bradley in maryland with an update. Reporter along the east coast, signs of sandys fury, Lady Libertys torch out Power Outages spread, five million in the dark 1. 5 million evacuated sandy made landfall along the new jersey coast, 80 mile per hour wind as and flooding high tides, rough surf battered the coastline. This morning entire sections of Atlantic City are underwater. People who decided to ride out the storm were left stranded. New jersey governor announced no rescue services until today. I cannot in good conscience send them in the dark given all the various hazards that