A Timeline: Sandy Aftermath

To report fallen trees or other damage: call 311 or text 311-692 Crews are may not be able to respond right away.

Get the latest on mass transit info here.

Friday 11/2

6:18 PM: Metro-North opens another section, by tomorrow morning, trains will run from Croton-Harmon to Grand Central. 

6:16 PM: Early estimates say Superstorm Sandy may have caused up to $50 billion in economic damages, after shutting down the country's largest transportation system and knocking out power for millions of homes and businesses.

6:10 PM: New York state law allows for an extra day of voting if turnout is drastically suppressed because of a natural disaster like Superstorm Sandy. That could potentially postpone state, congressional and even presidential election results beyond Tuesday's Election Day.

6:06 PM: New Jersey officials in Belleville have passed an ordinance mandating the last digit on a resident's license plate will determine which day they can purchase gas. Odd numbers will correspond to odd days, even numbers to even days.

6:02 PM: The U.S. Department of Labor approved a $15.6 million National Emergency Grant to fund Governor Chris Christie’s plan to hire unemployed New Jersey residents to assist with Hurricane Sandy clean-up and recovery efforts in the Garden State.

5:59 PM: Con Edison says their Chelsea network is up and running. There is power at Hudson River on west, 30/31 St. on north, 14th/15th St. on south, and 5th Ave. on the east. 

5:56 PM: Boil water advisories are in effect for 13 water systems in Suffolk County, 9 in Rockland County and 1 in Ulster County.

5:50 PM: Rockland County Executive Scott Vanderhoef issued a Local Emergency Order limiting the amount of gasoline and diesel purchased in the County to 10 gallons per vehicle, per day. 

5:47 PM: The East River Ferry will resume its regular weekend service beginning Saturday and regular weekday schedule on Monday. 

5:45 PM: Governor Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders are creating a $100 million fund to help people hit hardest by superstorm Sandy rebuild their homes and lives.

5:42 PM: Governor Chris Christie says his administration is making sure that residents have opportunities to vote even if their polling stations are without power. The governor and Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, who oversees elections, are urging storm-ravaged residents to visit their county clerk's office between now and Election Day to cast their ballot in person. The clerks' offices will be staffed all weekend to accommodate storm victims.

5:35 PM: New York City's public schools will reopen Monday except for 65 schools that were badly damaged by superstorm Sandy. Students at those schools will be relocated to other city schools on Wednesday.

5:29 PM: If you missed it, here is Governor Christie's briefing this afternoon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0KcsC7OzEE

5:27 PM: Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano says showers are open at three county facilities for residents without power. 

5:24 PM: Mayor Bloomberg confirms in a written statement that the New York City Marathon is cancelled. In the statement, he says he did not want controversy surrounding the event. 

5:13 PM: New Jersey Transit officials say more rail lines will resume operations on Monday. New Jersey Transit Executive Director James Weinstein says a portion of the North Jersey Coastline as well as rail service from northern and western suburbs will resume Monday on a limited basis. Rail facilities and tracks suffered extensive damage from Monday's storm.Trains originating in Bergen County that normally run to Hoboken will run to Secaucus Junction instead, where passengers can pick up Northeast Corridor trains into New York.

5:10 PM: NBC reports New York City Marathon is cancelled for this Sunday. 

5:03 PM: Con Edison says power has been restored to 65,000 customers in the East Village and Lower East Side. 

4:55 PM: The commander of the Coast Guard for the Atlantic region says it's a "monumental task" to clean up hundreds of thousands of gallons of spilled fuel left by Sandy in the waters off New York and New Jersey.

4:13 PM: Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano dlivers updates on Sandy in Staten Island. Watch Here: http://live.nydailynews.com/Event/Tracking_Hurricane_Sandy_2

4:10 PM: Governor Chris Christie says his office has compiled a calendar of when utility companies expect to restore electric service to every community knocked out by Superstorm Sandy. He says he will make the list public so residents can better plan their lives.

3:56 PM: Amtrak says service from New York City to Albany is still suspended due to damage to the track. The rail company says they do not know when service will be restored. 

3:45 PM: Governor Christie says about 1.4 million in New Jersey still without power. 

3:41 PM: According to NBC New York, FBI says they will help US Parks police safely explode damaged explosives after Sandy. There will be 6 bangs over the next 30 minutes on Ellis Island.  

3:39 PM: Governor Chris Christie says motorists frustrated by long gas lines in northern New Jersey might want to head to South Jersey. Christie says only 25% of stations north of Interstate 195 are open and operating. He says 90% south of I-95 are in service.

3:32 PM: New York City subway map: http://www.mta.info/sites/default/files/pdf/SubwayRecoveryMap_0.pdf

3:28 PM: The football game between the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers will go on this Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey. 

3:25 PM: Anyone looking to volunteer affected New Yorkers can visit: http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycservice/home.html

3:22 PM: US Department of Labor provides a grant of almost $28 million to assist New York with cleanup and recovery efforts. 

3:18 PM: Governor Christie says the destruction along the Jersey Shore is unfathomable. 

3:06 PM: New Jersey Governor Christie provides an update on the state: http://www.ny1.com/content/expanded_video/171725/ny1-online--mayor-discusses-storm-relief-efforts-11-2-12

3:03 PM: Yonkers is opening charging centers today through November 4th. The stations will be open from 10 AM to 4 PM, and residents can go and charge their electronic devices. 

3:00 PM: New York Harbor is up and running, tankers are bringing fuel into New York and New Jersey. 

2:33pm: Tap Water Not Safe to Drink in Breezy Point, Officials Say. Residents Must Drink Bottled Water. The city said Friday that the water in Breezy Point, Queens, was not drinkable and that all residents should drink bottled water until further notice.

2:23 PM: Rockland County has been added to the Major Disaster declaration. This means the federal government can send aid to the area and affected individuals are eligible for Federal funding. 

2:21 PM: Central Park expected to open tomorrow at 8 AM. 

2:12 PM: Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano says Nassau County is establishing a center dedicated to assisting the reconstruction and recovery efforts of businesses affected by Hurricane Sandy.  Financial assistance also may be available for eligible businesses.

1:44 PM: New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says the economic damage from Sandy could exceed $18 billion for the state. 

1:33 PM: Governor Christie's Administration announced the establishment of a hotline for residents affected by Hurricane Sandy who left their pets behind when evacuating their homes in advance of the storm. The phone number to call is 1-855-407-4787 (1-855-407-HSUS).

1:29 PM: Nearly 1.3 million people still without power in New York, most of the areas without power are in the city or on Long Island. 

1:21 PM: Mayor Bloomberg says ConEd is starting to reactivate parts of Manhattan, and they hope to have power back to most of the area by midnight. 

1:18 PM: Mayor Bloomberg says HOV restrictions will end today at 5 PM. 

12:50am: Governor Cuomo deploys 600 additional troops to help restore power in Westchester and Rockland counties.

12:00am: Governor Cuomo says millions of gallons of gasoline are now in the harbor and going through the network.

11:50am: Governor Cuomo says Westchester and Rockland counties have been added to the Major Disaster declaration. This means public and individual assistance will be available for both counties.

11:30am: Governor Cuomo announces pledge of $100 million of state funds for victims and homes affected.

10:00am: New Jersey Governor Christie lifts the mandatory evacuation order for Atlantic City residents. Atlantic City casinos have permission to reopen.

9:40am: New York City opens food and water distribution sites today at 1pm in Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens and Manhattan

9:25am: The Staten Island Ferry will resume service at noon today for the first time since Sandy slammed the tri-state area. The ferry will depart from the St. George terminal at noon, followed by half-hourly service in both directions.

8:18am: U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood visits New Jersey today as part of the federal recovery effort in the wake of Sandy.

8:01am: Con Edison says mid to lower Manhattan will have power tomorrow, customers in other New York areas will have to wait a few weeks.

7:02am: Mayor Bloomberg will update New Yorkers on City’s Response to Hurricane Sandy at 12:30 PM.  The event will be carried live on NYC.gov

6:05am: Gas shortage adds to region’s woes

Thursday 11/2

8:10pm:  Gov. Cuomo today announced several major advances in the restoration of the region’s public transportation systems in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, click here

6:24pm: Governor Cuomo says the Holland Tunnel will be open tomorrow for buses only.  

6:22pm: Governor Cuomo says the LIRR will run hourly from Babylon and Huntington tomorrow.  

6:21pm: Governor Malloy says "We passed a law last year to hold utilities accountable when people lose power, and that's exactly what we plan on doing."

5:54pm: On Friday NEC service will resume between Trenton Transit Center & Newark Penn operating on a special schedule - to be posted at 7pm.

5:49pm: Read the Executive Order Governor Christie signed last night declaring a state of water emergency.

5:37pm: New Jersey councilspeaker Christine Quinn says the November 5th SAT has been postponed until November 17th.

5:29pm: Governor Cuomo says as of 5:25pm, there are 1,472,424 New Yorkers without power.

Power outages update: Central Hudson 14,486; Con Edison 605,461; LIPA 653,164; National Grid 42; NYSEG 75,420; Orange & Rockland 121,166; RG&E 2,685.

5:11pm: Governor Cuomo confirmed this afternoon that the New York Harbor has opened, which will help fuel shortage.

5:05PM: For a list of  food and water distribution sites across the city, click here.

4:53pm: Governor Christie has lifted the mandatory evacuation orders in two southern New Jersey counties - Atlantic and Cape May.

4:39pm: Governor Christie says 12 states are sending crews to help New Jersey restore power.

4:32pm: Limited Harlem Line service from Mount Kisco to Southeast has begun this afternoon. For more schedules and updates, go to mta.info.

4:14pm: Governor Christie and other officials warn consumers of home repair and charity scams they can face in the aftermath of Sandy. Click here for tips.  

3:44pm: For the latest on the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's transportation facilities, click here.

3:24pm:  Con Edison is distributing dry and wet ice at these locations in each borough until supplies run out.

3:17pm: Governor Christie says "We've extended certain tax filing and payment deadlines for businesses whose operations were disrupted by Sandy." Click here for more information.

3:13pm: The Christie Administration has announced that the New Jersey State Police will be deploying troopers to the barrier islands that were hardest hit by the storm to work with local and county agencies to ensure safety and security for those Shore communities. The State Police will provide an enhanced law enforcement presence to protect the property of residents and merchants against potential looting or other crimes, while also providing additional resources and personnel if needed for any rescue and recovery operations.

3:11pm:  Governor Cuomo says as of 3 pm: 1,493,720 New Yorkers without power.

2:41pm: Mayor Bloomberg assures New Yorkers that NYC tap water is safe to drink.

2:17pm: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand: "New Yorkers can handle this, they will build from this, we will build it better and we will be stronger." 

1:57pm: The New Jersey Department of Transportation has announced that the Route 71/Main Street Bridge over the Shark River that links Belmar and Avon-By-The-Sea in Monmouth County will be closed to vehicular traffic for approximately 60 days.

1:54pm: The Department of Health is making public health experts available today in New Jersey to answer questions about food and water safety and mold removal. To reach health experts, call 2-1-1 or 1-866-234-0964.

1:47pm Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Cuomo and other officials update New Yorkers on the damage of the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel.  

12:29pm: Mayor Bloomberg says starting at 3 pm today the National Guard, Salvation Army, and New York City volunteers will begin to provide water and food to anyone who needs in areas hit the hardest.  Residents can get up to 3 meals per person and 5 bottles of water.  Shelters will begin to shrink from 76 to 15.  

10:34am: New Jersey Education Association cancels annual convention in wake of Sandy.

10:13am: Mayor Bloomberg updates New Yorkers on city's response to Sandy at 11:30 am.  Watch at nyc.gov

8:37am: AirTrain JFK has resumed limited service. Service will be available between Jamaica Terminal and Federal Circle, and from Federal Circle to Howard Beach Station. Port Authority buses will provide shuttle service between Federal Circle and the passenger terminals. In keeping with the State of New York's transit emergency status, AirTrain JFK fares will be suspended Thursday, November 1, and Friday, November 2.

8:36am: Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano along with the commissioners of Police, Fire and Department of Public Works will brief the City’s residents today, November 1 at 3:00PM at the Office of Emergency Management on the status of the Yonkers Public Schools and the City’s latest measures to remove trees and restore power.

8:03am: NY Governor Cuomo says New York homeowners should not be subject to hurricane deductibles.

7:05am:  Mayor Bloomberg will update New Yorkers today at 1pm on the ongoing response to Superstorm Sandy, Blue Room, City Hall.

5:46am:  Limited and free subway service resumes today in New York City

 

Wednesday 10/31
10:23pm: MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota: The trains and subways won’t be frequent and there will be crowding. He says try not to leave during peak hours.

10:10pm: NY Gov Cuomo declares that all MTA subways, trains and buses will be fare-free for tomorrow and Friday's commute to encourage people to take mass transit and leave their cars at home.

9:40pm: ConEd says it has restored power to the two networks it preemptively shut down before the storm hit Monday. Restored areas in Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn include: Vessey to the N, West St to the W, Bway/State St to the E and tip of Manhattan to the S. Also Brighton Beach area.

9:32pm: Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano: Beginning this evening, NICE BUS is restoring service as road conditions permit.  Starting tomorrow morning, NICE Bus will restore 80% of all service and will be adding routes as road conditions improve.Routes will operate on a regular weekday schedule. Able-Ride Service is available but with limited service.Nice Bus and Able-Ride will not be collecting fares through Friday.

9:29pm: ConEd says it has restored power to 200,000 customers today. Reminds people that it will take three more days to fix underground lines and about a week to fix above ground powerlines.

8:55pm: Mayor Bloomberg to hold a 1pm briefing tomorrow on the status of the city's recovery.

8:51pm: The MTA has stopped operating buses south of 23rd street in Manhattan because of dangerous conditions.

8:48pm: To see pictures of Goveror Chris Christie's tour of New Jersey with President Obama today, click here.

8:20pm: MTA’s RFK Triborough Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel and Henry Hudson Bridge are also Restricted to Vehicles Occupied by Three or More People tomorrow and Friday. This is in addition to all 4 East River crossings mentioned by Mayor Bloomberg earlier today.

All parking meter regulations in New York City will be reinstated starting tomorrow. But, alternate side parking has been suspended for tomorrow and Friday.

8:12pm: NY Gov Cuomo's latest outage numbers by utility:Central Hudson 23,499; ConEd 703,803; LIPA 834,970; Nat Grid 343; NYSEG 94,789; Orange and Rockland 137,420; RG&E 6,370

8:07pm: Hudson Line and West-of-Hudson Line tickets will be honored on Harlem Line Metro-North Trains.

8:00pm: The Long Island Power Association (LIPA)  and National Grid have restored power to more than 110,000 customers since Monday.

7:55pm: Newark Light Rail & Hudson-Bergen Light Rail service remains suspended tomorrow due to significant damage to the system.

7:51pm: [EDIT] NJTransit bus service will resume on major routes tomorrow. NJ TRANSIT will restore bus service on 68 bus routes in northern and central New Jersey and 18 bus routes in southern New Jersey, providing service over the entire routes with no detours or truncations. Also tomorrow, NJ TRANSIT will restore partial service on 58 bus routes in northern and central New Jersey and 17 routes in southern New Jersey that will operate with detours or truncations due to ongoing impacts from Hurricane Sandy. Click here to see a list of what buses will be in service. The transit agency is extending October monthly passes through Wednesday Nov 7.

7:50pm: PSE&G says it has restored electricity to about 818,000 customers in New Jersey. But, there are still 882,000 customers that are still without power.

7:40pm: Gov Christie gives another storm update. He says the state's main priority is getting power back on. He says there is a water-usage restriction in effect.  Most roads have reopened.

Christie says President Obama made it clear to him that getting New Jersey back to normal is his main priority.

6:36pm: Gov. Cuomo says as of 6pm, 1,835,903 NYers out of power, down less than 100,000 from 2pm this afternoon.

6:31pm: CT Governor Malloy announces US Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano to visit his state tomorrow to tour storm damage with the Governor.

5:42pm: NY Governor Cuomo announces reopening of LaGuardia airport tomorrow 

5:32pm: CT Governor Malloy signed an order extending property tax filing deadlines for people who file quarterly. Extended to Nov. 15

5:31pm: 3-person per car limit does not apply to MTA crossings

5:28pm: NY Governor Cuomo announces homeowners will not have to pay hurricane deductibles from Hurricane Sandy damage

5:13pm: Mayor Bloomberg: 643,000 are without power citywide, 230,000 in Manhattan.

5:03pm: EDIT: Traffic on East River Bridges restricted to High-occupancy vehicles - 3 or more people for next two days. Exceptions: commercial, emergency, and para-transit vehicles

4:57pm: Watch out for Hurricane Sandy recovery scams. Cuomo says all utility workers carry around photo ID.

4:48pm: If you've rented out a book from any of New York's public Libraries, fines have been waived till November 8.

4:46pm: Con Edison says the sections of Manhattan that are currently without power should have it back by Friday or Saturday.

4:45pm: President Obama is delivering an adress live from Brigantine, NJ.  Watch on any major news outlet.

4:36pm: Jersey City Mayor Healy has ordered a 7:00pm - 7:00am curfew for all residents. The curfew extends to all business in the city. 

4:32pm: New York's Empire State, museums, some Broadway Theaters, and some shops have reopened in New York City. Many sites such as Ellis Island and the 9/11 Memorial will remained closed till damage assments are made.

4:26pm: As Bloomberg announced, all NYC public schools will be closed Thursday and Friday, but staff are expected to come in Friday to prepare for next week. School will likely resume Monday, November 5th.

4:23pm: CT Governor Malloy says there is limited Metro North service from Stamford to New York City tomorrow.

4:00pm: CT Governor Malloy to deliver press conference about state of storm clean-up in Connecticut.  Watch live

3:25pm: MTA map for tomorrow's commute. There will be delays and spotty service. Cuomo says the R,N,F,J,5,6,1,2 will be in service starting at 6am with buses to fill gaps in service.

3:18pm: Bloomberg: Knick vs. Nets game tonight postponed, but NYC Marthon on Sunday will go on as scheduled. 

3:02pm: Bloomberg: Traffic on East River Bridges restricted to High-occupancy vehicles - 3 or more people for next two days.

2:58pm: Mayor Bloomberg delivers press conference.  Says New Yorkers' lives lost cannot be replaced. Watch live

2:23pm: Gov. Cuomo issues correction, subways will resume limited service tomorrow morning, NOT today.

2:17pm: Huge update of transit conditions and openings from the NYT live blog:

2:02pm: 1,922,945 New Yorkers are without power, says Gov. Cuomo. Electrical workers from as far away as Seattle have been brought in to help.

1:56pm: Limited subway service will start at 2pm today, Governor Cuomo has been providing specific line updates on twitter. Limited MNR and LIRR service will also be back at 2pm.  Check here for more details.

1:48pm: Bellevue Hospital, near 27th st and 1st ave. in Manhattan is now being evacuated, reports the New York Times.  The hospital has been running on backup power.

1:30pm: President Obama lands in Atlantic City to survey damage on a joint tour with Governor Christie.  Obama will speak at 3pm.

1:27pm: Some service from New Jersey's transit to resume this afternoon, says CNBC.

1:21pm: Grand Central Terminal will reopen today at 2pm, reports The New York Times.

1:17pm: Mayor Bloomberg expects New York City schools to be open Thursday. His briefing will come around 1:30pm.

1:01pm: MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota says an added 5.5 million commuters, who typically take the subway to work, joined another 2.5 million commuters on City buses today.

12:56pm: MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota confirms that there will be no subway service south of 42nd Street until power is back in lower Manhattan.

12:53pm: MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota says it is his goal to increase the amount of working rail lines each day.

12:48pm: NY Gov. Cuomo confirms the New York state death toll has risen to 26 after Hurricane Sandy.

12:43pm: NY Gov. Cuomo: "The frequency of extreme weather situations is way up ... [storms] will happen again -- I pray that it's not, but I believe that it is."

12:36pm: NY Governor Cuomo: "Given the frequency of these extreme weather conditions, I think we need to anticipate more of these ['extreme weather' storms] in the future."

12:33pm: NY Sen. Gillibrand: "I have complete confidence that we will rebuild the state, rebuild families."

12:25pm: NY Sen. Schumer says the federal government will help the local government to "help rebuild infrastructure."

12:23pm: NY Governor Cuomo asks for patience with power restoration and City traffic.

12:17pm: NY Governor Cuomo says the job now is to come up with a reconstruction and recovery plan. One of the major problems is getting water out of the subway and Brooklyn Battery tunnels. Cuomo confirms that Metro North and the Long Island Railroad will run on a limited schedule beginning this afternoon at 2pm. Some New York City subways will be in service beginning tomorrow.

11:58am: Limited subway and commuter rail lines will be in service tomorrow, reports The New York Post. Some subway, Metro North and Long Island Railroad trains are expected to be running tomorrow.

11:51am: NJ Governor Christie has signed executive order postponing Halloween in New Jersey until Monday.

11:07am: NY Governor Cuomo and MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota are currently on helicopter tour. Both are expected to hold a briefing at approximately 12:30 later this afternoon.

10:54am: Mayor Bloomberg is urging homeowners, renters and business owners to go to disasterassistance.gov and apply for assistance.

10:22am: Thirteen people have been arrested in New York City. Most have been charged with looting, says CNN.

10:04am: Approximately 20,000 residents of Hoboken, NJ are trapped in their homes, according to Channel 4.

9:56am: There are currently 1.9 million customers without power in New York State, according to the Associated Press. The majority of those customer (1.6 million) live on Long Island, in New York City and its northern boroughs.

8:47am: CT Governor Malloy says "my goal is to have an election on election day."

8:45am: CT Governor Malloy says his state will provide help to storm-ravaged NY and NJ when appropriate.

8:42am: CT Governor Malloy says if "your community is safe" feel free to celebrate Halloween.

8:35am: CT Governor Malloy says water is safe for drinking.  Malloy says he's working to have FEMA declarations extended to all counties of the state. 

8:29am: Coming up at 8:30am, Connecticut Gov. Malloy will have a news briefing w/ updates on #Sandy recovery. Tune in live to local TV/radio stations or online.

7:50am: This Halloweeen Mayor Bloomberg urges parents taking kids trick-or-treating to “use good judgement and be careful,” especially in the area of New York City where the lights are still out.

5:00am: President Obama will tour areas in New Jersey today that were hard hit by Sandy with Christie

 

Tuesday 10/30

10:40pm: The Long Island Power Association says it has restored power to over 100,000 customers today. It added that crews will continue to work 16 hour shifts through the night. LIPA says the storm took out 44 substations and numerous powerlines. The utility is communicating to customers via Twitter.

10:00pm: Mayor Bloomberg to ring the opening bell of The New York Stock Exchange Wednesday morning. US markets were closed today and Monday because of the storm. The NYSE said their trading floor doesn't have any major flooding or damage, despite being located in one of the hardest hit parts of New York City.

9:50pm:The Port Authority says JFK and Newark Airports to open Wednesday at 7am. The authority says some airlines will land planes tonight at 10. But, it added that carriers will provide limited service and people should call ahead of time. LaGuardia and Teterboro airports will remain closed. PATH service to remain suspended.

9:20pm: Parts of FDR drive now open!

The New York City Department of Transportation announced that the northbound lanes of the FDR Drive from the Battery to Dyckman Street and the southbound lanes from E. 125th Street to the Brooklyn Bridge are now open to vehicular traffic. Other sections will be opened as conditions permit.

8:30pm: New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection is strongly advising residents statewide to conserve water in the wake of Hurricane Sandy because widespread power outages have forced many public and private water utilities to use emergency generators to treat and pump water.

8:30pm: Hudson River ferry service will restart tomorrow at 7 a.m. from New Jersey to the World Financial Center, offering commuters an alternative means of travel into and out of Lower Manhattan.

The first ferries will run between New Jersey and New York from 7 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. tomorrow, starting from Paulus Hook, Weehawken and Hoboken North at 14^th Street and going to the World Financial Ferry Terminal in Battery Park City.

7:53pm: Governor Christie said there will be no Halloween in New Jersey Wednesday as there is too much damage. But, he comically said he will reschedule it by executive order. He will not brief the public until after the President leaves New Jersey Wednesday. 

7:30pm: Governor Christie says the New Jersey shore is devastated. Watch video of some of his tour here

He was shocked to see parts of Belmar are completely gone with people who have lost everything. He said all the roller coasters and rides on the Seaside Heights boardwalk are in the Atlantic Ocean. 

Manhattan is the hardest hit area with 288,049 customers left in the dark. The utility said it’ll take at least 4 days to restore power to residents served by underground wires and a week to fix its power-lines above ground. For updates on coverage click here. Then click "summary" on the top left corner to see the numbers by neighborhood.

6:42 PM: Video from the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel/Carey Tunnel provided by the MTA

6:41 PM: Hurricane Sandy is responsible for 5 deaths in New Jersey. 

6:38 PM: For Disaster Assistance contact FEMA at 1-800-621-3362 or the NYS Hurricane Sandy Helpline at 1–888-769-7243 

6:36 PM: Here is a list of bus routes restored, on a Sunday schedule, in New York City:

6:26 PM: Mayor Bloomberg says New York Knicks vs. Brooklyn Nets season opener on Thursday is still on as planned. 

6:23 PM: New York City environmental officials say untreated sewage is flowing into waterways around each of New York City's five boroughs.

6:19 PM: Mayor Bloomberg says the storm is responsible for 18 deaths. the mandatory evacuation of Zone A remains in effect.

6:17 PM: Governor Christie provides photos of the damage from Sandy in New Jersey

6:14 PM: The Daily News reports that about 120 people are still trapped on Fire Island. 

6:11 PM: FEMA made a disaster declaration for four counties in Connecticut: Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex, and New London. 

6:10 PM: Governor Malloy says bus service and Bradley Airport are back to normal. 

6:09 PM:  Governor Malloy says all state employees should return to work tomorrow at their assigned time. In areas affected by power outages or flooding, employees should contact their agency work location for facility status, alternate work assignments, or other directions. He says public workers should check here to see what offices are open and where people should go.

6:08 PM: Governor Malloy says 590,000 people without power in Connecticut. 

6:03 PM: Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy is now speaking: http://ct-n.com/video_flash.asp?livestream=0

6:02 PM: Mayor Bloomberg says public schools will be closed tomorrow. 

6:00 PM: Mayor Bloomberg says about 7,000 trees are down and no recycling service until further notice. 

5:58 PM: Mayor Bloomberg says there are 4,000 yellow cabs on the street as of 4:30 PM. He's encouraging people to share cabs. 

5:57 PM: Mayor Bloomberg says there have been 18 fatalities in New York City. 

5:55 PM: Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy will be speaking at 6 PM: http://ct-n.com/ctn_web.asp

5:53 PM: Mayor Bloomberg is speaking now about Hurricane Sandy: http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/html/live_event_static.html

5:52 PM: Governor Christie took a four and a half hour helicopter ride over New Jersey. He says it will probably take 7 to 10 days at the minimum to get power back to New Jersey.

5:50 PM: Governor Christie says New Jersey Turnpike is now open except for interchange 15W, where repairs are being made to a washout. Toll collection will resume tomorrow at 6:30AM.

5:45 PM: City of Yonkers reports the Bronx River Parkway is still closed. 

5:30 PM: The MTA has released footage of Hurricane Sandy going through South Ferry and the Whitehall Street subway station. 

5:26 PM: Rutgers University has cancelled classes for the rest of the week at its Newark and New Brunswick campuses. Classes at the Camden campus will resume on Thursday.

5:23 PM: The number of power outages in New Jersey has dropped to 2.3 million. Earlier today, the number of people without electricity peaked at 2.7 million. 

5:22 PM: An updated list of shelters in Westchester County. 

5:20 PM: Thursday's New York Knicks vs. Brooklyn Nets season opener may be postponed because of Sandy.  

5:17 PM: Here's tips from the Connecticut Insurance Department for filing storm damage claims. 

5:13 PM: New York State Department of Health says if power is out, be careful when consuming refrigerated foods. They say when in doubt, throw it out!

5:12 PM: ConEd expects it to take at least a week before power is fully restored in Yonkers. 

5:10 PM: Suffolk County officials says 22 house fires occured during Hurricane Sandy. 

5:07 PM: The Archdiocese of New York says class will be cancelled tomorrow in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island. 

4:59 PM: According to Daily News, 111 homes burned down in the Breezy Point fire. 

4:58 PM: Governor Cuomo says busses have left the depot and are on their way to start picking up passengers. 

4:45 PM: New York City public schools will be closed tomorrow. 

4:35 PM: New York City Marathon is expected to go on as scheduled this upcoming Sunday. 

4:31 PM: Buses and paratransit in Yonkers will be restored tomorrow morning.  

4:23 PM: A full bus schedule is expected for tomorrow with rides being free. 

4:21 PM: Unlimited ride MetroCard holders will not be reimbursed for the time lost due to the storm. 

4:19 PM: Broadway theaters are expected to reopen tomorrow. 

4:16 PM: Pictures and videos of Hurricane Sandy from Governor Cuomo's Flickr. 

3:53 PM: New York City Parks Department says all parks, playgrounds, recreation centers, and beaches will remain closed until further notice. 

3:51 PM: Health officials say flooding from the hybrid storm Sandy has resulted in untreated and partially treated sewage being dumped into the Hudson River. The Westchester County Health Department issued a warning Tuesday against direct contact with the river near the Westchester shore.

3:46 PM: Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano says 15,000 to 20,000 people in the city of Long Beach did not obey mandatory evacuation orders and are now dealing with water that is unsafe for drinking or washing and a sanitation system that isn't working.

3:42 PM: New numbers show that around 2.7 million in New Jersey are without power. Public Service Electricit & Gas says it could be up to a week for power to be restored in some places. 

3:17 PM: Connecticut Environment and Health officials are warning that flood waters may be contaminated with sewage. Bridgeport Connecticut officials say 15 to 20 million gallons of partially treated sewage went into the Long Island Sound.  

3:07 PM: President Obama is going to travel to New Jersey on Wednesday to look at the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. 

3:06 PM: Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano says over 20,000 people without power. 

3:04 PM: Governor Cuomo says over 2 million New Yorkers are without power. 

3:00 PM: Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Thomas Leonardi says there are a number of important steps to follow when filing damage claims from Storm Sandy. He says to contact your insurer as soon as possible, take photos of the damage, and do not make repairs until insurer has inspected the property. 

2:44 PM: Halloween Park Slope Parade is cancelled this year and will not be rescheduled. For the first time in 39 years, Greenwich Village Halloween Parade has been cancelled and will not be rescheduled.   

2:36 PM: President Obama has cancelled campaign plans for Wednesday. 

2:35 PM: Sandy will end up causing about $20 billion in property damage and $10 billion to $30 billion more in lost business, making it one of the costliest natural disasters on record in the U.S., according to IHS Global Insight, a forecasting firm.

2:18 PM: Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano says many roads in the area are still closed. 

2:12 PM: Ocean City Mayor Jay Gilliann says no one will be allowed back Tuesday because wires remain down and there's dangerous debris in the floodwaters.

2:10 PM: JFK Airport will reopen tomorrow. LaGuardia still suspended until further notice. 

1:39 PM: The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has reopened Outerbridge Crossing, George Washington, Goethals and Bayonne bridges. 

1:34 PM: New York Stock Exchange is reopening Wednesday. 

1:25 PM: Mayor Bloomberg updates the situation - The most recent report has approximately three-quarters of a million New Yorkers without power. There are something like 326 buildings in 59 public housing developments without power. That’s about 60,000 people in more than 26,000 apartments. And many of them are in Zone A. The storm brought something like 23 serious fires to parts of Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, as well as City Island and the Bronx. You should expect given the extent of the damage, power may be out in lots of places for two or three days, and maybe even a little bit longer than that.

12:57 PM: The state's largest utility, Public Service Electric & Gas, reports more than 1.4 million customers don't have electricity. PSE&G says Sandy was the largest storm in its history. Jersey Central Power & Light has 965,297 homes and businesses without service. Most are in Monmouth, Ocean and Morris counties. Atlantic City Electric is reporting 178,694 outages, mainly in Atlantic County. The utilities say they may not be able to get a clear picture of the damage until Wednesday.

12:43 PM: NJ TRANSIT Board Chairman and NJ Department of Transportation Commissioner James Simpson says, "The NJ TRANSIT system has experienced unprecedented devastation."

11:43am: MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota says after they assess the damage, they'll have a better idea of when the subways will be up and running.

11:33am: All bridges will reopen at noon, according to Cuomo.

11:30am: Cuomo says MTA buses will run on a Sunday schedule today starting at 5pm. Fares will be waived.

11:24am: Bloomberg says NYC drinking water has been tested and is safe.

11:13am: Bloomberg says NYC public schools will be closed tomorrow.

11:03am: You can live stream Mayor Bloomberg's update here.

11:00am: Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Williamsburg bridges now open.

10:05am:  The MTA says it's too soon to say how long the problems would take to fix. All 10 subway tunnels between Manhattan and Brooklyn were underwater during the storm. MTA said it will be pumping water Tuesday, but workers ultimately will have to walk hundreds of miles of track to inspect it. It's not clear how long that will take.Trains, however, were moved to safety before the storm.

10:00am: Mayor Bloomberg will give an update on NYC's response to Sandy. 

9:53am: The Tappan Zee Bridge is reopened.

9:30am: The entire length of the Garden State Parkway has reopened. A 129-mile stretch was closed in both directions from Woodbridge to the southern terminus because of flooding caused by Sandy. Gov. Chris Christie has tweeted that motorists shouldn't drive unless absolutely necessary because 200 other state roads remain closed.

8:22am: Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has reopened Connecticut's highways and lifted the state's travel ban. Malloy says though the roads are open, drivers should use caution and should not attempt to drive through standing water or around downed wires and trees.

7:00am: LaGuardia, Newark Liberty and Kennedy airports will remain closed today.

6:35am: ​Bergen County executive chief of staff Jeanne Baratta tells The Record newspaper the entire town of Moonachie is under water and as many as 1,000 people could need to be evacuated.

6:20am: Cuomo says nearly 2 million out of power in NYS.

6:10am: Connecticut Light and Power has a map of the state, detailing power outages. Click here to see it.

6:00am: Homes and business without power: 625,000 in CT, and more than 2.3 million in NJ.

3:20am: MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota says the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, the Queens Midtown Tunnel and seven subway tunnels under the East River all had flooding. The MTA also cut power to some subway stations in lower Manhattan after water came into the stations and tracks.

1:30am: Con Edison released a breakdown of power outages across New York. Read it here.

 

Monday 10/29

10:00pm: Mayor Bloomberg urges people to stay where they are.  He says "do not drive." 

9:47pm: Port Authority closes both JFK and Newark airports.

9:33pm: Con Edison says most of Manhattan below 39th Street is without power.

9:24pm: Cascading water reportedly flooding out of the Brooklyn-Battery tunnel.  Officials say pumping subway tunnels could take up to four days.

9:14pm: Two motor vehicle deaths in New Jersey are blamed on the storm.  New York City police say a man in Queens was killed when a tree fell on his home.

9:08pm: LaGuardia Airport has been shut down due to floodwaters caused by the storm.  The Port Authority says the airport will be closed until further notice.

8:07pm: The storm, now called a "post-tropical cyclone" by the National Hurricane Center, makes landfall in New Jersey.

8:00pm: Con Edison has begun shutting off electrical service to parts of Lower Manhattan. The utility said it's to protect equipment and allow for a quicker restoration after the storm is over. This will affect about 6,500 customers.

7:40pm: Governor Cuomo said the state has closed the RFK-Triborough bridge. It joins the long list of spans that have already been shut down due to high wind gusts.

7:36pm: Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz said the costal sections of the borough, like Throgs Neck, City Island, Harding Park and Clason Point are seeing flooding. He says about 40 to 50 percent of City Island residents have evacuated.

He also said he is disturbed that people in low-lying areas of the Bronx didn’t heed the warning to evacuate.

Hurricane shelters at Truman High School and PS 102 are practically empty, with about 20 people in them.

So far 8,500 Bronx residents are without power.

7:15pm: The Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef wants residents to stay off its roads because of high winds and heavy rains. He issues an order restricting all non-essential vehicles between 6pm Monday and 8am Tuesday.
 

7:01pm: The facade of a four story residential building fell off in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood. The FDNY is on the scene.

6:27pm Governor Malloy says two substations in Bridgeport will be de-energized, which will result in 52,000 people losing power. This is necessary because if the substations are flooded while energized the result could be catastrophic. Malloy hopes de-energizing before they potentially flood will make the restoration efforts in that area go more smoothly and quickly

6:15pm: Mayor Bloomberg says with the high winds it is not possible to secure the hanging crane. The city is just trying to take precautions right now. The boom is the only piece that could fall, so the street is being kept clear and the pipes under the street have been shut off to prevent further damage.

6:11pm: Con Edison may shut off power in Lower Manhattan and southern Brooklyn, according to Mayor Bloomberg.

6:09pm: Mayor Bloomberg says no injuries so far, except for one jogger who was hit by a tree this morning.

6:07pm: Mayor Bloomberg says city employees should try their best to get to work tomorrow, if they can do that safely, because now is when New Yorkers need us most.

6:03pm: The New Jersey Turnpike is closed from Interchange 14 in Newark through Interchange 14C in Jersey City because of high winds, the Turnpike Authority announced. The affected section of the highway is the 8.2-mile stretch that connects the main line of the Turnpike to the Holland Tunnel.  Drivers should expect other significant closures as the storm progresses. Authorities say all unnecessary travel should be avoided, but motorists who absolutely must travel should check www.511nj.org for up-to-the-minute information on travel conditions and road closures.

5:30pm: Due to hazardous conditions created by increasing wind speeds, the NYC DOT’s four East River bridges will be closed to traffic beginning at 7 p.m. tonight until further notice. This includes the Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg and Ed Koch Queensboro bridges. Additionally, NYC DOT is closing the Joseph P. Addabbo Memorial Bridge in Queens, in coordination with the MTA's closure of the Cross Bay Bridge. Emergency vehicles will still have access as necessary, but all other traffic should avoid these bridges. The FDR Drive will also be closed from the Battery to 155th Street beginning at 6 p.m. until further notice.

5:21pm: According to LIPA, high sustained winds & flooding are delaying work on overhead lines. Ground work will continue as conditions allow.

5:19pm:  Sandbags have been placed at the World Trade Center. Click here to see a picture.

5:15pm: Hurricane Sandy has sped up on its approach to the tri-state and is now 40 miles away from New Jersey.

5:13pm: The Atlantic City boardwalk is underwater. Click here to see a picture.

5:06pm: The NY State Canal system is closed to navigation effective immediately.

4:58pm: Power Outages for New York: Central Hudson 19,178; Con Edison 65,539; LIPA 186,896; National Grid 2,179; NYSEG 27,069; Orange & Rockland 10,082; RG&E 1,482

4:50pm: Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy will hold a news briefing with updates on the storm at 6PM. Tune into most local TV & radio stations to listen live.

4:47pm: The New York State Department of Transportation is prohibiting all non-emergency oversize vehicles routed on or south of I-84.

4:45pm: Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano has ordered a voluntary evacuation of four high-rise buildings at the Yonkers waterfront, effective immediately. Over 1300 residential units are asked to leave their residences before 9PM this evening. Additionally, Yonkers Public Schools are officially closed on Tuesday.

4:34pm: The MTA is now closing all Staten Island bridges.

4:27pm: MTA says Cross Bay Bridge will close immediately due to high winds.

4:11pm: Cuomo says the George Washington, Verrazano, Whitestone, and Throgs Neck bridges will close at 7pm. For now, the Lincoln and Midtown Tunnels will stay open.

3:35pm: The latest word from forecasters in Binghamton is that the Southern Tier and central New York can expect peak wind gusts in the 50 mph range as Sandy tracks through the region.

3:21pm: Gov. Cuomo says the Tappan Zee Bridge will close at 4pm today.

3:15pm: New Jersey Transit announced its trains and buses are shut down until further notice.

3:11pm: Connecticut National Guard officials say troops have responded to East Haven and Darien to help with flooding problems.

3:10pm: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has ordered state offices closed again Tuesday.

2:55pm: A partial crane is hanging from a building on W 57th Street and 7th Avenue in Manhattan. The FDNY is responding. The street's been blocked off.

2:51pm: Governor Cuomo says households that have lost food due to flooding or power outages may be eligible for Replacement Food Stamp Benefits

2:29pm: Archdiocese of New York says all Catholic schools in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island will be closed Tuesday. Archdiocese schools in Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Ulster, Orange, and Sullivan counties that rely on public school districts bus transportation will follow the policy of the local district for delayed opening or closing.

2:15pm: More than 95,000 homes and businesses in New Jersey are without electricity. Jersey Central Power & Light is reporting 52,151 customers without service. Most are in ocean and Monmouth counties. Atlantic City Electric has 37,111 outages, centered mainly in Atlantic County. Public Service Electric & Gas says 6,200 customers are without power.

2:00pm: Both the Holland and Hugh Carey tunnels are closed.

1:50pm: The New Jersey Turnpike Authority will close the Garden State Parkway in both directions south of Interchange 129 in Woodbridge Township as of 4 p.m. Monday.

1:37pm: Cuomo annouces outage report: 39,651 total. Central Hudson 2,792 / ConEdison 4,194 / LIPA 24,809 / National Grid 204 / NYSEG 6,777 / Orange&Rockland 839 / RG&E 36

1:33pm:  Atlantic City officials making another sweep through the city to evacuate those who didn't get out on Sunday. Police say lifeboats are being used to get people out of their homes. The city has imposed a curfew starting 6 p.m. Monday until 6 a.m. Tuesday. 

1:30pm: U.S. Financial markets will remain closed on Tuesday.

12:57pm: The ocean has broken through the dunes on a portion of Long Beach Island in New Jersey. Police and rescuers are going house to house in some communities, offering to remove people from their homes. The Garden State Parkway is closed from the Long Beach Island exit, interchange 63, all the way to Cape May.

12:52pm: Obama says he's not worried about the storm's impact on the election. The number 1 priority is to keep people safe.

12:45pm: President Obama comments on Hurricane Sandy.

12:35pm: Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino says the Bronx River Parkway is closed.

12:22pm: About 35,000 customers in New Jersey are without power. Most are customers of Atlantic City Electric. Most of the outages are due to downed trees hitting power lines and flooding in substations.

12:20pm: Governor Christie says anyone left on NJ's barrier islands should get off before conditions get worse.

12:05pm: Governor Malloy says the next 24 hours will be "very tough."

12:00pm: NJ Gov. Christie and CT Gov. Malloy will hold storm updates.

11:50am: City government is open, says Bloomberg

11:45am: Bloomberg urges residents in Zone A to evacuate while it's still safe.

11:42am: Bloomberg says there's already flooding in the Bowery, the FDR, and in the Rockaways. 

11:39am: Mayor Bloomberg says the City's schools will stay closed tomorrow.

11:35am: The Port Authority has reduced speeds on the George Washington Bridge, the Outerbridge Crossing, the Goethals Bridge, and the Bayonne Bridge to 35mph. The Tappan Zee Bridge also has a 35mph speed limit.

11:30am: Mayor Bloomberg updates New Yorkers on the City’s response to Hurricane Sandy. Watch live here.

11:25am:  The Long Island Power Authority is reporting more than 17,000 customers without electricity. Con Edison says it has 3,600 customers, mostly in Brooklyn.

10:41am: In NYC the north and south bound FDR Drive is closed at E 61st and E 116th Street.

10:31am: Cuomo announces the Holland Tunnel and Brooklyn Battery Tunnel will close today at 2pm. He says the bridges will remain open.

10:15am: Governor Cuomo updates storm efforts in New York.

9:55am: Governor Malloy orders all non-emergency vehicles off of Connecticut's highways by 1pm.

Sunday 10/28

4:02pm: Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano has closed public schools. He has also urged the City’s Department of Works to make available sand and sand bags for residents in flood prone areas. Alternate side parking and meters are suspended. 

3:55pm: Governor Chris Christie said the Motor Vehicle Commission has cancelled all driver tests, driver conferences and specialty vehicle inspections for October 29-31.