Hurricane Sandy roared into Atlantic City, New Jersey at 6:45 eastern time with sustained winds of 90 m.p.h. Two hours later the eye of the storm was 15 miles northwest of the city with sustained winds of 80 m.p.h. according to NBC New York.
The National Hurricane Center now classifies the storm as a “post-tropical cyclone” and was losing tropical characteristics as the storm joins other cells to make a giant nor’easter. The storm still contains hurricane force winds however meteorologists are saying the storm’s worst was “over.” Some weather services are now calling Sandy a “super storm.”
Three people have been confirmed dead. Two were killed by falling trees and a third was killed when their car hydroplaned as they tried to cross high water. More deaths are expected in the wake of the storm.
A four story building on 8th Avenue in New York collapse causing NYPD and NYFD to evacuate the surrounding buildings in case they were damaged by the collapse. No one is believed to be inside the fallen structure.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was extremely critical of Atlantic City Mayor Lorenzo Langford who encouraged people to stay in the city and go to shelters instead of evacuating ahead of the storm. The Governor said there was no longer any way to rescue people from that city.
Meanwhile, the storm is causing winter storm warnings throughout southwest Virginia, West Virginia and the East Tennessee mountain regions. Snow is already falling and some parts of West Virginia are expected to get more than 30 inches of snow from the storm.
