Superstorm Sandy Leaves Death And Destruction On U.S. East Coast

(Newsroom America) -- The storm ravaged East Coast will today get a clearer picture of the destruction caused by Superstorm Sandy overnight as millions remain without electricity and the storm continues to threaten millions of people.

The National Weather Service said Sandy has transitioned to a post-tropical cyclone, but it is still expected to produce strong winds across the Mid-Atlantic and New England, as well as rainfall amounts of 4-8 inches over portions of the Mid-Atlantic, and snowfall totals of 2-3 feet in the mountains of West Virginia.

The record breaking storm has reportedly caused at least 13 deaths in the United States and caused damaged that some are estimating in the tens of billions of dollars, with basic infrastructure in New York such as transport and electricity likely to be disrupted for days.

All New York subways and airports were closed, with some reports saying 13,000 flights have been cancelled since Saturday as a result of Sandy.

NYSE Euronext said its markets would remain closed today, with a decision expected during the day on whether U.S. equities, bonds, options and derivatives markets could open on Wednesday. New York's financial district had been swamped by a bigger than expected storm surge of about 13 feet.

Reports said up to 6.5 million customers were without electricity early on Tuesday morning.

Con Edison reported power outages to a large section of Manhattan stretching from East 39th Street to the lower tip of Manhattan, but it would have to wait for flood waters to recede before workers can enter some facilities to assess damage.

"As equipment is inspected and determined safe to energize, the highest priority for restoration will be given to critical customer facilities that have an impact on the general public such as mass transit, hospitals, police and fire stations, and sewage and water-pumping stations," it said.

Flooding inundated the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel with water, cutting the link under the East River which connects the Borough of Brooklyn on Long Island with the Borough of Manhattan.

Ground Zero in New York has also reportedly been flooded.

All New York City public schools remain closed on Tuesday.

At the height of the storm in Queens, the FDNY was getting ten times the normal call volume of 911 calls, with most calls inappropriate because they reported downed trees or flooding conditions.