The massive storm named Sandy has brought torrential rain, high winds and dangerous tidal surges to one of the nation's most densely populated regions and killing at least 14 people.
Sandy - with winds still reaching 120 kilometers per hour - came ashore Monday with hurricane-strength winds some 200 kilometers south of New York, bringing a storm surge of four meters to lower Manhattan. The usually bustling city was brought to a halt. More than 1 million people in the area of the nation's largest city are without power. More than 6 million homes and businesses along the U.S. east coast and farther inland are without power. The center of the storm moved inland early Tuesday.
A New Jersey nuclear power plant declared an alert after waters rose to a designated high-level mark. Officials said there were no safety concerns at the plant, which was shut off for maintenance.
The deaths were reported across the affected region, from the U.S. state of Maryland to the Canadian city of Toronto. Most of the fatalities resulted from falling trees or traffic accidents.
Tunnels and streets in low-lying areas of New York City were flooded, including the construction site where the World Trade Center once stood. Some residents were ordered to evacuate. Cars in low-lying areas have been seen floating down the streets.
Other U.S. cities along the Eastern seaboard, including Washington, were also at a standstill, with public transit systems suspended, airports closed.