Post date: Oct 27, 2012 5:49:0 PM
New Jersey governor declares state of emergency
LONG BEACH, NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 27, 2012) (NBC) - The U.S. northeast braced for Hurricane Sandy on Saturday (October 27) as the storm continued to make its way toward the coast.
New Jersey governor Chris Christie formally declared a state of emergency in anticipation of the hurricane."I have issued today a mandatory evacuation for Sunday at 4:00 pm for the barrier islands, from Sandy Hook South to Cape May. In Atlantic City, I have ordered that the casinos be evacuated no later than 4:00 pm on Sunday," Christie told members of the media.
He emphasized that dangerous weather conditions could last for several days and that everyone needed to make sure they were prepared.
Sandy has been dubbed "Frankenstorm" by some weather watchers because it will combine elements of a tropical cyclone and a winter storm. As it merges with an Arctic air mass high over the eastern U.S., forecast models show it will have all the ingredients necessary to morph into a "super storm." Coastal flooding could pose a major threat, especially in low-lying areas like New York City.
Meanwhile, in the final days ahead of the U.S. presidential election, Sandy has presented a challenge to the campaigns of President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney.
Romney canceled a rally scheduled for Sunday evening in Virginia Beach, Virginia, while Obama's re-election campaign announced that Vice President Joe Biden had also canceled a Saturday trip to that city.