Hurricane Sandy in the US in October 2012

The Hurricane Sandy has so far claimed at least 40 lives in the US, while most of the casualties have occurred by falling of trees. However, an unconfirmed report suggests that the Sandy has so far killed 69 people in the Caribbean before making its way up the Eastern Seaboard.

Photo Coursey - NYDailyNews.com

IHS Global Insight, a forecasting firm has suggested that the 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.

New Yorkers found themselves cut off from the modern world Tuesday. Perhaps the hurricane has caused maximum damage in New Jersey, where the storm roared ashore Monday night with hurricane-force winds of 80 mph. Several houses knocked off their foundations there. Of course Lower Manhattan, which includes Wall Street, was the hardest-hit area.

The Sandy also brought snowstorm conditions to parts of West Virginia and neighboring Appalachian states, with more than 2 feet of snow in some places.

Till yesterday, more than 8.2 million people across the East (in US) were without power. Airlines canceled more than 15,000 flights around the world.  

Photo Courtesy - abc News 

Hurricane Sandy has also affected political arena in the country. The presidential campaign has been affected. While President Barack Obama canceled a third straight day of campaigning in Ohio, Republican Mitt Romney resumed his campaign, but just to start a political rally in Ohio into a "storm relief event."

The storm has also affected the stock market. The New York Stock Exchange was closed for a second day on Tuesday, the first time that has happened because of weather since the snowstorm of 1888.

Not only wind, but fire also played havoc to destroy as many as 100 houses in a flooded beachfront neighborhood in Queens on Tuesday.

The hurricane also affected the Hospital services. New York University's Tisch Hospital evacuated 200 patients after its backup generator failed.

Joseph Lhota, chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, said the damage was the worst in the 108-year history of the New York subway – reported ME TV.

But thanks to smart Police and fire officials’ attempt, which used boats and trucks to reach the trapped, normal life condition is expected to return soon.

Photo Courtesy - Yahoo News