The US East Coast was slowly coming back to life Wednesday, as some airports, bridges, and schools reopened, mass transit systems resumed limited service, power started coming back on and flood waters began to recede in the wake of a devastating Hurricane Sandy that hit the region hard and will require weeks, months or longer for a full recovery.
"It won't be the same. It will be different because many of the iconic things that made it what it was are now gone and washed into the ocean," said Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, where Sandy hit hardest and destroyed a portion of the historic boardwalk in Atlantic City.
The US death toll from the storm rose to 55 including a New York City police who died after saving his family from a flooded home. The number could still rise as search and rescue efforts continue in towns in several states along the coast.
In Hoboken, New Jersey, thousands of people were still feared stranded in their homes due to flooding, though this was not confirmed.
The National Guard was on the scene Wednesday, but a clearly frustrated Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer said she had made repeated calls for help that was slow to arrive.
“We’re in a very difficult situation,” Zimmer told the Wall Street Journal. “The Hudson River has breached us at the north and at the south end.”
The New York City Police Department released several videos Wednesday of dramatic, rooftop rescues in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The videos show at least half a dozen people being carried to safety from lifelines or rescue baskets dangled from a police helicopter.
An estimated 6.9 million customers nationwide remained without power Wednesday morning, down from 8.2 million in 17 states at the height of the storm, and officials predict it will be days at least before electricity is restored.
Thousands of repair crews were working round-the-clock to clear downed trees and power lines across the region.
The storm is expected to cost about $20 billion in property damage and another $10-$30 billion in lost business, according to economic forecasting firm IHS Global Insight.
New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey began limited service Wednesday morning but New York City's LaGuardia International Airport was still closed.
Clearing the backlog of delayed and stranded passengers was a major challenge, officials said. More than 18,000 flights have been cancelled since Sunday, leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded and impacting airline flight schedules worldwide.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was set to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Wednesday morning, officially reopening markets that have been closed since Friday.
There was still no power to Lower Manhattan, including Wall Street, but the financial markets were to be running on backup generators.
Assessing the damage to his city, Bloomberg said, “We will get through the days ahead by doing what we always do in tough times — by standing together, shoulder to shoulder, ready to help a neighbor, comfort a stranger and get the city we love back on its feet."
US President Barack Obama cancelled campaign events for a third straight day and was scheduled to visit victims and tour damaged areas of New Jersey Wednesday afternoon, a state he is expected to easily win in next week’s election.
"This is a tough time for millions of people," the president said. "But America is tougher."
