New storm hits NY and NJ, residents warned to evacuate

PanARMENIAN.Net - New York and New Jersey residents have been warned to evacuate their homes as a new storm hits the area still reeling from Sandy's devastating impact, BBC News reported.

Some 650,000 buildings remain without power one week after storm Sandy struck, killing at least 106 people.

The latest storm has already brought some snow, with forecasters also predicting heavy rains and high winds. The low-pressure system, which is not unusual for the season, is expected to strengthen and last into Thursday, Nov 8.

The storm, known as a nor'easter, was forecast to intensify as it moved north on Wednesday, with gusts of up to 97 km/h (60mph), the National Weather Service said.

At least 1,200 flights have been cancelled in and outside the New York metropolitan area. New York's main utility company, Consolidated Edison, warned of further power cuts.

"We are expecting there will be outages created by the new storm, and it's possible people who have just been restored from Sandy will lose power again," spokesman Mike Clendenin said.

New York police visited particularly vulnerable neighborhoods in low-lying parts of the city and used patrol car loudspeakers to encourage residents to leave their homes.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg also closed parks and beaches and temporarily halted outdoor construction. But he said there was no need for mandatory evacuations because the storm was not expected to be as strong as Sandy.

"We haven't and won't order the kind of large-scale evacuation that we did in advance of Hurricane Sandy," Bloomberg told reporters. "But if you experienced significant flooding during Sandy, then you should consider taking shelter with friends and family at a safer spot or using one of the city's storm shelters."

Meanwhile New Jersey Governor Chris Christie ordered new evacuations in a number of shore-line communities already badly battered by Sandy. "I am waiting for the locusts and pestilence next. We may take a setback in the next 24 hours," he said.

So far 95,000 people have registered for emergency housing assistance in New York and New Jersey after Sandy, according to the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency. It added that it was ready to deploy additional resources if needed.