The LookoutSandy wreaks havoc on New York City
A residential and commercial building in NYC was ripped apart by Hurricane Sandy's high winds. No injuries were reported. (Photo via @MegRobertson/Twitter)
Superstorm Sandy wreaked havoc on New York City on Monday, reportedly killing one person, causing a crane to collapse and the facade of a four-story building to crumble.
NBC4 in New York reported a 30-year-old man died when a tree fell on his home in Queens and almost 500,000 New Yorkers were without power according to CNN Weather.
New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said on CNN that police evacuated the buildings and streets surrounding a $1.5 billion high-rise where a crane came partially unhinged. He also said no one was injured after a building's facade crumbled in Manhattan.
The crane toppled around 2 p.m. ET on Monday, authorities said. Meteorologists told the AP that winds atop the 74-story building could have been close to 95 mph. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the cause of the collapse was unclear.
A Yahoo News editor in Brooklyn reported East River flooding near the Williamsburg Bridge. Officials closed all bridges and tunnels connected to Manhattan on Monday, and subway service was shut down Sunday night.
Salt water flooding posed significant threats to the utility grid and public transportation, Kelly also told CNN. Some utilities started strategically powering down communities in the New York area.
WABC Eyewitness News reporter Kemberly Richardson reported that water was pouring over the seawall in Lower Manhattan, flooding South Street.
In New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie said communities that did not heed official warnings to evacuate were essentially on their own until the morning. During a press conference, Christie said he could not in good faith send first responders to rescue individuals who made irresponsible choices.
