NY utility cuts power to parts of downtown Manhattan to avoid damage from Sandy
NEW YORK, N.Y. - New York City's main utility has cut power to part of downtown Manhattan in a pre-emptive bid to lessen damage from a massive approaching storm.
Consolidated Edison spokesman Chris Olert says the utility cut the power shortly after 7 p.m. Monday to 6,500 customers.
That's when a few inches (centimetres) of water began spilling over the seawall of lower Manhattan. A weakened Sandy approached the city, threatening an 11-foot (3.3-meter) storm surge.
Olert says that power was cut to customers in an area bordered by the Brooklyn Bridge, Broadway and the East River.
