Residents along the US east coast are bracing for the onslaught of Hurricane Sandy, with forecasters warning of record flooding and a storm surge more powerful than anything seen there in decades.
The colossal storm could cause billions of dollars worth of damage and affect up to 60 million people.
Authorities have ordered the evacuation of many low-lying areas, including parts of New York City, as well as the shutdown of mass transit services in New York and New Jersey.