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By Colin Campbell 10/30/12 12:05pm

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(Photo: The Atlantic's Chris Heller, @c_heller)

Congressman Bob Turner’s House Burned Down in Sandy’s Fury

Breezy Point, on the tip of the Rockaway Peninsula, was among the most devastated neighborhoods in New York City in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Indeed, floods and fires left the area reminiscent of a war zone.

The fires also claimed the homes of Congressman Bob Turner and State Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long, Crain’s Insider reported. Fortunately, Mr. Turner’s office told the publication that the congressman and his wife made it out safely. Mr. Long is safe-and-sound too. Read More

By Colin Campbell 10/29/12 4:33pm

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A wave crashes into the Bay Ridge shore. (Photo: Robert Katz/Facebook)

Governor Cuomo Calls Up National Guard, Closes a Bunch of Bridges

Governor Andrew Cuomo, on his whirlwind tour of New York State, touched down in Long Island this evening to announce a number of bridge closures, the National Guard being called up, and the continued danger of, as he put it, “Sandy’s Fury.” Notably, as of 7 p.m. tonight, the Verrazano-Narrows, George Washington, Henry Hudson, Bronx-Whitestone and Throgs Neck bridges will be closed, joining the Tappan Zee Bridge and Cross Bay Veterans Bridge, which shut down earlier today.

“We have another 1,000 National Guard who have been called up, and they, in so many ways provide the energy, the muscle if you will, to do many of these operations ,” the governor said. “The majority of those National Guard will be deployed on Long Island. As the issue becomes more and more the coastal surge, Long Island becomes more and more vulnerable.”

Mr. Cuomo also updated New Yorkers on the storm’s overall status. Read More

By Colin Campbell 10/29/12 12:04pm

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15 Photos

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Slideshow: Pols Share Stormy Sandy Pictures

Hurricane Sandy is currently battering the five boroughs, and the city’s public officials are out and about, touring their districts and surveying the damage. In the slideshow to the left, we’ve collected a sampling of the flooded streets and downed trees that they’ve shared on Facebook and Twitter.

Sometimes they’ve sent warnings to their constituents as well. “By the way, lots of people there at cusp of water taking pictures and frolicking about,” Staten Island Councilman Jimmy Oddo wrote to his Facebook followers when he visited what used to be a beach. “As Mom used to say, it’s fun and games until someone gets swept into the ocean and washes up dead on Sandy Hook. Or was it it’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye? Or no ball playing in the house? I digress.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 10/29/12 8:44am

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(Photo: Getty)

Storm Sandy Pulls Obama Off the Campaign Trail

President Barack Obama, who had been campaigning in Florida as Hurricane Sandy began to batter states in the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast, has canceled further events in the Sunshine State in order to return to Washington, according to a dispatch sent out by the White House this morning.

“Due to deteriorating weather conditions in the Washington, DC area, the President will not attend today’s campaign event in Orlando, Florida,” Jay Carney, Mr. Obama’s press secretary, announced. “The President will return to the White House to monitor the preparations for and early response to Hurricane Sandy.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 10/28/12 7:29pm

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(Photo: Getty)

President Obama Signs New York Emergency Declaration

We’re officially in a state of emergency.

After signing emergency declarations for Maryland and Massachusetts, President Barack Obama did the same for New York this evening, effective across all 62 counties in the Empire State. The move, which allows federal aid to assist in response and recovery efforts, comes after Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency Friday afternoon. Read More