Here are the key developments as the US East Coast braces for the potentially devastating impact of Hurricane Sandy:
– Sandy takes aim for the Eastern Seaboard after claiming 66 lives in the Caribbean
– President Barack Obama urges Americans to take the storm “very seriously”
– Hundreds of thousands ordered evacuated from coastal areas in New York, New Jersey and Delaware
– Forecasters warn of “life-threatening” storm surges of six to 11 feet (1.8 to 3.3 meters) in waters around New York City and northern New Jersey
– States of emergency declared in seven states, plus the US capital
– Public schools closed Monday in seven states, for two million children
– Airlines cancel more than 5,000 flights Sunday through Monday
– New York City, Philadelphia and New Jersey shut down trains, subways and buses
– Amtrak cancels service in the northeast corridor from Sunday night
– Government gives non-emergency federal workers Monday off
– Maryland suspends early voting for the presidential election on Monday
– Both campaigns stop sending fundraising emails to likely affected states
– Broadway cancels Sunday, Monday shows; New York public parks closed from Sunday evening
– UN headquarters in New York to be shut on Monday, meetings cancelled
– New York Stock Exchange will remain open on Monday, but for electronic trades only
– Casinos shut in New Jersey’s Atlantic City from Sunday
Key developments as mega-storm approaches US
