The Associated Press reports power outages in Ohio are down to 66,000 from a peak of 250,000. Pennsylvania saw higher numbers of power outages, with peak totals at 1.2 million or about 20% of the state. Most recent reports show total power outages in Pennsylvania have declined to 372,000.  Michigan power outages peaked at 154,000, but are down to 5,000. The death toll for Pennsylvania has risen to 12 deaths, while Ohio suffered 2 deaths associated with the storm.  Michigan did not report any storm-related deaths.

Commonwealth Edison, based in Northern Illinois and the largest electric utility service in Illinois, will send crews east to help with recovery from Hurricane Sandy.  DTE Energy Co., a utility corporation based out of Detroit, Michigan, noted its regular crews were working on power outages within its area, with 100 contractors having been deployed to the East coast prior to Hurricane Sandy coming ashore.

For more information, contact Danielle Chesky, Director of the Great Lakes Washington Program at the Northeast-Midwest Institute. 

The Detroit Free Press cited about 130 cargo vessels, 50 from the U.S. and 80 from Canada, were in port Tuesday due to the impacts of Hurricane Sandy.  Glen Nekvasil, spokesman for the Lake Carriers' Association (US), and Robert Lewis-Manning, President of the Canadian Shipowners Association, were quoted.  The USCG had issued an advisory, warning of the high waves and weather associated with the coming storm.  

For more information, contact Danielle Chesky, Director of the Great Lakes Washington Program at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.  

Hurricane Sandy seriously disrupted public transportation service and other transportation infrastructure in the Northeast-Midwest region, and the effects may linger for days, weeks, and months.  The storm flooded out roads and forced the temporary closure of New York City's two airports; moreover, gas shortages are today being reported throughout the New York region. In consultation with DOE, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson determined that the Hurricane caused "significant damage" to the East Coast's gasoline system and will result in an inadequate gas supply; in response, the EPA issued waivers to 16 states--9 of them in the NEMW region--and D.C., which would exempt them from reformulated (RFG) standards until November 20, 2012.  

The storm incurred severe damage to New Jersey Transit Rail and New York City's transit system; in New York, several tunnels and stations were flooded.  According to a letter from Governor Cuomo to President Obama, ". . . the cost to restore the complex electrically driven subway and rail transportation systems after total inundation from saltwater flooding will place a tremendous financial burden on New York State."  

The storm disabled intercity public transportation in the region as well.  Amtrak experienced "unprecedented" water intrusion; modified service is now available along the busy Northeast Corridor, but other segments of the line, including those into and out of New York Penn Station, remain closed.  Amtrak is expected to make an announcement later today about New York City service restoration.  In response to the widespread transportation impacts, the federal government has agreed to temporarily cover the entire cost of providing emergency public transportation in parts of New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey, according to The Wall Street Journal.   

For more information, contact Colleen Cain, Senior Policy Analyst at Northeast-Midwest Institute.

The Gloucester Daily Times reported the Agger Fish Co., in Brooklyn, NY, suffered a major electrical meltdown, which will likely cost the company $1-2 million in lost business transactions and time to replace and repair lost cooling systems.  Lund Fisheries, based in Cape May, New Jersey, did not suffer any electrical outages and its frozen fish market is not likely to be impacted by the storm, said President Jeff Reichel. Although the fishing industry was grounded in port for Monday, Tuesday, and into Wednesday, most vessels did not suffer physical damage due to the sufficient warning time.  With transportation systems down, movement of fresh fish and demand levels are not expected to be back to normal until the week's end.  The Boston Globe reported many lobstermen were pulling traps prior to the storm, concerned that the waves and wind would foul the trap lines or toss the traps into the rocks.  

In other notable coastal impacts, Public Radio International's The World reported that Hurricane Sandy brought many exotic birds to the U.S. coast, giving bird watchers a chance to see some new species.  Also, Shellfish harvesting along the coast, including in New Jersey, North Carolina, and New York, was suspended due to the impacts of Hurricane Sandy, including heavy rains and run off.  

For more information, contact Danielle Chesky, Director of the Great Lakes Washington Program at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.

The Washington Post  and the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported that Hurricane Sandy could have been a major environmental threat to the Chesapeake Bay, bringing in loads of nutrients and sediment.  Excessive nutrients along with sediment deplete oxygen levels and cloud the waters in the bay threatening the existence of aquatic life. Sandy-related increased nutrient and sediment loads into the Chesapeake Bay will not approach the 2011 Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee effects. 

Maryland's Department of the Environment received reports of 23 spills that appear to be storm-related, ranging from sewage overflows at wastewater treatment plants and pumping stations to manhole overflows. Twenty to twenty-five million gallons of wastewater entered the Little Patuxent River in Savage after the county's wastewater plant lost power. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that some areas along the Bay experienced surge-type flooding. 

The timing of the storm, dry summer with existing low river levels, wind direction, and low temperatures played important roles in reducing Sandy's impact. The director of Maryland's Department of Natural Resources, Bruce Michael, attributes the low impact to the end of the fall season, which is past the growing season, when most of the underwater grasses are in the dormant stage.  Bob Orth, scientist with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, said that the actual impacts would be known after the aerial surveys in spring. Bay tributaries to shellfishing in Maryland were closed because of concerns about bacteria levels.  Larry Simns, the head of the Maryland Watermen's Association, said the storm hit the lower bay at the time the watermen were trying to take advantage of the autumn female crab run. A storm of the magnitude of Sandy also can impact the oyster reefs, but according to Stephan Abel, executive director of the Oyster Recovery Partnership, critical spawning, restoration, and planting activities had already occurred for the 2012 season, lessening the impact. Questions remain: will Sandy-related salinity changes (resulting from the heavy rainfall) affect oysters? Will lower water temperature promote the movement of blue crabs within the Bay or encourage striped bass? How will the time of the year affect underwater grasses?

For more information, contact Meghana Desai, Senior Scientist at the Northeast-Midwest Institute

According to a FEMA rating, few ciommunities along the Northeast Coast had taken necessary steps to prevent flood damage from a storm of Sandy's size.  As of Friday morning, CNN reported 161 deaths in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean. Some coastal communities were still under water and more than 3.3 million customers remained without electricity in 15 states and D.C.  

FEMA assistance--such as grants, low-cost loans, and other programs--is now available for survivors in certain counties in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, states that the President on Monday declared areas of "major disasters."  More counties may become eligible as damage assessments continue. 

Along the East Coast, states, tribes, localities and the Red Cross are operating emergency shelters that provide food, water, shelter, and other resources.  The Huffington Post reports the presence of more than 7,400 National Guard forces in 11 states, tasked with assisting local first responders and FEMA.  

The Department of Energy (DOE) is  working with FEMA to restore electricity to millions of Americans suffering outages. According to the agency, "While the primary responsibility to restore power resides with the local utilities, the federal government has an important role to play in coordinating the federal response with state and local officials and the utility industry. The Energy Department, in partnership with the Federal Energy Management Administration (FEMA) and other federal agencies, is working around the clock to support the impacted states and utilities." 

The Department of Agriculture is also involved in disaster relief efforts; in a news release, the department said it was taking steps to coordinate with "FEMA and other departments, agencies, state and local governments" as well as "reaching out to farmers and ranchers in states affected by recent extreme weather."

For more information, contact Colleen Cain, Senior Policy Analyst at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.