A powerful nor’easter storm battering the US East Coast has left at least one person dead, another missing and several injured, while more than 100,000 people across the north-east remain without power.
High winds, heavy rain, coastal flooding, fallen trees and dangerous rip currents have affected parts of New York, New Jersey, New England, North Carolina, Connecticut and Virginia. Conditions are expected to remain hazardous into Monday, with evacuations issued in several coastal communities in New Jersey and New York.
Nor’easter storm leaves death and injuries in New York
Leighton Brown, a 56-year-old New York City Housing Authority employee, was killed on Saturday night when an uprooted tree fell on him as he walked through a park in Brooklyn.
James Alcivar, president of the tenant association at the NYCHA’s Cypress Hills development, said he realised something was wrong after hearing a loud boom followed by sirens.
He described Mr Brown as “one of the best employees that we had here at Cyprus Hills Development”.
“If you had work that needed to be done in your house, he was the guy to call. He comes here dedicated. As you can see, this tragic accident, he was doing what he loved,” Mr Alcivar told NY1.
The housing authority said: “We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and the NYCHA community.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said: “My thoughts are with his entire family as they deal with this unimaginable loss. May he rest in peace, and may his service to our city never be forgotten.”
Four people, including children aged one and seven and two women aged 40 and 41, were injured when a tree fell at a Brooklyn playground, officials said.
A separate search was under way on Sunday for a man who disappeared while swimming near Robert Moses State Park on Fire Island, Long Island. New York State Police said he was struck by waves measuring about 18ft at around 2.30pm on Saturday and had not been seen since.
The search was suspended overnight because of darkness but was expected to resume on Sunday. The swimmer has not been identified.
Flooding and travel disruption across the East Coast
Floodwater swept through coastal communities in New Jersey, with families seen wading through streets carrying luggage and children. In Beach Haven, one man was pictured pulling a paddle board carrying two children, while Atlantic City firefighters moved through knee-deep water to help people trapped by the storm.
In Wildwood, residents used a kayak to move a dog and carried children and belongings through the flooding. A family-owned business at the Jersey Shore was inundated for the first time since Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
Floodwater along the Hudson River submerged a parking area in Edgewater, New Jersey, while coastal waves reached homes in Scituate, Massachusetts.
Kenny Formica, who runs Surf City Marina, said the nor’easter “has just been something else”. He added: “Hurricane Sandy taught us that if the flooding is gonna happen, it’s gonna happen. You can’t stop it.”
The storm also disrupted air travel. More than 450 flights were cancelled on Saturday and another 3,000 delayed, while ground stops and cancellations affected airports in New York and New Jersey on Sunday.
Widespread delays were reported at LaGuardia, JFK and Boston Logan International Airport as the storm continued to bring strong winds and heavy rainfall.
