State-by-State Guide to Hurricane Sandy We will regularly update this state-by-state report on Hurricane Sandy as it barrels up the East Coast, threatening to create havoc for tens of millions of people. Jon Hurdle from Philadelphia; Brian Stelter from Rehoboth Beach, Del.; and Thomas Kaplan from Cape May, N.J., contributed to this report. Residents from Old Saybrook to Fairfield were ordered to evacuate their homes in low-lying areas along the coast on Sunday amid growing concern about the projected impact of flooding from the hurricane's surge in Long Island Sound. WTNH-TV in Hartford delivered this report from Fairfield on the evacuations: Video from WTNH-TV Gov. Dannel P. Malloy activated the state's emergency command center on Sunday. Bus service was suspended starting at midnight and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's commuter rail service at 7 p.m. "This storm needs to be taken seriously," Governor Malloy said in a statement. And just as the state is taking preparatory actions, I encourage the public and all of the state's utility companies to do the same. After Hurricane Irene last year, power companies in Connecticut were harshly criticized for taking more than a week to restore power to tens of thousands of customers. Luther Turmelle, a reporter for The New Haven Register, reports that Connecticut can again expect widespread power failures: TRANSPORTATION: Connecticut Transit bus service ends at midnight. M.T.A./Metro-North shut down at 7 p.m. Amtrak initiated some changes. State highways are open. Bradley International Airport, north of Hartford, is open. EVACUATIONS: Branford, Fairfield, Old Saybrook and East Haven. WTNH-TV published a town-by-town evacuation list. FORECAST: The entire state is under a flood watch. POWER/UTILITIES: Long-term, widespread outages are expected. The Hartford Courant reports that more than a half-million people could lose power. Hash tags: #ctsandy, #sandyct The Twitter account for the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection: The American Red Cross Safety and Preparation Tips for Connecticut residents Governor Malloy on Facebook Governor Malloy on Twitter Facebook updates from the Naval Submarine Base, Groton, Conn. News Media Twitter Accounts to Follow: News updates from NBC Connecticut The New Haven Register on Facebook The Yale Daily News on Twitter The Stamford Advocate updates for Fairfield County on Twitter Brian Stelter, a New York TImes correspondent, offers a view of Rehoboth Beach late Sunday afternoon: Evacuations were under way on Sunday in coastal and low-lying neighborhoods up and down Delaware, from Fenwick Island on the southern border with Maryland to New Castle 100 miles north. The evacuations were mandatory in particularly flood-prone parts of the state, like Rehoboth Beach and Bethany Beach. On Sunday, Gov. Jack Markell also said all businesses within the evacuation zones must close by 6 p.m. "This storm is severe and its potential damages significant," he said in a statement on Sunday. It is critical that residents in areas of greatest risk leave those areas now before the storm's full force is felt and lives are put at greater risk. The state set up a hotline, 1-800-464-4357, for members of the public who have questions about the storm. The Delaware Emergency Management Agency also posted updates on its Web site. Emergency officials said Delaware's three counties -- Sussex, Kent and New Castle -- were bracing for a coastal storm surge and widespread power failures. During a visit to the Sussex County emergency command center, Governor Markell urged people to follow evacuation orders. "You have to take this seriously," he said. If people live in an evacuation area, they have to leave. This is the real deal. Governor Jack Markell talks about emergency plans during a visit to the Sussex County Emergency Operations Center in Georgetown, Del. TRANSPORTATION: Amtrak canceled service along the Northeast corridor on Monday. Route 1, the coastal highway in Delaware, was closed on Sunday after the ocean flooded a portion of the road. EVACUATIONS: Low-lying areas in Sussex, New Castle, Kent Counties. The Delaware Emergency Management Agency published a complete list of towns and areas and evacuation routes. Red Cross Centers opened at noon, including ones at Cape Henlopen High School, Milford Middle School, Dover High School and William Penn High School in New Castle that also welcome pets. FORECAST: Coastal flooding. Hurricane-force winds are expected on Monday. Rainfall of 4 to 8 inches is expected over portions of mid-Atlantic states, including the Delmarva Peninsula, with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches possible. Updates here. POWER/UTILITIES: Long-term, widespread power failures are expected. Hash tags: #desandy, #sandyde Emergency Management on Facebook. The Delaware Citizen Corps PrepareDelaware on Twitter Delaware State Police Newsroom on Facebook Delaware weather updates on Twitter The News Journal on Twitter Federal government offices in the District of Columbia area will be closed to the public, and nonessential personnel do not have to report to work on Monday, the Office of Personnel Management announced. The Metro will be closed. Many federal employees commute from Maryland and Virginia, and conditions on the bridges, subway lines and roads can often turn nightmarish in severe weather. Public schools are closed on Monday. So is the University of Maryland. The Smithsonian is closing its museums. The Washington Post has published a detailed list of closings. The nation's capital is far enough inland to avoid the worst of the winds, but what is expected is severe enough to lead to widespread tree damage and power failures, especially in residential neighborhoods. Also, the city's low-lying areas, including Georgetown and the tidal basin of the Potomac River, are subject to flooding. The surge there is not expected to rival what is facing the Mid-Atlantic Coast or regions north of the storm's expected landfall. Pepco, the utility company that was criticized for leaving people in the district without power for more than a week after a storm in June, called customers reminding them to prepare and issued a warning on Twitter. TRANSPORTATION: Metro subway trains and buses are out of service on Monday. All Maryland Area Regional Commuter train service is canceled on Monday. Amtrak has canceled Northeast Regional, Acela, Keystone and Shuttle service for Monday, and service north of New York City was suspended at 7 p.m. on Sunday. Virginia Railway Express train service is canceled Monday. POWER/UTILITIES: Pepco is expecting widespread power failures. FORECAST: Winds as much as 45 miles per hour, and gusts over 60 m.p.h., beginning Monday morning and lasting for at least a day. The worst conditions are expected on Monday night. Coastal flood warnings call for a surge of 1 to 3 feet above normal, leading to "moderate" flooding, especially on Tuesday. American Red Cross in the National Capital Region on Twitter Mayor Vincent C. Gray on Twitter D.C. Homeland Security on Twitter D.C. Fire and E.M.S. on Twitter D.C Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs on Twitter D.C. Department of Transportation on Twitter The Washington Post's Capital Weather blog on Twitter The Washington Post's local news updates on Twitter A look at the surf rising in Ocean City, Md., where residents were ordered to evacuate in low-lying areas ahead of Hurricane Sandy The Chesapeake Bay, which is the state's very heart, is already feeling the early onslaught of the storm, but it is not going to have the worst of the flooding. Ocean City, however, is going to be hit hard, and its mayor issued evacuation orders for the most flood-prone neighborhoods, which are very likely to be inundated. The state's eastern coast is under warning for hurricane-force winds as the storm approaches, as is the whole coast from Virginia to Rhode Island, including the Chesapeake Bay. Even in the mountainous western reaches of the state, though, winds will gust to 45 miles per hour or more beginning late Monday and lasting for a day or two. Along with heavy rain, and in the mountains even snow, this can be expected to bring trees and power lines down. While Ocean City was being evacuated for the coastal storm surge of a hurricane, a blizzard warning was issued for Garrett County and other regions in the west of the state, lasting from 3 p.m. Monday to 3 p.m. Tuesday. The state has experienced many instances of widespread, prolonged power failures during extreme weather events in recent years, and nobody expects this time to be different. Baltimore County issued a plea for people in flood-prone areas to consider evacuating, and said conditions would deteriorate overnight and be at their worst on Monday, lasting until Tuesday. Rain started to fall in Baltimore at midafternoon on Sunday, residents said. Schools in Baltimore, Montgomery County and elsewhere around the state announced they will be closed on Monday. And the port was closed: President Obama signed an emergency declaration order for the state, meaning that federal assistance may be delivered in advance. Maryland canceled early voting on Monday. The state government shut down except for nonessential personnel. That means no motor-vehicle licensing or inspection offices will be open, for example. American Red Cross from central Maryland on Facebook American Red Cross Lower Shore for Maryland and Virginia on Twitter Maryland Emergency Management Center on Twitter Maryland Department of Transportation on Twitter Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport on Twitter Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake of Baltimore on Twitter Baltimore Police Department on Twitter The Baltimore Sun on Twitter Gov. Chris Christie delivered an update on Hurricane Sandy evacuations and preparations. Computer tracking models are indicating an increasing likelihood that when Hurricane Sandy comes ashore late Monday, New Jersey will be in the behemoth's cross-hairs. Gov. Chris Christie said the latest projection showed that landfall could be somewhere between Toms River and Atlantic City. Because of the storm's size and strength, its impact will stretch for hundreds of miles beyond its center. But its current path is perhaps the worst-case scenario for New Jersey. Not only will the state be pounded by winds in excess of 75 miles per hour, but between the storm surge and prolonged rainfall there is also a risk of record flooding in coastal towns as well as inland flooding. Governor Christie, who declared a state of emergency on Saturday, warned residents that widespread power failures could last for more than a week. All the casinos in Atlantic City were shuttered on Sunday, schools across the state were closed for Monday, and tens of thousands of people were ordered to evacuate low-lying areas. PATH and New Jersey Transit service is suspended. "How about we go by this rule: Anything that looks stupid is stupid," Mr. Christie said at a news conference. We should not underestimate the impact of this storm, and we should not assume the predictions will be wrong. The casinos were required to shut down late Sunday afternoon, but they were empty earlier in the day: On Sunday, hours before the deadline for a mandatory 4 p.m. evacuation, the authorities in Cape May were urging residents at the southern tip of New Jersey to head inland, reports Thomas Kaplan, a New York Times correspondent. But some were content to stay home and hope for the best There were plenty of signs that Hurricane Sandy was coming: a chilly wind began to whip, and the surf along Cape May picked up strength, drawing onlookers onto the beachside promenade and surfers into the water. Mr. Kaplan captures in a short cellphone video what the surf looked like at Cape May on Sunday: It was the large waves that attracted surfers like Mike Losness, 31, a sales representative from San Clemente, Calif., who flew to New Jersey for a chance to surf as the hurricane approached. "It's a fun adventure, surfing in a perfect storm," he said as he stripped off his wetsuit after a morning in the water. Acknowledging that the average person was trying to get as far away from the hurricane as possible, he added, "Most people probably think surfers are crazy." By Sunday evening, shelters were crowded, and Mr. Kaplan reported that after dusk, the roads had emptied. But some people decided to stay put: TRANSPORTATION: New Jersey Transit and PATH service is suspended. There is a risk of major flooding on roads. Hundreds of flights into and out of Newark Liberty International Airport have been canceled. EVACUATIONS: A mandatory evacuation order was issued for thousands of residents in low-lying areas along the coastline. Residents of the state's barrier islands were told to evacuate by 4 p.m. Sunday, and Atlantic City casinos were closed. FORECAST: Strong winds and heavy rains are expected to intensify Sunday night into Monday morning. By late Monday, the storm is expected to be at its peak. Storm surges of 6 to12 feet are expected along with about a foot of rain. POWER/UTILITIES:Widespread power failures are expected throughout the state. Gov. Chris Christie on Facebook Governor Christie on Twitter Governor Christie on YouTube Mayor Cory A. Booker of Newark on Twitter New Jersey Department of Emergency Management on Facebook The Star-Ledger on Twitter The Asbury Park Press on Twitter N.J. 101.5 News on Twitter The Atlantic City Press on Twitter More than 350,000 people were ordered on Sunday to evacuate their homes in Brooklyn, Queens and Lower Manhattan. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo shut down subway, rail and bus service starting at 7 p.m. Our colleagues have amassed a detailed list of closings and another map and list about evacuations. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg outlined New York's emergency and evacuation plans. What does the storm look like from the 51st floor of the New York Times building in Times Square? Find out here. Twitter was used throughout Sunday to help people share important information about evacuations and storm preparations: Questions about the storm? TRANSPORTATION: City subway and bus service shutdown, commuter rail. Amtrak. EVACUATIONS: More than 375,000 people were ordered to evacuate in Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. POWER/UTILITIES: Expect long-term power failures Local news updates from The New York Times Metro Desk on Twitter New York mayor's office on Twitter Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg on Twitter Rachel Sterne, chief digital officer for New York City, on Twitter Notify NYC on Twitter New York State Office of Emergency Management on Twitter New York State agencies, via NY-Alert, on Twitter American Red Cross in Greater New York on Facebook New York City Evacuation Centers on FourSquare Nassau County Office of Emergency Management on Twitter Suffolk County Fire Department and Emergency Services on Facebook Westchester County government on Facebook Westchester County government on Twitter Newsday on Long Island on Twitter Suffolk County News on Twitter New York 1 Weather Twitter Dare County Manager Bobby Outten asked residents of the Outer Banks to remain inside Sunday evening as the the effects of Hurricane Sandy were being felt along the North Carolina coast. Flooding was reported on major highways, but there were no evacuation orders. Dare County Manager Bobby Outten provided an update on Sunday night on Hurricane Sandy, road closings, and important information regarding resident and visitor safety. By nightfall, winds were picking up and rain was growing heavier, but forecasters said the state would likely be spared the full brunt of the storm. A webcam in Kill Devil Hills on the Outer Banks delivers a live view of the storm: The biggest concern was flooding from heavy rain and a storm surge that was predicted to be 4 to 6 feet high. The Associated Press reported that about 20 people on Portsmouth Island, a former fishing village that is now uninhabited and accessible only by private ferry, were forced to wait out the storm after private ferries quit navigating the rough waters to the mainland and the Coast Guard was unable to get them supplies. With Hurricane Sandy still more than 250 miles south of Cape Hatteras on Sunday evening, computer models showed that it was unlikely to come closer than 100 miles from shore. Still, the weather was expected to get worse overnight and into the morning. The fact that the storm's impact could be felt so far from the storm's center was a testament to both its size and power. Gusts of more than 40 miles per hour were reported in the Outer Banks as bands of whipping rain continued to pass over the state. TRANSPORTATION: Flooding was reported on some highways and roads. State Highway 12 was closed in some places. FORECAST: Storm surges of 4 to 6 feet are predicted, and rainfall of up to 8 inches is possible. Inland, there may be a significant snowfall along the North Carolina-Tennessee border. EVACUATIONS: No evacuations were ordered in the state. POWER/UTILITIES: Sporadic power failures were expected. North Carolina Emergency Management on Facebook North Carolina National Guard on Twitter Cape Fear Red Cross on Twitter Carolina Region Red Cross On Sunday afternoon, Gov. Tom Corbett added Pennsylvania to the list of states that declared a state of emergency: Gov. Tom Corbett discussed preparations for Hurricane Sandy. All bus, rail and trolley service in Philadelphia was ordered suspended on Sunday at midnight, and public schools in the city will be closed on Monday. Mayor Michael A. Nutter urged Philadelphia residents to take the storm seriously and opened several storm shelters around the city. His briefing on Sunday can be seen on YouTube. "We are certain that a huge storm is coming in the direction of Philadelphia that poses a serious threat," he said at a news conference. He estimated that as many as 10,000 people in the city live in flood-prone areas and, while not issuing a mandatory evacuation, encouraged people to make use of the shelters. Mayor Michael A. Nutter gave an update on preparations for Hurricane Sandy on Sunday. Forecasts called for as much as a foot of rain to fall over the next 24 to 48 hours, with computer models showing Philadelphia directly in Hurricane Sandy's path. Bands of heavy rain and wind are expected to begin passing over the state starting late Sunday night and increasing in intensity on Monday. At the storm's peak, likely by late Monday, gusts could exceed 60 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service. Power companies across the state struggled to deal with the impact of Hurricane Irene, which knocked out power for more than one million residents last year, and a severe "derecho" storm this summer. In preparation for Hurricane Sandy, the utilities are calling on crews from neighboring states to help deal with the widespread power failures that are expected. Many residents said they were growing more concerned as the storm approached. Michael Dornblum, who owns a furniture store in Philadelphia, said he had dealt with regular floods since setting up shop in 1982 but feared this time was different. So on Sunday, he installed more than one hundred 80-pound sandbags on the outside of his 15,000-square-foot showroom. "This storm has me more concerned than with any other storm," he said. It's unprecedented. TRANSPORTATION: All public transportation in Philadelphia is suspended starting at midnight on Sunday. EVACUATIONS: Shelters were set up in Philadelphia and made available to more than 10,000 people who live in flood-prone areas. FORECAST: Major flooding and high winds are expected. POWER/UTILITIES: Long-term and widespread power failures are expected. Mayor Michael A. Nutter on Twitter American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter on Facebook Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management on YouTube Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management on Twitter The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Philadelphia Daily News on Twitter The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Philadelphia Daily News on Facebook Glenn Schwartz, a meteorologist for NBC10, on Twitter NBC10 News on Twitter 6ABC's "Action News" on Twitter With Hurricane Sandy forecast to make landfall several hundred miles to the south, the major worry in Rhode Island is storm surges and the likely deluge of rain that will come from the slow-moving storm. A state of emergency was declared and mandatory evacuation orders were issued for all residences and businesses in Misquamicut south of Shore Road; the low-lying areas of Weekapaug, Watch Hill and Avondale; and along the Pawcatuck River up to the Stillman Avenue Bridge, The Providence Journal reported. Ten shelters opened around the state for people in areas considered dangerous. The most dangerous times for flooding from storm surges will be during high tides on Monday, around 8 a.m. and around 8 p.m. On Sunday evening, all the ports in southeastern New England, including Narragansett Bay and Mount Hope Bay, were closed to vessel traffic. Officials said bridges would be closed if there were sustained winds of high speed. Governor Lincoln Chaffee said at a Sunday evening news conference that decisions about school closings and evacuations would be left to communities. He said that National Guard troops were ready to assist where needed and that power companies were prepared to deal with widespread power failures. "We'll be ready," Governor Chafee said. TRANSPORTATION: With heavy rain and wind forecast, bridges could be shut down and roads flooded. EVACUATIONS: Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for some low-lying communities. FORECAST: High winds and heavy flooding are expected. POWER/UTILITIES: Widespread power failures are expected. Rhode Island Emergency Management on Facebook Providence Emergency Management Department on Twitter Providence Department of Public Safety on Twitter The state's eastern coast and Chesapeake Bay waters are under warning for hurricane-force winds as the storm approaches, as is the whole coast from Virginia to Rhode Island. Virginia's mountains are expected to be hit by blizzardlike snow; some snow was already falling on Sunday evening. The state is very likely to experience widespread power failures. Richmond's mayor, declaring a state of emergency, said he expected this to be the biggest problem facing the city. Power companies are gearing up to restore service after the winds subside in two or three days. "This is going to be a long haul," said Gov. Bob McDonnell, who declared a state of emergency on Friday. We will no doubt have rain and high winds through Tuesday, and in Northern Virginia significant wind and rains into Wednesday. People are going to have to be patient," he told reporters. Gov. Bob McDonnell outlined emergency plans at a briefing on Sunday Virginia Beach announced that its public schools are closed on Monday, and there is little doubt that will be the case elsewhere in the state. ABC 7 News in Washington provided a list of school closings. Already, the rising sea was washing over the the beach at Hampton, according to AccuWeather.com. On Friday, the commander of United States Fleet Forces ordered all Navy ships in the Hampton Roads area to prepare for a sortie as Hurricane Sandy travels up the East Coast. The Navy posted a video on YouTube showing the preparations. The U.S. Navy uploaded this video showing preparations for Hurricane Sandy. Here are some of the effects of Hurricane Sandy in the Norfolk area on Sunday: The effects were just starting to be felt in the Virginia suburbs of Washington late Sunday and are expected to worsen early Monday. Virginia is a closely contested swing state in the presidential election, and there is a chance that power will still be out in parts of the state on Election Day. Polling places will get extra attention as the power is brought back on, Governor McDonnell said on CNN on Sunday morning. Both presidential candidates canceled campaign events in the state. TRANSPORTATION: Commuter rail and Amtrak service is canceled. Many flights have been canceled at Reagan National and Dulles International Airports. Airports will close when winds exceed safety limits. EVACUATIONS: Mostly voluntary evacuations occurred in low-lying areas in eastern Virginia, according to the governor, who said about 30 shelters were open. FORECAST: Coastal hurricane-force winds, prolonged high winds inland, coastal and inland flooding, and heavy snow in the western mountains. Virginia State Police on Facebook Virginia Department of Emergency Management on Facebook Virginia Department of Emergency Management on Twitter Governor Bob McDonnell on Twitter Virginia Department of Transportation on Twitter Red Cross of Southeastern Virginia on Twitter Red Cross of Southeastern Virginia on Facebook The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk on Twitter There is a high probability that a foot or two or even three feet of snow could fall in the mountains of West Virginia, one of the most striking features of the storm, and one that is likely to do a lot of damage. This map from the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center shows the forecast probabilities: Governor Earl Ray Tomblin outlined preparations at a briefing on Sunday, telling people that they needed to prepare "for all scenarios." Gather batteries, flashlights, bottled water, nonperishable food items, blankets, medications, a battery-operated radio and other necessities. Be sure to check on each other - family, friends and neighbors," he said in a statement. Our West Virginia National Guard and other resources are on standby, so that we may act quickly if needed. Our Department of Highway staff is on call and ready - they have tested their plows and other snow equipment and are scheduled to begin work at midnight tonight. Additionally our utility companies are making preparations. The June 29 "derecho" windstorm cut off power to hundreds of thousands of the state's residents, and many of them did not get power back for two weeks. There is a high likelihood that power will take a long time to restore this time, as well. This time, though, the storm will be followed by cold weather, making shelter a bigger issue. The Charleston Daily Mail reports that T.D. Lively of the state Division of Homeland Security said the American Red Cross had several shelters on standby, adding that "typically West Virginia doesn't have a large need for sheltering because people tend to stay with family." TRANSPORTATION: Amtrak service is canceled. All forms of transportation are likely to be paralyzed by the expected two to three feet of snow. EVACUATIONS: None are expected, but shelters may be needed. FORECAST: A blizzard with wet snow and high winds, especially at elevations that could produce more than two feet of snow. Rain and flooding. Information on how to report an outage is here. West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management on Twitter West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management on Facebook.