Superstorm Sandy: Floodwater causes Maryland coffins to rise from graves

Published on 01/11/2012 10:53

The storm-ravaged states of America’s east coast were left reeling last night as the force of floodwater in the ground caused coffins to rise from their graves.

• Caskets break through ground and float to surface

• US tries to come to terms with grim desolation of storm

The loose earth on recently-dug graves meant that the rampant floodwater which hit the Eastern Seaboard was able to force coffins to float to the surface at Crisfield cemetery in Maryland.

The grim Hallowe’en discovery comes as the US begins the massive clear-up effort needed after Superstorm Sandy tore up the coast of the country on Monday leaving 72 dead and about 6.2 million homes and businesses without power, including four million in New York and New Jersey. Electricity was out as far west as Wisconsin and as far south as the Carolinas.

President Barack Obama had been forced to abandon campaigning for next week’s US election as he visited the area to inspect the damage.

The president promised to use military resources if necessary and encouraged stricken citizens to immediately start registering for emergency assistance.

He said: “We are here for you and we will not forget. We will follow up to make sure that you get all the help that you need until you rebuild.”

Recovery

Many roads and subways remain underwater while it is thought that it may take around a week to restore power to some areas.

New Yorkers are being offered free travel on subways, buses and commuter trains as the city tries to help ease recovery as limited subway service is expected to start today.

New York governor Andrew Cuomo said the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is waiving fares on Thursday and Friday to encourage people to use mass transit instead of driving into the city.

City buses are running and limited commuter rail services have also started.

To signal the start of the road back to normal life in the city, the United Nations (UN) Security Council held a makeshift meeting after the storms forced the world body to remain mostly closed for a third day.

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