Video Of The Day: Time Lapse Of Superstorm Sandy Hitting New York City

by Jessica Marati on

Richard Shepherd created this time lapse video of Superstorm Sandy hitting New York City by using images from the New York Times webcam, which has been positioned on the 51st floor of the Times building in midtown Manhattan since the start of the storm. The video shows the progression of Sandy from noon on October 29 until 9:30 a.m. on October 30. Keep your eye out for a shift at minute 0:42, when electricity went out and downtown Manhattan plunged into darkness.

New York’s LaGuardia Airport Flooded

by Jeremy Kressmann on

New Yorkers and residents along the Eastern Seaboard are just beginning to emerge today from the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy – millions remain without power, thousands of flights have been cancelled and transportation throughout the region has been severely disrupted.

If you need further evidence of what it looks like in New York here on the ground, just check out this shot posted this morning by a flight attendant at LaGuardia airport. The airport, which lies in a low-lying coastal area remains severely flooded this morning.

For those of you in transit this week, stay patient. It could be a few days before normal flight, train and bus service in and out of the New York area resumes normal activity.

UPDATE: A special thanks to tireless LaGuardia airport worker Francesco Giannola for your photo.

[Photo credit: Francesco Giannola]

Frankenstorm Brings Plenty Of Scare, Halloween Canceled For Many

by Chris Owen on

As waters from the Frankenstorm caused by Hurricane Sandy subside, six million people are without power, hundreds of thousands have been evacuated and thousands more are stranded in airports around the country. Not exactly where everyone wants to be on the eve of yearly Halloween celebrations.

“It’s the worst I’ve seen,” said David Arnold, from Long Branch, N.J., in a New York Times report. “The ocean is in the road, there are trees down everywhere. I’ve never seen it this bad.”

The far-reaching storm has East coast residents, normally planning on trick-or-treating, costume parties or haunted attractions, just trying to get back home. Once there, they hope to find a roof over their heads, power and food – elements of life they might normally have taken for granted.Instead of carving pumpkins or going door to door to collect candy in New York, residents are finding homes burned and transportation virtually stopped after Hurricane Sandy sent floodwaters into the city’s five boroughs, submerging cars, tunnels and the subway system.

Telling scary stories, watching horror films and playing pranks as part of a traditional Halloween may never have more meaning though, as residents recount what actually happened to them during the storm as we see in this video.



Still, in other parts of the country, Halloween events continue.

On the West Coast, California has a number of theme park attractions open including Knott’s Scary Farm at Knott’s Berry Farm, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood, Disney’s HalloweenTime and Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat Party at Disneyland Resort.

[Photo Credit: Flickr user furyksx]

Live Blogging Hurricane Sandy: Current Hotel Closings And Special Offers

by McLean Robbins on

Reporting live from your Storm Team headquarters in Washington, D.C., we’re aiming to bring you the very latest on Hurricane Sandy and its associated hotel and travel related closings and special offers.

We’ll update this so long as we have power, so check back in for updates throughout the storm.

HOTEL SPECIALS
The Setai, New York
By using their backup generator, the hotel has a complimentary charging station set up on the corner of 5th and 36th. (h/t The Setai Facebook)

Kimpton Hotels (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C.)
Use rate code SANDY for 20% off the best available rate at ALL Kimpton properties in the Northeast and Mid Atlantic. This rate is available through 10/31. Book here or call 1-800-KIMPTON for reservations. They have also waived cancellation fees for all properties (updated 10/30).

The Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown, Washington, D.C. and Pentagon City
The Washington, D.C. and Georgetown properties are offering a $229 special including Wi-Fi and parking. The Pentagon City property is offering a $299 rate, but the attached Fashion Center at Pentagon City is closed Monday.

The Jefferson, Washington, D.C.
The Jefferson hotel is catering to hurricane-stranded (or powerless) travelers with rates starting at $295 for standard guest rooms and $595 for suites. At 6 PM, guests will meet with the managing staff as the storm intensifies. Guests will enjoy complimentary muffins and coffee in the morning, hot apple cider in the afternoon, and a light supper of hors d’ouerves and cocktails in the evening as part of the room rate.

The Four Seasons, Washington
The hotel is fully operational and offering special rates for locals with a Maryland, D.C. or Virginia ID. Please call the hotel directly at 202-342-0444 to book.

Hyatt Regency Washington
The hotel has rates from $179 for stranded or powerless travelers.

The Mandarin Oriental, Washington, D.C.
The hotel is fully operational (including a movie room with snacks!) and rates start at $335. The hotel also allows for two pets (up to 40 pounds each) so you can even travel with Fido or Fifi.

Hyatt Hotels
Hyatt Hotels and Resorts have waived cancellation fees at many of its East Coast properties, the Hyatt blog reported.

Park Hyatt Washington, D.C.
The hotel is offering a special “neighbor”rate of $229 this week for those stranded because of Sandy. It includes overnight parking in our garage and free WiFi. They’re pet friendly and it is a one time fee of $150, no weight limit. h/t Elizabeth Thorp of Poshbrood.com, a curated catalog of upscale, mom-tested family-friendly accommodations and Virtuoso travel advisors.

Willard InterContinental
The hotel has space, electricity and are dog/pet friendly. Rates begin at $259 a night. They are also offering some fun activities for families today and tomorrow:

  • Willard: cooking demonstration with 3-Michelin star chef Antoine Westermann at Cafe du Parc from 5:30 to 6:15.
  • Pumpkin carving contest – guests will judge at Round Robin Bar from 5:30-7:30
  • Free movie with dinner ordered through room service. (h/t Elizabeth Thorp)

The Fairmont
The hotel is offering a $225 Hurricane rate. Happy hour until midnight, and a family movie with popcorn, sodas and candy. Call 202.429-2400 and ask for the Hurricane rate. (h/t Elizabeth Thorp)

HOTEL CLOSINGS

Sandals Grande Riviera Beach and Villa Golf Resort & Beaches Ocho Rios
The Sandals is closed for new arrivals until November 2, and Beaches will postpone its planned re-opening until November 15 due to hurricane damage, Travel Weekly reports.

New York Marriott Downtown & Ritz-Carlton Battery Park
The hotel has been closed due to evacuations as a precautionary measure against potential flooding, Hotel News Now and USA Today report.

Atlantic City
Casinos in the city have been closed since Sunday afternoon, the Press of Atlantic City is reporting.

Le Parker Meridien New York
Evacuated earlier today. h/t Barbara Delollis.

AIRPORT CLOSINGS

We’d suggest you check directly with your airport or airline for closures and delays, but many airlines are offering waived cancellation and change fees or travel refunds for those affected by the storm.

[Image credit: NASA Goddard Photo and Video]

Weather Events Send Aircraft, Cruise Ships Running

by Chris Owen on

When weather events cause travel disruptions, most people planning a vacation or business trip to an affected area have to change their plans. Airports and roads close, flights are diverted and destinations may be damaged or destroyed. Suddenly, the best travel plan has gaping holes in it that need instant attention. The good news is that many travel service providers stand by to help.

Right now, a massive superstorm, caused by the rendezvous of hurricane Sandy and two other big winter storms, is aimed at locations 800 miles inland up and down the U.S. East Coast and experts are worried.

“We’re looking at impact of greater than 50 to 60 million people,” said Louis Uccellini, head of environmental prediction for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in an Associated Press report.

Those with travel plans on either side of the storm are scrambling to reschedule. Airlines are waiving change fees for travelers who want to change their flights in and out of the growing area to be affected by the storm. It’s not something they have to do, but as travel service providers, airlines want to minimize the inconvenience to their customers.

Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines and others are allowing air travelers to rebook flights starting Sunday for travel to and from a variety of Eastern U.S. airports.

Airlines are urging booked passengers to check the status of their flight frequently. Another good idea is to have a backup plan in place. If travelers have those potentially affected flights entered in smartphone app TripIt, for example, alternate flights are readily available. Signing up for email and/or text alerts from your airline provides additional information.

Similar in formation to 1991’s perfect storm when hurricane Grace joined a nor’easter and a cold front, this one looks to be far more powerful. That 1991 storm never came ashore. This one will.

Now, travel via cruise ship suddenly has a bit more allure. Unlike land-based travel destinations, cruise ships can, do and have moved out of harms way. Those booked on a cruise vacation will have less disruption than, say, those planning a trip to Atlantic City, New Jersey where casinos are closed and mandatory evacuations are happening.

Most of the time.

This storm is so big that in addition to normal itinerary modifications, ports are closing and entire sailings of a few ships have been cancelled. Carnival Cruise Line has canceled the October 28 sailing of Carnival Glory, not because of the storm, but due to a situation at the Norfolk Cruise Terminal. Positioned behind a major flood gate, which will will be closed to protect the city, there will be no access to the cruise terminal.

Regardless of the method of travel, this is where having a good travel agent in our back pocket comes in handy. Frankly, providing assistance to travelers in a time of emergency is probably one of the least common tasks that agents do. But in a situation like this, when surfing the Internet to make alternate plans can burn up valuable time that might have snagged a seat on the next flight out, travel agents shine.

Armed with information on all flights, hotels, cruise lines and other travel service providers at their fingertips, a good full-service travel agent can be the most efficient way to save the day.



[Photo Credit: Flickr user by ph_zainabe]