Northeast Begins Cleanup After Powerful Nor’easter Causes Flooding, Wind Damage and Beach Erosion
After days of relentless wind and rain, the Northeast is finally catching a break as a powerful nor’easter that walloped the East Coast slowly weakens and drifts toward the Gulf of Maine. The storm, which turned roads into rivers, knocked out power to hundreds of thousands, and canceled hundreds of flights, is expected to reach Canada by Sept. 30, according to forecasters. While the worst is over, the region now faces a massive cleanup effort.
The nor’easter left a trail of destruction from New York to Maine. More than 4 inches (10 centimeters) of rain fell in some parts of New Jersey since Friday, combining with a surging ocean to produce flooding not seen in nearly a decade. Residents in typically flood-prone areas were caught off guard by the extreme water levels. As of Monday, about 20,000 buildings remained without power across New York, Connecticut, Maine, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, according to a USA TODAY outage tracker. The storm also caused severe beach erosion, creating dangerous, steep drops along the shoreline.
Travel and events were heavily disrupted. Hundreds of flights were canceled at Boston Logan International Airport, and the vast majority of flights at Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket were grounded. The Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs had to shuffle the schedule for their three-game series as both teams prepare for the playoffs during the final weekend of the regular MLB season. The nor’easter is now weakening and drifting slowly northeast from Long Island, New York, to Massachusetts, and into the Gulf of Maine by Tuesday. Mainly light rain continues to spin around the storm throughout New England.
As the new week begins, communities are assessing the damage and starting to clean up. Maritime experts are traveling to Nantucket to investigate shipwreck remains exposed by the nor’easter. Meanwhile, residents are urged to stay cautious around eroded beaches and flooded areas. The storm’s impact serves as a stark reminder of the power of nature and the importance of preparedness. ABC News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Shimanta Das 
