NEW YORK
New York City's ubiquitous public transit system shut down ahead of Sandy's landfall, leaving iconic sites such as Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station empty.
The city expects a slow surge of water to flood low-lying areas such as Queens, the Bronx and Battery Park in Manhattan, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said.
Mandatory evacuations are in place for parts of New York City. Evacuation centers have been opened in 76 locations, and schools in the city are closed Monday.
Offices at United Nations headquarters in Manhattan also will be closed Monday, as will the physical trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Operations will continue on the company's electronic exchange.
The Broadway League canceled all Broadway performances Monday night, citing the suspension of public transportation.
Instead of tourists and theater fans, piles of sandbags lined Broadway.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo directed Army and Air National Guard members to mobilize for Sandy, and Obama has declared a state of emergency for New York.
NORTH CAROLINA
Strong winds and rain that fell sideways lashed the Outer Banks as the outskirts of Sandy pummeled the barrier islands.
Forecast expect between 4 and 7 inches of rain to fall over several days in the Outer Banks, with some spots receiving 8 or more inches.
PENNSYLVANIA
Gov. Tom Corbett declared a statewide disaster emergency ahead of the storm, Corbett's office said.
Flooding, power outages and sustained high winds are anticipated, his office said. Sandy could even bring snow to parts of southwestern Pennsylvania and in higher elevations.
"Essentially, this is a hurricane wrapped in a nor'easter," Corbett said.
Public schools in Philadelphia will be closed on Monday.
Public transportation in the Philadelphia area has been suspended.
RHODE ISLAND
The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency urged all residents to prepare for prolonged power outages, wind damage and water damage by keeping an emergency kit, securing property and taking boats out of the water.
State authorities have taken precautions such as checking and clearing drains in flood-prone areas and relocating state equipment if necessary.
Public schools in Providence, the state capital, will be closed Monday.
Obama has declared a state of emergency for Rhode Island.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Radar showed heavy rains from the fringes of Sandy pelting much of South Carolina's coast, from Charleston to Myrtle Beach.
The Palmetto State is expected to avoid a direct hit from the storm, which is expected to make landfall well to the north.
VIRGINIA
Virginia was one of several states to declare a state of emergency ahead of the storm. Computer models predict parts of the state could see as much as a foot of rain.
Sandbags piled up inside restaurants in the Old Town section of Alexandria, along the banks of the Potomac River.
The Virginia National Guard was authorized to bring as many as 500 personnel onto active duty.
All public schools in Fairfax County, a large school district in northern Virginia, will be closed Monday and Tuesday. Schools in Arlington, Norfolk, and Newport will be closed on Monday.
