Record storm surge floods low lying streets. Most buildings safe for now.

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Damage report 11:47 PM

The West Side Highway is now back to a passable street and no longer an extension of New York Harbor.

Damage report 10:45 PM

The water level on West Street is receding, and the connecting streets, such as West Thames, are draining back down to sea level again. At the worst, the water was approximately 100 yards up West Thames. It is not back down to West Street. The South Cove and esplanade are also receding.

Power had been turned off in the Financial District near West Street.

Goldman Sachs and Vesey Street are dry, but are “surrounded” by water on West Street. All of those sand bags they ordered were a smart idea.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Sandy has passed inland. The winds and rain were very modest.

The actual storm system of Sandy is now over Ohio and the Midwest now and heading toward Canada. The remaining risk will be the next high tide in the morning. To monitor the most reliable satellite images, click here.

Update 9:56 PM

As of 10:00, the record high tides from the storm surge are receding. Most areas of Battery Park City are not flooded. The buildings of River Terrace and on North End Avenue are dry and have power. All of the buildings on or near South End Avenue are dry and have power.

The lowest lying areas, however, are flooded. Those include:

• West Street (West Side Highway)
• Portions of the streets connecting to West Street
• Wagner Park
• All of the esplanade is under water
• Gateway Plaza was flooded. A resident reports “Our electrical vaults went under water. The whole row of trees in front of 500 bldg cracked and fell. Gateway 400 bldg basement is flooded. There will be huge dollars in repair.”

Surprisingly, the docks in North Cove are “fine” according to Commodore Fortenbaugh.

October 29, 2012 9:15 PM

In an eerily quiet windless night, the high tides and full moon created record high tides flooding the West Side Highway and connecting streets. Most buildings in Battery Park are still dry, with a few basements flooded near the Ritz Carton.

West Thames Street is dry for now, not yet resembling the River Thames. The nearby dog run is under a few inches of water.

High tide will begin to recede after 9:30 PM. The next high today in the morning might bring more of the same.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Sandy has passed inland. The winds and rain were very modest.

The actual storm system of Sandy is now over Ohio and the Midwest now and heading toward Canada. The remaining risk will be the next high tide in the morning. To monitor the most reliable satellite images, click here.