Hurricane Sandy has left the Eastern Seaboard communities struggling to recover from the deluge of water.
Parts of Ocean City in Maryland and Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach in Delaware were hit with surging waters.
The flood waters filled the low-lying areas on the western side of Delaware’s major coastal highway Route 1 in Dewey Beach.
Governor ordered the evacuation of about 50-thousand people in the coastal communities.
Thousands wound up in Wilmington and Delaware City.
(Salisbury University will be open Wednesday)
Chesapeake Bay Bridge
The Maryland Department of Transportation reopened the Chesapeake Bay Bridge this morning, after closing it down late Monday due to high winds.
In addition, all bridges and tunnels in Maryland are now open with some wind restrictions.
Driving Ban Lifted
Governor Jack Markell has lifted the Level 2 driving ban in Delaware, after an assessment of road conditions by state highway crews and discussion with emergency management officials.
However, WBOC-TV reports that a Level 1 Driving Warning is in effect, cautioning drivers that many road are closed as a result of damage from the storm.
The television station reports that because of heavy flooding and other damage, evacuation of many areas is still in effect.
Additional flooding could cause road closures when the high tide cycle comes up along the coast line and hits the Delaware Bay and River between 8:30 am and 1 pm.
However, Governor Jack Markell said that he would not be lifing the mandatory closing of busineses n the evacuation areas until officials decide it is safe.
Officials advised motorists that road tolls, which were waived throughout the state to ease the evaucation process would be reinstated as of 1 pm for Interstate 95 and state Route 1 at 3 pm.
Governor Markell said the storm did not appear to cause as much widespread damage that had been feared on Monday afternoon
Power Outages (Update)
There are tens of thousands without power this morning on Delmarva.
Delmarva Power says upwards of 74-thousand customers were still without power as of 5:15 this morning.
42-thousand are in Delaware with the rest in Maryland.
The most seriously hit is New Castle County with nearly 38-thousand customers without power while Sussex County had 3-thousand and Kent County had nearly 17 hundred without power.
Meanwhile, the Delaware Department of Transportation crews are beginning to go out on the roads to do a damage assessment and to decide if the driving ban should continue.
The Wilmington News Journal reports that at least 30 roads in Delaware have been closed including Delaware Route 1 between Dewey Beach and Fenwick Island.
More than 900 people are reported to be using shelters with more than 700 in Sussex County.
Maryland
In Maryland Hurricane Sandy’s water slammed into Ocean City destroying – at least – half of the resort’s pier.
At this point 100 to 150 feet of the pier is now gone.
In Crisfield Governor Martin O’Malley says around 50 to 60 people had to be evacuated from a development in Crisfield when a tidal surge flooded homes on the first floor.
Governor O’Malley said that around 75-100 people stayed on the second floor of homes at Somers Cover in Somerset County.
The people, who were evacuated, took shelter at Washington High School.
Bridges
Route 90 into Ocean city has been reopened after being closed except for emergency traffic.
To the south in Chincoteague Virginia has reopened the causeway as the water from Hurricane Sandy receded with the road reopening on Monday night.
The causeway links Chincoteague Island with the Eastern Shore.
Schools
The following are closed Tuesday
Cape Henlopen School District
Chesapeake College
Delaware State University
Delaware Tech- Dover
Delaware Tech - Georgetown
Delamar School District
Dorchester School District & Centeral Office
Epworth Crhistian School
Indian River School District
Lake Forest School District
laruel School District
Milford School District
Salisbury School
Seaford School District
Salisbury University
Smyrna School District
Somerset County Schools
St. Francis De Sales -- SBY
Sussex Tech School District
Wicomico County Schools & Office
Worcester County Schools (Tuesday & Wednesday)
Worcester Prep School
Woodbridge School District
