”The worst disaster since 9/11” – that’s how Superstorm Sandy has been described today by a Mayo-born broadcaster in New York, where thousands of homes have been flooded and millions of people are without power, as the storm rages across the East coast of the United States.

16 people have been killed in the US and Canada - after 67 deaths in the Caribbean.

Adrian Flannelly from Attymass, who’s Chairman and CEO of Irish Radio Network USA based in New York, says the worst affected area is Long Island, where many Irish people live.

The main bridges and tunnels into Manhattan are closed, with some tunnels under 11 feet of water, which means no transport into or out of the city.

Mr Flannelly said it’s the worst disaster in the 108-year history of the New York subway system -  and some of the system has been destroyed.

Mike Carty, owner of the well-known Rosie O’Grady’s Bar & Restaurant in Manhattan, told Midwest News that they were lucky enough not to experience a power outage, but he said the eye of the storm was worse than anticipated.