US takes first steps back to normality after Sandy

The people of New York City and the East Coast of the US began their first steps back to a normal routine today, following the destruction caused by Superstorm Sandy - which killed more than 60 people.

Millions of people still remain without power, but bus services and some subway networks are operating.

Two major airports reopened and the New York Stock Exchange came back to life, but the National Guard was still searching wrecked buildings in New Jersey for more survivors, or victims.

Washington Correspondent Robert Moore reports:

Thousands of people remain trapped in the New Jersey city of Hobroken by flood waters that are yet to subside. A message on the city's Facebook page reads:

International Editor Bill Neely reports:

At the stock exchange, running on generator power, mayor Michael Bloomberg gave a thumbs-up and rang the opening bell to cheers from traders on the floor. Trading resumed after the first two-day weather shutdown since the Blizzard of 1888.

Kennedy and Newark airports reopened with limited service morning. New York's LaGuardia Airport, which suffered far worse damage and where water covered parts of runways, remained closed.

It was clear that restoring the region to its ordinarily frenetic pace could take days - and that rebuilding the hardest-hit communities and the transportation networks that link them together could take considerably longer.

Forecasting firm IHS Global Insight predicted the affect of Sandy will end up costing $50 billion as it causes up to about $20 billion in damage and $10 billion to $30 billion in lost business.

President Barack Obama visited the headquarters of FEMA (The Federal Emergency Management Agency) following Superstorm Sandy. He told staff America is not out of the woods yet, adding: "You all deserve a pat on the back".

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told a news conference a limited subway service will begin on Thursday following its closure ahead of Sandy's arrival.

New York Mayor Bloomberg says mandatory evacuations in the city will not be lifted until the affected buildings are inspected.

But as America repairs to rebuild, Haiti, which has yet to recover from a devastating earthquake two years ago, is also counting the human and monetary cost of Sandy.