Hurricane Sandy: storm strengthens as it bears down on the east coast of the US

1. Damaged cars sit under a fallen tree from high winds in the Queens borough of New York 2. A flooded street between two casinos along the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey 3. An abandoned home is inundated with water at Shinnecock Bay in Southampton, New York 4. The Hudson River swells and rises over the banks of the waterfront in Hoboken, New Jersey 5. A yacht smashes on the rocks after breaking free from its mooring on City Island, New York 6. Storm surge hits a small tree as winds from Hurricane Sandy reach Seaside Park in Bridgeport, Connecticut 7. Rough surf of the Atlantic Ocean breaks over the beach and across Beach Avenue in Cape May, New Jersey 8. US President Barack Obama steps off Air Force One upon arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Obama cancelled his appearance 9. US President Barack Obama gets a real soaking as he walks through a downpour on his return to the White House in Washington, DC 10. An Obama campaign sign in seen in the floodwaters in front of a home as rain continues to fall in Norfolk, Virginia