Much of New York, America's biggest city and its financial hub, remained paralysed even as crews began the daunting task of cleaning up flooded subways, waterlogged buildings and burned homes. A total of 6.2 million people remained without power.

Some of New York City ground transit and airports were coming back to life Wednesday. The New York Stock Exchange was set to reopen after a two-day closure, the first for weather-related reasons since 1888.