FORMER Northwood Green couple Pauline and Roly Harmer told of their terror as Frankenstorm Sandy swept through Delaware and New Jersey on the east coast.

"It's been a very scary situation for the past two days," said mum-of-two Pauline, who has been living in Magnolia just miles from Delaware Bay with husband Roly since June.

With a driving ban in force and schools closed during Monday and Tuesday, the couple stayed indoors while winds battered their home.

"We just had to sit tight. I'm glad there were no big trees near our home," said Pauline.

"We got in plenty of food and we were so lucky to still have power through Monday night.

"I never want to experience that again – it was absolutely terrifying."

Her eldest son Tony lives in New York but fortunately was in California at the time, while younger son Rob, who lives on Long Island, told his mum through Facebook to stop worrying.

Hurricane Sandy claimed 40 lives as it swept along the east coast hitting New York on Tuesday.

Some airports, government buildings, schools and the New York Stock Exchange were returning to normal yesterday. But a million people still had no power and the New York subway remained shut.

Barak Obama put his campaigning on hold to deal with the crisis.

The cost of clearing up after storm Sandy has been estimated at £18-24 billion.