Hours before Hurricane Sandy hits the East Coast, reports from Atlantic City, New Jersey show the damage has already begun. Brand new casino/resort Revel, which opened this Spring chock full of chef-driven restaurants, shut down yesterday at noon. Chefs including Marc Forgione, Jose Garces and Michel Richard have restaurants in the casino; other big name restaurateurs with locations in Atlantic City include Bobby Flay, Wolfgang Puck, and Michael Mina.
All of Atlantic City's casinos have shut down for the duration of the storm following orders by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie as Sandy is expected to make landfall in the area. According to the Christian Science Monitor, the area surrounding the Revel was under a foot of water by 7:30 this morning; witnesses on Twitter are reporting the same. Parts of the city's famous Boardwalk have broken up and are floating down the streets, and the city's Public Safety director has reported that most of the city is under water.
· Hurricane Sandy Liveblog: Atlantic City Flooding as Storm Surge Begins [CSM]
· Atlantic City Evacuates, Closes Casinos, Faces Flooding [USA Today]
· Sandy Strengthens on Path Toward New Jersey [AP]
· All Hurricane Sandy Coverage on Eater [-E-]