Threat of Hurricane Sandy grows as it targets U.S. East Coast

Clouds gather over New York October 27, 2012. Hurricane Sandy is churning out in the Atlantic as the entire north eastern USA prepares for its arrival. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

HATTERAS ISLAND, North Carolina (Reuters) - Hurricane Sandy closed in on the United States on Saturday as coastal communities along the East Coast scrambled to prepare for torrential rains, high winds, major flooding and power outages a week before the presidential election.

Governors in states in the hurricane's path declared emergencies, announcing mandatory evacuations of vulnerable areas. New York City officials discussed whether to shut the subway system on Sunday in advance of the storm.