ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION

A 167-foot tanker ran aground the shore of New York City borough Staten Island on Monday (October 29) night.

It was pushed there by the giant storm Sandy which dropped just below hurricane status before making landfall in New Jersey on Monday.

The 700 ton water tanker "John B. Caddell " built in 1941 was tied down originally at the Sea Knights marina half a mile away.

On Tuesday (October 30) locals came out to witness the sight, and among them was Victoria Zaccardo.

"I have been hearing about it and I didn't believe it. And then I came down here and seeing that it's so close, it's crazy," the 14-year-old told Reuters.

Her father Michael Zaccardo was equally impressed.

"It's amazing that the wind and the water did such damage and can push the boat here. Just if you go around the neighborhood the damage that it caused and the debris and everything from the water up here it's amazing."

At least 30 people were reported killed in the United States by Sandy, one of the biggest storms to ever hit the country.

Businesses and homes along the New Jersey shore were wrecked and communities were submerged under floodwater across a large area. More than 8 million homes and businesses in several states were without electricity as trees toppled by Sandy's fierce winds took down power lines.

President Barack Obama issued federal emergency decrees for New York and New Jersey, declaring that "major disasters" existed in both states. One disaster-forecasting company predicted economic losses could ultimately reach $20 billion (USD), only half insured.