Sandy: Fuel Crisis Grows On US East Coast

A US motorist has reportedly threatened another with a gun as the fuel crisis escalated along the US East Coast in the wake of superstorm Sandy.

Huge queues have been developing outside petrol stations throughout the stretch of the country battered by a storm that has killed more than 90 people.

New York District Attorney Richard Brown said 35-year-old Sean Bailey, of Queens, was arrested after he tried to jump the queue at a petrol station - and pointed a pistol at another driver who complained.

He was arrested on charges of menacing and criminal possession of a weapon.

Queues of cars stretching back more than a mile could be seen in areas including New Jersey and parts of neighbouring state Pennsylvania.

New Jersey resident Stephanie Damiano spoke to Sky News while waiting in a queue to but petrol.

Drivers argue at a petrol station in New Jersey

"This line is wrapping around the whole entire highway, there's miles backed up," she said.

"I've been here for two hours and 18 minutes exactly. We're just now reaching the front. There's about a hundred cars behind me now.

"I actually got assaulted last night waiting on the same exact line. I was walking in Walmart parking lot and a guy just got really agitated and assaulted me and tried to get into my car."

New York mayor Michael Bloomberg said he expected the shortages to ease over the coming days.

"Some of the gas stations aren't open because they don't have electricity," he said.

"That, over the next few days, should be accommodated. Once mass transit comes back you will have a lot fewer cars trying to buy gasoline."

Meanwhile, fears of lawlessness were rife, with more than 4.6 million homes and businesses across the country still without electricity because of the storm - which has caused up to $50bn worth of damage.

The Guardian Angels, a group of anti-crime volunteers, have been carrying out patrols in Manhattan island.

People wait in line to fill containers with fuel in Edison, New Jersey

Wolfgang Ban, a restaurant owner in Manhattan's Alphabet City neighbourhood, said: "People feel safe during the day but as soon as the sun sets, people are extremely scared.

"The fact that Guardian Angels are on the streets trying to restore law just shows how out of control the situation is in lower Manhattan."

There has also been anger in New York at Mr Bloomberg's decision to proceed with the city's marathon on Sunday - more than 40,000 runners are due in the city.

Frustration has been particularly acute in Staten Island, where rubbish has been piling up, a stench hangs in the air and mud-caked mattresses and furniture line the streets.

New York City councilman James Oddo said on his Twitter account: "If they take one first responder from Staten Island to cover this marathon, I will scream.

"We have people with no homes and no hope right now."

Elsewhere, the US Coast Guard said it had halted its search for the captain of tall ship HMS Bounty that sank off the North Carolina coast.

The search for 63-year-old Robin Walbridge - which employed ships, helicopters and planes - was suspended after more than three days of around-the-clock effort.

New Jersey officials say they will deploy military trucks to serve as polling places on Election Day in storm-battered communities, and are also extending the deadline for mail-in ballots.

The trucks will be parked at polling places that do not have power.

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