Flooding from the same storm destroyed a signal array in the tunnels beneath the Hudson, and knocked out train service between New Jersey and lower Manhattan for 10 days.

WSJ: Salt Water Puts City's Subway System 'in Jeopardy'

By Monday afternoon, as gusts gained speed to signal the storm's approach, stock exchange officials won approval from the SEC to remain closed for a second day.

WSJ: Behind Decision to Close Markets

Officials feared the brackish storm water that poured into tunnels could corrode vulnerable signal and switching systems, complicating the task of reopening a bus and rail system that ferries 8.5 million passengers on a typical workday.

WSJ: Superstorm Sandy Cuts Wide Swath of Damage

ConEd officials Tuesday showed a 5-foot tall concrete wall now standing in front of a structure that housed signal equipment, which was flooded during the storm.

WSJ: ConEd Storm Plan to Cost $1 Billion

We thumbed our phones trying to getting a signal, exchanged texts and surfed Twitter for storm updates, both for our location in lower Westchester County in New York, and for the traditional summer stomping grounds of Beach Haven, New Jersey, a spot of barrier island off the pine barrens where my toes have met sand and salt since the 1960s.

FORBES: The Big Lesson of #Sandy: Connectivity Matters in an Emergency

He said local authorities had been asked to hoist a danger signal of 3 out of 10 a moderate signal , which might be increased depending on the storm's strength and direction.

WSJ: Cyclone Threatens Bangladesh, Myanmar

Officials feared the brackish storm water that poured into subway tunnels and onto tracks could corrode vulnerable signal and switching systems, adding to the time workers will need to reopen the MTA's full system, which ferries 8.5 million passengers on a typical workday.

WSJ: Buses Back, But Subways Could Take Days Longer