Sandy the Powerful: US battens down as hurricane approaches (VIDEO)

From the lowest lying areas of the New Jersey shoreline, where residents were already being encouraged to leave, to the state's northern highlands, where sandbags were being filled and cars moved into car parks on higher ground, New Jersey began preparing in earnest for Hurricane Sandy on Monday.

Along the boardwalk at Asbury Park in New Jersey, a few hardy souls ventured out to watch the building fury of Hurricane Sandy. 

Businesses were boarded up and sandbags in place as the storm lashed the coastline. Even so, residents of nearby towns walked out into the face of the storm to see for themselves.