Stars get Tweeting updates on Hurricane Sandy

Stars like Whoopi Goldberg and Joan Collins took to Twitter to give blow by blow accounts of the storms that have battered the Big Apple.

Shortly before 1am the star of Sister Act, Miss Goldberg, described some alarming scenes.

She said: "So trees kissing ground. The wind is insane and we have a crane on 57th street that is dangling over the street.

Big, big wind and Sandy not here yet."

She later added: "This wind and rain caused a building facade to fall off, many without power, transformers on electric poles are popping, trees down everywhere", followed an hour later by "yeah, it's crazy here".

British Dynasty star Miss Collins began with a flippant remark when she said: "True disaster is that Bloomingdale's is closed today. Where's a girl to shop during a hurricane?"

But as the storm got worse she later added: "Big power outage in Brooklyn and some in New Jersey, just had electrics flicker here.

"Most of Atlantic City is under water and the boardwalk swept away."

Thousands of flights in and out of America have been cancelled because of the Hurricane Sandy.

But Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis, said: "Enduring hitting the outskirts of Hurricane Sandy's wrath while we land in the plane. Hope everyone is safe and OK" at around 7.30am today UK time.

Last night former Britain's Got Talent judge Piers Morgan, who now presents a show on American network CNN, wrote of his amazement at seeing people out in the storm and going past the window of the TV studios.

He said: "People going jogging by the water in NY. One word - Idiots."

Actress Melissa Joan Hart, who starred in children's sitcoms Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Clarissa Explains It All in the 1990s, spent last night with her family carving Halloween pumpkins.

But the mother of three reported how the storm was affecting her home.

She said: "Just lost two giant trees luckily they fell away from house but one fell on the power lines out front, now blocking driveway.

She later added: "Moving the family to the basement. Too many giant trees falling. Stay safe everyone. God bless."

After staying silent for most of the night she added at around 8.20am UK time: "Thanks for all the love and prayers.

"We are all good, just gonna be without power for a long time.I think Halloween for my boys is a bust."

British celebrities in New York have also told of their experiences, although they appeared to be able to see the funnier side of things.

The author Salman Rushdie said: "Lights flickered off/on. Wind crazy. Watching the big old tree out back. It's a tough New York tree. It can take it. Right, tree? Am I right?"

A follower then responded by creating a spoof Twitter account called Salman Rushdie's Tree which told him "worry not Salman, I will be strong".

Mr Rushdie later added: "The power is out over much of manhattan / including here. Good night all. Good luck, tree."

Singer Rita Ora, who had number one hits this year with Hot Right Now, How We Do (Party) and RIP was waiting to find out whether a concert she was giving in New York was still going ahead.

Last night she said on Twitter: "My show is still on as of now.

"I'm fighting for it to go on. If you can make it then I can perform."

The 21-year-old added later: "I don't want to risk any of my fans being hurt but if you guys still want a show I will give you a show. A good one too", followed in capital letters by "I hate Sandy".

Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin, currently starring in TV series 30 Rock was spotted out walking his dogs in the rain in Manhattan at around 6.30pm last night.

The 54-year-old did not even have a coat on as he took the two dogs out with him.

The storm has also affected the production of various TV show.

The Late Show the David Letterman, which Prime Minister David Cameron appeared on last month, was recorded without a studio audience last night.