CNN reported that Hurricane Sandy was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone at 7:00 P.M. Eastern last night, but it hit the East Coast with driving rain and hurricane-force winds all over the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.  Here are Five Things to Know About Superstorm Sandy:

Trace's hotel is a couple of blocks from that busted crane that's been all over the news.

1. After all the hype, Hurricane Irene wasn't quite as devastating as the media had us expecting.  There was flooding and at least $3 billion in damage . . . but this wasn't exactly "Katrina meets Manhattan."

2. So far, 21 deaths have been reported up and down the East Coast.  Many have been from people swept away in the flood, or falling trees landing on homes.  Some trees also landed on power lines, which caused fires and electrocutions.