NEW YORK - A week after superstorm Sandy caused massive damage and power outages, some New York and New Jersey residents have been evacuated ahead of a nor'easter that is expected to bring high winds and rain to the region.

Three nursing homes and one adult care facility in New York City's hard hit Rockaways section were evacuated on Tuesday, while in New Jersey, some coastline residents were asked to leave their homes.

Wednesday's nor'easter isn't expected to be as bad as Sandy, but with thousands still without power in New Jersey and New York City, officials are worried about residents hunkered down in damaged homes with no power.

Winds could gust up to at least 50 mph in New York and New Jersey Wednesday afternoon and into the evening.
Storm surges could reach up to 3 feet on the coast lines.

And snow is expected to fall from northern Maryland to eastern Pennsylvania, with Washington, D.C., seeing 1 to 2 inches and Philadelphia around 3 inches.

"We live by the adage -- prepare for the worst, hope for the best, and that's exactly what we're doing," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Tuesday.

Cuomo said the state is slowly taking steps toward recovery in the wake of superstorm Sandy.

"We have about 350,000 New Yorkers without power. That's way down from what it was -- about 2.1 million, but it's still not okay," he said.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said those that have finally regained power could lose it after the nor'easter. He assured that the state is still taking strides toward recovery following Sandy.

"The fact that I have 2.1 million people with power back doesn't mean a damn to you if you don't have your power back. You're happy for your neighbor, but you're not happy until your lights go on, until your heat goes on, and I recognize that," Christie said.

The Federal Emergency Management Administration put a number to the storm's homeless in New York and New Jersey, saying 95,000 people were eligible for emergency housing assistance. In New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, more than 277,000 people have registered for general assistance, the agency said.

There have been no mandatory evacuations in low-lying areas in New York City, but with a storm surge expected from the nor'easter, many living near the water are worried.

"We're going to get a lot of wind and a lot of rain and that's what's scary," Maria Curatola, of Staten Island, told ABC News. "I'm hoping it'll blow over. I'm hoping it'll go the opposite way -- we've had enough."

With temperatures dropping into the mid 30s overnight, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg urged those without power and heat to head to shelters and warming centers. The mayor has also closed parks, playgrounds and beaches.

© 2012 ABC News Radio

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