US President Barack Obama has declared North Carolina and New York as "major disaster" regions, with the move allowing the two hard-hit states to receive extra funds for relief efforts. The powerful storm has been blamed for taking the lives of 44 people in 13 states, and for causing nationwide damage, estimated at more than 10 billion U.S. dollars. More than 1.8 million people are still without electricity as of Wednesday, from North Carolina to Maine.