Sandy death toll in US rises to nearly 100

Nineteen bodies have been found in Staten Island following Hurricane Sandy and many fear the number will rise. A growing number of Staten Islanders are outraged by what they describe as the slow response from relief organizations. NBC News' Ann Curry reports. By Miguel Llanos, NBC News The death toll in the U.S. from Superstorm Sandy neared 100 victims on Friday, as New York City reported one more death and Mayor Michael Bloomberg warned: "There could be more fatalities." The toll in the nation's largest city is now 41 deaths, Bloomberg said at a press conference at which he also defended the decision to run the New York Marathon this Sunday and tried to defuse concerns about gasoline shortages. Half of the city's deaths were on Staten Island. Bloomberg noted the deaths of two brothers swept from their mother's arms in the storm surge there.  "It just breaks your heart to think about it," Bloomberg said. NBC News has been able to confirm 94 deaths across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Besides New York City, the deaths are in: New Jersey: 13 Maryland: 11 New York state: 8 Pennsylvania: 7 West Virginia: 6 Connecticut: 4 North Carolina: 2 Puerto Rico: 1 The storm also killed at least 69 people in the Caribbean, including 54 in Haiti and 11 in Cuba.  Four days after Sandy struck the U.S., New York and the wider region were in full recovery mode Friday: NYC Marathon: Responding to anger over the decision to hold the race, Bloomberg said at the press conference that it is a way to raise money for the stricken city and boost morale. He noted that his predecessor, Rudolph Giuliani, went ahead with the marathon two months after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. "Rudy made the right decision in those days to run the marathon and pull people together," Bloomberg said.  Gasoline shortages: New York Harbor reopened Friday, providing a critical refueling supply line for the region. But motorists still waited in long lines for gasoline Shelter, food aid: 5,500 people are still in 15 New York City shelters and some could be out of their homes long term. The city on Thursday gave out 290,000 meals and 500,000 bottles of water at 13 stations. Those deliveries will continue indefinitely. Damage cost: In New York state alone, the cost could exceed $18 billion, a state official said Friday. Private estimates for the entire region range up to $50 billion in economic losses. More content from NBCNews.com: Near-freezing cold, potential nor'easter add to misery Some angry over decision to hold New York Marathon New York Harbor reopens to offer fuel supply Cops: NYC man pulls pistol after cutting in line for gas Deadliest zone: Staten Island reels from devastation Wind, flames, Our Fathers: The inside story of Breezy Point's terrible night 'We'll figure out a way': Breezy Point looks ahead War veterans hit Sandy's front lines for rescues, cleanup How to avoid post-storm insurance and repair scams New Jersey investigating reports of price gouging Your Sandy photos: Show us the heroes in your life Sandy's aftermath: How you can help Full NBC News coverage of Sandy aftermath Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook