HURRICANE SANDY 2012 NYC

Background

• landfall on 29 October

• Known as a superstorm as it merged with another storm from the west

• Largest Atlantic hurricane in history

• Wind speeds up to 129km/h

• Record storm surges

Why is NY vulnerable

• high population density

• Shape of coastline which magnified impacts of the storm surges

Social impacts

• 20,000 911 calls / hour - pressure on services

• 8.6 million total power outages

• 233 deaths

• 10s of thousand made homeless

• Biggest NY residential fire for over 100 years in Breezy Point

• Hudson River breached its banks causing half of manhattan to lose power

Economic impact

• estimated cost for $75 billion

• All air traffic grounded

• Stock exchange closed for first time since 9/11

• Water entered global financial systems in lower manhattan

• Subway station completely closed

Environmental impact

• storm surge up to 14 ft

• 10billion gallons of untreated sewage into local waters

Immediate responses

• mandatory evacuation orders for low lying areas

• 76 emergency shelters opened in NY

• National Guard and US air force deployed

• Volunteer fire crew

• American Red Cross provided food and relief

Long term response

• US government approved a $60 billion aid package

• Proposals for sea walls and barrier islands to protect NY Harbour

• Stricter building regulations and land use zoning

• By December 2013, elss than half of people who requested support had received it (negative)