Hurricane Sandy 2012 (HIC case study)

• Main facts for Hurricane Sandy:

  • Date: October 2012
  • Type: High-end Category 2 storm
  • Deaths: ~ 150 direct, 90 indirect
  • Cost: $60 billion (US)
  • Primary Impacts: Flooding (NYC), power outages, transport damage
  • Secondary Impacts: Beach erosion, mould, water contamination
  • Immediate Response: Emergency declarations, rescues, power restoration
  • Long-Term Response: $50B relief bill, rebuilding, stronger building codes
  • Public Reaction: Mixed — some prepared, others underestimated risk
• Route of the storm:

  • Developed as a tropical depression by the 22nd, two days later it became the full tropical storm
  • It first passed through Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominic Republic as a category 1
  • As it continued north, winds extended, and it became a category 3 Atlantic hurricane (the largest Atlantic hurricane on record)
  • The storm first hit the Caribbean the wiping the east coast of the US
  • Over the 9 days, it killed 50 in the Caribbean and almost 100 in the U.S.
• Frequency

  • Hurricanes in the Atlantic Basin are common, the average is 10 – 15 storms each year. These storms mainly affect the southeast of the US and the Caribbean islands.
  • However, hurricanes are rare in the northeastern US
  • Storm tides reached new records, rising over 4m above the average water levels.
• Magnitude


  • High-end category 2 storm with sends of 110 mph
  • Storm surge caused the most damage it was 14 feet in New York flooding Lower Manhattan
• Additional Context: The storm's characteristics

  • Wider affected area and size of storm was due to the transition to a post-tropical hurricane
  • The timing and size of the storm when it made landfall in NYC coincided with high tides leading to devastating storm surge, making the damage was atypical for the region.
• Perceptions of hurricane sandy

  Government views:

  • Federal agencies like the FEMA issued early warnings and deployed resources in anticipation of the storm. President Obama declared a state of emergency in multiple states, allowing federal aid and resources to reach people faster
• Perceptions of Hurricane Sandy

  State/local government:

  • Governors and mayors in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut held press conferences to inform and warn residents. Mandatory evacuation orders were issued to vulnerable coastal areas prone to flooding. Public transport in New York was shut down to prevent damage and protect citizens.
• Perceptions of Hurricane Sandy

  Resident Perceptions:

  • Some were prepared and proactive:
  • Many heeded warnings and stocked up on supplies like water, batteries etc.
  • Homeowners in coastal areas boarded up windows and placed sandbags around their homes.
  • Lots who were able evacuated to official shelters or friends and families further inland.
  • Some were unprepared and sceptical:
  • Residents who experienced previous storms without significant damage or were sceptical of the severity chose not to evacuate and prepare.
  • A proposition of the population largely in less frequently affected northern areas underestimated the storm's impact and did not prepare.
  • Economic constraints prevented some from buying the necessary supplies and securing their homes.
• Primary Impacts of Hurricane sandy (Oct,2012)

  • 150 direct deaths (100 in the USA, the rest were in Cuba and Haiti)
  • 600,000 homes were damaged/destroyed in New Jersey and New York
  • Power outages for more than 8.5 million homes and business from Indiana to Maine in the US.
  • Infrastructure damage:
  • $5 billion in damages to the New York transport system
  • Numerous roads and bridges were damaged, including the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel in NY, which was inundated with 85 million gallons of water.
  • The storm itself was not as strong as other infamous hurricanes, but due to weather conditions and the unpreparedness, there were high levels of damage.
• Secondary Impacts of Hurricane Sandy

  • 90 indirect deaths in the USA
• Secondary Economic Impacts of Hurricane Sandy

  • 4th most expensive storm in US history. Damage is estimated based on 2012 values to be about $60 billion. In NYC alone, the cost exceeds $18 billion. Cuba had the worse economic damage in the Caribbean at $2 billion.
  • In NYC tourism, a major industry, was significantly low after the storm due to damaged attractions and infrastructure
  • The storm generated approx. 1.5 million insurance claims across the affected states, with total insured losses estimated at $30 billion
• Secondary Environmental/Social Impacts of Hurricane Sandy

  • Beach erosion: Coasts in New Jersey and New York lost up to 40 feet of their shorelines
  • Water Contamination: Flooding caused by the storm left the sewage outflow in many areas.
  • Prolonged flooding and damp conditions led to widespread mould problems in homes and businesses, posing health risks to residents
• Immediate (Governmental) Responses to Hurricane Sandy

  • Declaration of emergency declared on October 28th by Obama, this allowed the predicted impacted states to request federal aid and make other preparations in advance.
  • FEMA deployed over 7000 personnel to the impacted areas around New York and New Jersey, this helped to establish 65 disaster recovery centres that supported affected communities by providing water and meals.
• Immediate (Community/NGO) Responses to Hurricane Sandy

  • Nov 2nd the American Red Cross announced they had 4000 disaster workers across storm damaged areas with thousands on route from other states. Nearly, 7,000 spent nights in emergency shelters they provided across the region
  • Immediate Rescue Efforts: The National Guard, Coast Guard and local fire/police departments conducted search and rescue operations. Over 2000 were rescued from flooded areas in New Jersey
  • Utility companies sent crews to help restore power. Though some areas still remained without electricity for weeks. By Nov 5th 2 million were still without power
  • MTA workers worked overtime to pump water out of flooded subway tunnels and repair the damaged infrastructure
• Long-Term Responses to Hurricane Sandy

  • On December 7th President Obama issued an executive order “Establishing the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force”
  • January 28th 2013 the Senate passed a $50 billion relief bill, which Obama signed into law a day later.
  • June 11th 2013 NYC released a “Strong more Resilient New York” which was a plant that contained actions and recommendations for rebuilding communities and increasing resilience of infrastructure/buildings across the city. (adaptation/mitigation)
  • Improved building codes such as New York required higher elevations for new and substantially renovated buildings in flood prone areas
  • Non Profits: Habitat for Humanity and the Robin Hood Foundation provided support for rebuilding efforts