Hurricane Sandy 2012 (HIC case study)

• What was Hurricane Sandy also known as?

  Superstorm Sandy
• When did Hurricane Sandy make landfall on the New Jersey coastline?

  On the 29th of October 2012
• How many people did Hurricane Sandy kill in the Caribbean?

  70 people
• How many people did Hurricane Sandy kill in the U.S.?

  Almost 150 people
• What was the progression of Hurricane Sandy from its formation to its peak?

  It began as a tropical wave, became a tropical depression, then a tropical storm, and finally a Category 3 hurricane
• What is significant about Hurricane Sandy in terms of size?

  It is the largest Atlantic hurricane on record
• What was one of the preparations made by residents before Hurricane Sandy?

  Many stocked up on supplies like water and food
• What was a common attitude among residents who had experienced previous storms?

  They were skeptical of the storm's severity
• How did economic constraints affect residents' preparations for Hurricane Sandy?

  Some could not afford necessary supplies or home security
• Why are hurricanes less frequent in the northeastern United States compared to the southeastern U.S.?

  They often weaken due to cooler water temperatures
• What were the immediate responses to Hurricane Sandy?


  • Emergency declarations by President Obama
  • National Guard and U.S. Air Force on alert
  • FEMA deployed personnel and resources
  • American Red Cross mobilized disaster workers
  • Emergency services conducted search and rescue operations
• What were the long-term responses to Hurricane Sandy?

  • Establishment of the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force
  • Passage of a $50.5 billion relief bill
  • Implementation of improved building codes
  • Long-term resilience planning initiatives
  • Community rebuilding programs
• • Origin: Formed in the Caribbean Sea as a tropical depression and intensified into a hurricane.
• Human Impact

  • Deaths: Over 230 fatalities across several countries, including 157 in the United States.
  • Displacement: Thousands of people were displaced due to storm damage and flooding.
• Economic Damage

  • Cost: Estimated $65 billion in damages, making it one of the costliest hurricanes in U.S. history.
  • Infrastructure: Extensive damage to homes, businesses, power lines, and transportation systems.
• Geographical Impact (scale)

  • Affected Areas: Significant impacts in the Caribbean (notably Haiti, Jamaica, and Cuba), the U.S. East Coast (especially New Jersey and New York), and parts of Canada.
  • Flooding: Storm surges caused catastrophic flooding, particularly in coastal areas like New York City, where subway systems and tunnels were inundated.
• Preparedness and Response

  1. Evacuations: Mandatory evacuations were issued in high-risk areas, including parts of New York City.
  2. Federal Response: FEMA and other agencies provided disaster relief, while the National Guard supported rescue operations.
  3. Long-term Recovery: Rebuilding efforts have focused on improving coastal defences and infrastructure resilience to mitigate future disasters.