.png) Sandy at its initial peak intensity just before landfall inCuba on October 25 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | October 22, 2012 |
| Post-tropical | October 29, 2012 |
| Dissipated | November 2, 2012 |
| Category 3 major hurricane | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 115 mph (185 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 940mbar (hPa); 27.76 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 254 |
| Damage | $68.7 billion (2012USD) (Seventh-costliest tropical cyclone on record; sixth costliest in U.S. history) |
| Areas affected | Greater Antilles,the Bahamas, Eastern United States (especially the coastalMid-Atlantic States),Bermuda, eastern Canada |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the2012 Atlantic hurricane and 2012–13 North American winter seasons | |
History Effects Other wikis | |
Hurricane Sandy (unofficially referred to asSuperstorm Sandy)[1][2] was an extremely large and devastatingtropical cyclone which ravaged the Caribbean and the coastalMid-Atlantic region of the United States in late October 2012. It was the largest Atlantic hurricane on record as measured by diameter, with tropical-storm-force winds spanning 1,150 miles (1,850 km).[3][4][5] The storm inflicted nearly US$70 billion in damage (equivalent to $96 billion in 2024), and killed 254 people in eight countries, from the Caribbean to Canada.[6][7] The eighteenthnamed storm, tenthhurricane, and secondmajor hurricane of the2012 Atlantic hurricane season, Sandy was aCategory 3 storm at its peak intensity when it made landfall inCuba, though most of the damage it caused was after it became a Category 1-equivalentextratropical cyclone off the coast of the Northeastern United States.[8]
Sandy developed from atropical wave in the western Caribbean Sea on October 22, quickly strengthened, and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Sandy six hours later. Sandy moved slowly northward toward theGreater Antilles and gradually intensified. On October 24, Sandy became a hurricane, made landfall nearKingston, Jamaica, re-emerged a few hours later into the Caribbean Sea and strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane. On October 25, Sandy hit Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane, then weakened to a Category 1 hurricane. Early on October 26, Sandy moved through the Bahamas.[9] On October 27, Sandy briefly weakened to a tropical storm and then strengthened back to a Category 1 hurricane. Early on October 29, Sandy curved west-northwest (the "left turn" or "left hook") and then[10] moved ashore nearBrigantine, New Jersey, just to the northeast ofAtlantic City, as apost-tropical cyclone with hurricane-force winds.[8][11] Sandy continued drifting inland for another few days while gradually weakening, until it was absorbed by another approachingextratropical storm on November 2.[8][12]
InJamaica, winds left 70% of residents without electricity, blew roofs off buildings, killed one person, and caused about $100 million (equivalent to $137 million in 2024) in damage. Sandy's outer bands brought flooding toHaiti, killing a total of 75 people, causing food shortages, and leaving about 200,000 homeless; the hurricane also caused two deaths in theDominican Republic. InPuerto Rico, one man was swept away by a swollen river. In Cuba, there was extensivecoastal flooding and wind damage inland, destroying some 15,000 homes, killing 11, and causing $2 billion (equivalent to $2.74 billion in 2024) in damage. Sandy caused two deaths and an estimated $700 million (equivalent to $959 million in 2024) in damage inthe Bahamas.
In the United States, Hurricane Sandy affected 24states, including the entire eastern seaboard fromFlorida toMaine and west across theAppalachian Mountains toMichigan andWisconsin, with particularly severe damage inNew Jersey andNew York. Itsstorm surge hitNew York City on October 29, flooding streets, tunnels and subway lines and cutting power in and around the city.[13][14] Damage in the United States amounted to $65 billion (equivalent to $89 billion in 2024).[15] In Canada, two were killed in Ontario, and the storm caused an estimated $100 millionCAD (equivalent to $129 million CAD in 2024) in damage throughout Ontario and Quebec.[16]
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionHurricane Sandy began as a low pressure system which developed sufficient organizedconvection to be classified as Tropical Depression Eighteen on October 22 south ofKingston, Jamaica.[17] It moved slowly at first due to aridge to the north. Lowwind shear and warmwaters allowed for strengthening,[17] and the system wasnamed Tropical Storm Sandy late on October 22.[18] Early on October 24, aneye began developing, and it was moving steadily northward due to an approachingtrough.[19] Later that day, theNational Hurricane Center (NHC) upgraded Sandy to hurricane status about 65 mi (105 km) south of Kingston, Jamaica.[20] At about 1900 UTC that day, Sandy madelandfall near Kingston with winds of about 85 mph (137 km/h).[21] Just offshore Cuba, Sandy rapidly intensified to a Category 3 hurricane, with sustained winds at 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 954 millibars (28.2 inHg),[8] and at that intensity, Sandy made landfall just west ofSantiago de Cuba at 0525 UTC on October 25.[22] Operationally, Sandy was assessed to have peaked as a high-end Category 2 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (180 km/h).[8]
After Sandy exited Cuba, the structure of the storm became disorganized,[23] and it turned to the north-northwest over the Bahamas.[24] By October 27, Sandy was no longer fully tropical, as evidenced by the development of frontal structures in its outer circulation.[8] Despite strong shear, Sandy maintained its convection due to influence from an approaching trough; the same that turned the hurricane to the northeast.[25] After briefly weakening to a tropical storm,[26] Sandy re-intensified into a Category 1 hurricane,[27] and on October 28, an eye began redeveloping.[28] The storm moved around anupper-level low over the eastern United States and also to the southwest of a ridge overAtlantic Canada, turning it to the northwest.[29]
Sandy briefly re-intensified to Category 2 intensity on the morning of October 29, around which time it had become an extremely large hurricane, with a record gale-force wind diameter of over 1,150 miles (1,850 km),[3][30] and an unusually low centralbarometric pressure of 940 mbar, possibly due to the very large size of the system.[8] This pressure set records for many cities across theNortheastern United States for the lowestpressures ever observed.[31] The convection diminished while the hurricane accelerated toward the New Jersey coast,[32] and the cyclone was no longer tropical by 2100 UTC on October 29.[33] About 2½ hours later, Sandy made landfall near Brigantine, New Jersey,[34] with sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h).[8] During the next four days, Sandy's remnants drifted northward and then northeastward overOntario, before merging with another low pressure area overEastern Canada on November 2.[8][12]
On October 23, 2012, the path of Hurricane Sandy was correctly predicted by theEuropean Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) headquartered inReading, England nearly eight days in advance of its striking theAmerican East Coast. The computer model noted that the storm would turn west towards land and strike the New York/New Jersey region on October 29, rather than turn east and head out to the open Atlantic as most hurricanes in this position do. By October 27, four days after the ECMWF made its prediction, theNational Weather Service andNational Hurricane Center confirmed the path of the hurricane predicted by the European model. The National Weather Service was criticized for not employing its higher-resolution forecast models the way that its European counterpart did. A hardware and software upgrade completed at the end of 2013 enabled the weather service to make predictions more accurate and farther in advance than the technology in 2012 had allowed.[35]
According toNCAR senior climatologistKevin E. Trenberth, "The answer to the oft-asked question of whether an event is caused byclimate change is that it is the wrong question. All weather events are affected by climate change because the environment in which they occur is warmer and moister than it used to be."[36] AlthoughNOAA meteorologist Martin Hoerling attributes Sandy to "little more than the coincidental alignment of a tropical storm with an extratropical storm",[37] Trenberth does agree that the storm was caused by "natural variability" but adds that it was "enhanced by global warming".[38] One factor contributing to the storm's strength was abnormally warmsea surface temperatures offshore theEast Coast of the United States—more than 5 °F (3 °C) above normal, to which global warming had contributed 1 °F (0.6 °C).[38] As the temperature of the atmosphere increases, the capacity to hold water increases, leading to stronger storms and higher rainfall amounts.[38]
As they move north, Atlantic hurricanes typically are forced east and out to sea by thePrevailing Westerlies.[39] In Sandy's case, this typical pattern wasblocked by a ridge of high pressure over Greenland resulting in a negativeNorth Atlantic Oscillation, forming a kink in the jet stream, causing it to double back on itself off the East Coast. Sandy was caught up in this southeasterly flow, taking the storm on an unusual northwest path.[39] The blocking pattern over Greenland also stalled anArctic front which combined with the cyclone.[39] Mark Fischetti ofScientific American said that the jet stream's unusual shape was caused bythe melting of Arctic ice.[40] Trenberth said that while a negative North Atlantic Oscillation and a blocking anticyclone were in place, thenull hypothesis remained that this was just the natural variability of weather.[37] Sea level at New York and along the New Jersey coasthas increased by nearly 12 inches (30 cm) over the last hundred years,[41] which contributed to thestorm surge.[42] One group of scientists estimated that the anthropogenic (human activity-driven) climate change was responsible for approximately 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) of sea level rise in New York, which permitted additional storm surge that caused approximately $8.1 Billion out of the $60 billion in reported economic damage and to an extension of the flood zone to impact approximately 71,000 more people than would have been the case without it.[43] Harvard geologistDaniel P. Schrag calls Hurricane Sandy's 13-foot (4.0 m) storm surge an example of what will, by mid-century, be the "new norm on the Eastern seaboard".[44]
After the storm became a tropical cyclone on October 22, theGovernment of Jamaica issued a tropical storm watch for the entire island.[45] Early on October 23, the watch was replaced with a tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch was issued.[46] At 1500 UTC, the hurricane watch was upgraded to a hurricane warning, while the tropical storm warning was discontinued.[47] In preparation of the storm, many residents stocked up on supplies and reinforced roofing material. Acting Prime Minister Peter Phillips urged people to take this storm seriously, and also to take care of their neighbors, especially the elderly, children, and disabled. Government officials shut down schools, government buildings, and the airport in Kingston on the day prior to the arrival of Sandy. Meanwhile, numerous and early curfews were put in place to protect residents, properties, and to prevent crime.[48] Shortly after Jamaica issued its first watch on October 22, theGovernment of Haiti issued a tropical storm watch for Haiti.[49] By late October 23, it was modified to a tropical storm warning.[50]
TheGovernment of Cuba posted a hurricane watch for theCuban Provinces ofCamagüey,Granma,Guantánamo,Holguín,Las Tunas, andSantiago de Cuba at 1500 UTC on October 23.[47] Only three hours later, the hurricane watch was switched to a hurricane warning.[51] TheGovernment of the Bahamas, at 1500 UTC on October 23, issued a tropical storm watch for several Bahamian islands, including theAcklins,Cat Island,Crooked Island,Exuma,Inagua,Long Cay,Long Island,Mayaguana,Ragged Island,Rum Cay, andSan Salvador Island.[47] Later that day, another tropical storm watch was issued forAbaco Islands,Andros Island, theBerry Islands,Bimini,Eleuthera,Grand Bahama, andNew Providence.[51] By early on October 24, the tropical storm watch for Cat Island, Exuma, Long Island, Rum Cay, and San Salvador was upgraded to a tropical storm warning.[52]
At 1515 UTC on October 26, the Bermuda Weather Service issued a tropical storm watch for Bermuda, reflecting the enormous size of the storm and the anticipated wide-reaching impacts.[53]
Much of the East Coast of the United States, in Mid-Atlantic and New England regions, had a good chance of receivinggale-force winds, flooding, heavy rain and possibly snow early in the week of October 28 from an unusual hybrid of Hurricane Sandy and a winter storm producing aFujiwhara effect.[54] Government weather forecasters said there was a 90% chance that the East Coast would be impacted by the storm. Jim Cisco of theHydrometeorological Prediction Center coined the term "Frankenstorm", as Sandy was expected to merge with a storm front a few days before Halloween.[55][56][57] As coverage continued, several media outlets began eschewing this term in favor of "superstorm".[58][59] Utilities and governments along the East Coast attempted to head off long-term power failures Sandy might cause. Power companies from the Southeast to New England alertedindependent contractors to be ready to help repair storm damaged equipment quickly and asked employees to cancel vacations and work longer hours. Researchers fromJohns Hopkins University, using a computer model built on power outage data from previous hurricanes, conservatively forecast that 10 million customers along the Eastern Seaboard would lose power from the storm.[60]
Through regional offices inAtlanta,Philadelphia,New York City, andBoston, theFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) monitored Sandy, closely coordinating with state and tribal emergency management partners in Florida and the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and New England states.[61]President Obama signed emergency declarations on October 28 for several states expected to be impacted by Sandy, allowing them to request federal aid and make additional preparations in advance of the storm.[62] Flight cancellations and travel alerts on the U.S. East Coast were put in place in the Mid-Atlantic and the New England areas.[63] Over 5,000 commercial airline flights scheduled for October 28 and 29 were canceled by the afternoon of October 28[64] andAmtrak canceled some services through October 29 in preparation for the storm.[65] In addition, theNational Guard andU.S. Air Force put as many as 45,000 personnel in at least seven states on alert for possible duty in response to the preparations and aftermath of Sandy.[66]
Schools on theTreasure Coast announced closures for October 26 in anticipation of Sandy.[67]
At 0900 UTC on October 26, a tropical storm watch was issued from the mouth of theSavannah River inSouth Carolina toOregon Inlet, North Carolina, includingPamlico Sound.[68] Twelve hours later, the portion of the tropical storm watch from theSantee River in South Carolina toDuck, North Carolina, including Pamlico Sound, was upgraded to a warning.[69]Governor of North CarolinaBeverly Perdue declared a state of emergency for38 eastern counties on October 26, which took effect on the following day.[70] By October 29, the state of emergency was extended to 24 counties in western North Carolina, with up to 12 in (30 cm) of snow attributed to Sandy anticipated in higher elevations. TheNational Park Service closed at least five sections of theBlue Ridge Parkway.[71]
On October 26,Governor of VirginiaBob McDonnell declared a state of emergency. The U.S. Navy sent more than twenty-seven ships and forces to sea fromNaval Station Norfolk for their protection.[72] Governor McDonnell authorized theNational Guard to activate 630 personnel ahead of the storm.[73]Republican Party presidential candidateMitt Romney canceled campaign appearances scheduled for October 28 inVirginia Beach, Virginia, andNew Hampshire October 30 because of Sandy.Vice PresidentJoe Biden canceled his appearance on October 27 in Virginia Beach and an October 29 campaign event in New Hampshire.[74] President Barack Obama canceled a campaign stop with former PresidentBill Clinton in Virginia scheduled for October 29, as well as a trip toColorado Springs, Colorado, the next day because of the impending storm.[75]
On October 26,Mayor of Washington, D.C.Vincent Gray declared a state of emergency,[76] which President Obama signed on October 28.[77] TheUnited States Office of Personnel Management announced federal offices in theWashington, D.C. area would be closed to the public on October 29–30.[78] In addition,Washington D.C. Metro service, both rail and bus, was canceled on October 29 due to expected high winds, the likelihood of widespread power outages, and the closing of the federal government.[79] TheSmithsonian Institution closed for the day of October 29.[80]
Governor of MarylandMartin O'Malley declared a state of emergency on October 26.[72] By the following day,Smith Island residents were evacuated with the assistance of the Maryland Natural Resources Police,Dorchester County opened two shelters for those in flood prone areas, andOcean City initiated Phase I of their Emergency Operations Plan.[81][82][83] Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. put workers on standby and made plans to bring in crews from other states.[84] On October 28, President Obama declared an emergency in Maryland and signed an order authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to aid in disaster relief efforts.[85] Also, numerous areas were ordered to be evacuated including part ofOcean City,Worcester County,Wicomico County, andSomerset County.[86][87] Officials warned that more than a hundred million tons of dirty sediment mixed with tree limbs and debris floating behindConowingo Dam could eventually pour into theChesapeake Bay, posing a potential environmental threat.[88]
TheMaryland Transit Administration canceled all service for October 29 and 30. The cancellations applied to buses, light rail, and Amtrak andMARC train service.[89] On October 29, six shelters opened inBaltimore, and early voting was canceled for the day.[80] Maryland Insurance Commissioner Therese M. Goldsmith activated an emergency regulation requiring pharmacies to refill prescriptions regardless of their last refill date.[90] On October 29, theChesapeake Bay Bridge over theChesapeake Bay and theMillard E. Tydings Memorial Bridge andThomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge over theSusquehanna River were closed to traffic in the midday hours.[91]
On October 28, GovernorMarkell declared a state of emergency, with coastal areas ofSussex County evacuated.[92] In preparation for the storm, theDelaware Department of Transportation suspended some weekend construction projects, removed traffic cones and barrels from construction sites, and removed several span-wire overhead signs in Sussex County.[93]Delaware Route 1 throughDelaware Seashore State Park was closed due to flooding.[92] Delaware roads were closed to the public, except for emergency and essential personnel,[94] and tolls onI-95 and Delaware Route 1 were waived.[95]DART First State transit service was also suspended during the storm.[96]
Preparations began on October 26, when officials inCape May County advised residents onbarrier islands to evacuate. There were also voluntary evacuations forMantoloking,Bay Head,Barnegat Light,Beach Haven,Harvey Cedars,Long Beach,Ship Bottom, andStafford inOcean County.[97][98][99]Governor of New JerseyChris Christie ordered all residents of barrier islands fromSandy Hook toCape May to evacuate and closedAtlantic City casinos. Tolls were suspended on the northboundGarden State Parkway and the westboundAtlantic City Expressway starting at 6 a.m. on October 28.[100] President Obama signed an emergency declaration for New Jersey, allowing the state to request federal funding and other assistance for actions taken before Sandy's landfall.[101]
On October 28,Mayor of HobokenDawn Zimmer ordered residents of basement and street-level residential units to evacuate, due to possible flooding.[102] On October 29, residents ofLogan Township were ordered to evacuate.[103]Jersey Central Power & Light told employees to prepare to work extended shifts.[84] Most schools, colleges and universities were closed October 29 while at least 509 out of 580 school districts were closed October 30.[104] Although tropical storm conditions were inevitable and hurricane-force winds were likely, the National Hurricane Center did not issue any tropical cyclone watches or warnings for New Jersey, because Sandy was forecast to become extratropical before landfall and thus would not be a tropical cyclone.[105]
Preparations in Pennsylvania began whenGovernorTom Corbett declared a state of emergency on October 26.[72]Mayor of PhiladelphiaMichael Nutter asked residents in low-lying areas and neighborhoods prone to flooding to leave their homes by 1800 UTC October 28 and move to safer ground.[106] The Philadelphia International Airport suspended all flight operations for October 29.[107] On October 29, Philadelphia shut down its mass transit system.[80] On October 28,Mayor of HarrisburgLinda D. Thompson declared a state of disaster emergency for the city to go into effect at 5 a.m. October 29. Electric utilities in the state brought in crews and equipment from other states such asNew Mexico,Texas, andOklahoma, to assist with restoration efforts.[108]
GovernorAndrew Cuomo declared a statewide state of emergency and asked for a pre-disaster declaration on October 26,[109] which President Obama signed later that day.[110] By October 27, major carriers canceled all flights into and out ofJFK,LaGuardia, andNewark-Liberty airports, andMetro North and theLong Island Rail Road suspended service.[111] TheTappan Zee Bridge was closed,[112] and later theBrooklyn Battery Tunnel andHolland Tunnel were also closed.[113] On Long Island, an evacuation was ordered forSouth Shore, including areas south ofSunrise Highway, north ofRoute 25A, and in elevations of less than 16 feet (4.9 m) above sea level on theNorth Shore.[114] InSuffolk County, mandatory evacuations were ordered for residents ofFire Island and six towns.[115] Most schools closed in Nassau and Suffolk counties on October 29.[116]
New York City began taking precautions on October 26. Governor Cuomo ordered the closure ofMTA and its subway on October 28, and the MTA suspended all subway, bus, and commuter rail service beginning at 2300 UTC.[117] AfterHurricane Irene nearly submerged subways and tunnels in 2011,[118] entrances and grates were covered just before Sandy, but were still flooded.[119]PATH train service and stations as well as thePort Authority Bus Terminal were shut down in the early morning hours of October 29.[120][121]
Later on October 28, officials activated the coastal emergency plan, with subway closings and the evacuation of residents in areas hit byHurricane Irene in 2011. More than 76 evacuation shelters were open around the city.[109] On October 28, MayorMichael Bloomberg ordered that all public schools be closed on Monday[120] and announced a mandatory evacuation of Zone A, which comprised areas near coastlines or waterways.[122] Additionally, 200 National Guard troops were deployed in the city.[121]NYU Langone Medical Center canceled all surgeries and medical procedures, except for emergency procedures.[121] Additionally, one of NYU Langone Medical Center's backup generators failed on October 29, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of patients, including those from the hospital's variousintensive care units.[123] U.S. stock trading was suspended for October 29 to 30.[124]
Connecticut GovernorDannel Malloy partially activated the state's Emergency Operations Center on October 26[125] and signed a Declaration of Emergency the next day.[126] On October 28, President Obama approved Connecticut's request for an emergency declaration, and hundreds ofNational Guard personnel were deployed.[127] On October 29, Governor Malloy ordered road closures for all state highways.[128] Numerous mandatory and partial evacuations were issued in cities across Connecticut.[129]
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Massachusetts GovernorDeval Patrick ordered state offices to be closed October 29 and recommended schools and private businesses close. On October 28, President Obama issued a Pre-Landfall Emergency Declaration for Massachusetts. Several shelters were opened, and many schools were closed.[130] TheMassachusetts Bay Transportation Authority shut down all services on the afternoon of October 29.[131] On October 28, Vermont GovernorPeter Shumlin, New Hampshire GovernorJohn Lynch, andMaine's GovernorPaul LePage all declared states of emergency.[80][132][133]
The National Weather Service issued a storm warning forLake Huron on October 29 that called for wave heights of 26 feet (7.9 m), and possibly as high as 38 feet (12 m).Lake Michigan waves were expected to reach 19 feet (5.8 m), with a potential of 33 feet (10 m) on October 30.[134] Flood warnings were issued inChicago on October 29, where wave heights were expected to reach 18 to 23 feet (5.5 to 7.0 m) inCook County and 25 feet (7.6 m) in northwestIndiana.[135] Gale warnings were issued for Lake Michigan andGreen Bay in Wisconsin until the morning of October 31, and waves of 33 feet (10 m) inMilwaukee and 20 feet (6.1 m) inSheboygan were predicted for October 30.[136] The actual waves reached about 20 feet (6.1 m) but were less damaging than expected.[137][138] The village ofPleasant Prairie, Wisconsin urged a voluntary evacuation of its lakefront area, though few residents signed up, and little flooding actually occurred.[136][138]
Michigan was impacted by a winter storm system coming in from the west, mixing with cold air streams from theArctic and colliding with Hurricane Sandy.[134] The forecasts slowed shipping traffic on theGreat Lakes, as some vessels sought shelter away from the peak winds, except those on Lake Superior.[139][140]Detroit-basedDTE Energy released 100 contract line workers to assist utilities along the eastern U.S. with storm response, andConsumers Energy did the same with more than a dozen employees and 120 contract employees.[141] Due to the widespread power outages, numerous schools had to close, especially in St. Clair County and areas along Lake Huron north of Metro Detroit.[142]
As far as Ohio's western edge, areas were under a wind advisory.[143] All departing flights atCleveland Hopkins International Airport were canceled until October 30 at 3 p.m.[144]
Governor of West VirginiaEarl Ray Tomblin declared a state of emergency ahead of storm on October 29.[145] Up to 2 to 3 feet (0.61 to 0.91 m) of snow was forecast for mountainous areas of the state.[146]
InGreat Smoky Mountains National Park, in Tennessee, several inches of snow led to the closure of a major route through the park on Sunday, October 28, and again, after a brief reopening, on Monday, October 29, 2012.[147]
TheCanadian Hurricane Centre issued its first preliminary statement for Hurricane Sandy on October 25 fromSouthern Ontario to theCanadian Maritimes,[148] with the potential for heavy rain and strong winds.[149] On October 29,Environment Canada issued severe wind warnings for theGreat Lakes andSt. Lawrence Valley corridor, from Southwestern Ontario as far as Quebec City.[150] On October 30, Environment Canada issued storm surge warnings along the mouth of the St. Lawrence River.[151] Rainfall warnings were issued for theCharlevoix region in Quebec, as well as for several counties inNew Brunswick, andNova Scotia, where about 2 to 3 inches (51 to 76 mm) of rain was to be expected.[152][153][154] Freezing rain warnings were issued for parts ofNorthern Ontario.[155]
| Country | Fatalities | Damage 2012 (USD) | Ref(s) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Direct | Indirect | N/A | |||
| Bermuda | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Minimal | [8] |
| The Bahamas | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | $700 million | [6][156][157] |
| Canada | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $100 million | [158][159][160] |
| Cuba | 11 | 6 | 0 | 5 | $2 billion | [6][156][161][162] |
| Dominican Republic | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | $30 million | [6][156][163] |
| Haiti | 75 | 20 | 0 | 55 | $750 million | [164][165][166] |
| Jamaica | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $100 million | [6][156][167] |
| United States | 158 | 72 | 85 | 1 | $65 billion | [8][15] |
| U.S. offshore | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | [8] |
| Totals: | 254 | 106 | 87 | 56 | $68.7 billion | |
A total of 254 people were killed across the United States, the Caribbean, and Canada, as a result of the storm.[168][169][170]
Jamaica was the first country directly affected by Sandy, which was also the first hurricane to make landfall on the island sinceHurricane Gilbert, which struck the island in1988. Trees and power lines were snapped and shanty houses were heavily damaged, both from the winds and flooding rains. More than 100 fishermen were stranded in outlyingPedro Cays off Jamaica's southern coast.[171] Stones falling from a hillside crushed one man to death as he tried to get into his house in a rural village near Kingston.[172] After 6 days another fatality recorded as a 27-year-old man, died due to electrocution, attempting a repair.[6] The country's sole electricity provider, the Jamaica Public Service Company, reported that 70 percent of its customers were without power. More than 1,000 people went to shelters. Jamaican authorities closed the island's international airports, and police ordered 48-hour curfews in major towns to keep people off the streets and deter looting.[173] Most buildings in the eastern portion of the island lost their roofs.[174] Damage was assessed at approximately $100 million throughout the country.[8]
In Haiti, which was still recovering from both the2010 earthquake and the2010s cholera outbreak, a total of 75 people died,[175] and approximately 200,000 were left homeless as a result of four days of ongoing rain from Hurricane Sandy.[176] Heavy damage occurred inPort-Salut after rivers overflowed their banks.[177] In the capital ofPort-au-Prince, streets were flooded by the heavy rains, and it was reported that "the whole south of the country is underwater".[178] Most of the tents and buildings in the city's sprawling refugee camps and theCité Soleil neighborhood were flooded or leaking, a repeat of what happened earlier in the year during the passage ofHurricane Isaac.[174] Crops were also wiped out by the storm and the country would be making an appeal for emergency aid.[179] Damage in Haiti was estimated at $750 million (2012 USD), making it the costliest tropical cyclone in Haitian history.[164] In the month following Sandy, a resurgence ofcholera linked to the storm killed at least 44 people and infected more than 5,000 others.[166]
In the neighboringDominican Republic, two people were killed and 30,000 people evacuated.[156] An employee ofCNN estimated 70% of the streets inSanto Domingo were flooded.[180] One person was killed inJuana Díaz, Puerto Rico after being swept away by a swollen river.[156]
| Rank | Hurricane | Season | Damage | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Irma | 2017 | $13.2 billion | [181] |
| 2 | Ike | 2008 | $7.3 billion | [182] |
| 3 | Matthew | 2016 | $2.58 billion | [183] |
| 4 | Gustav | 2008 | $2.1 billion | [182] |
| 5 | Michelle | 2001 | $2 billion | [184] |
| Sandy | 2012 | [185] | ||
| 7 | Dennis | 2005 | $1.5 billion | [186] |
| 8 | Ivan | 2004 | $1.2 billion | [187] |
| 9 | Rafael | 2024 | $1.08 billion | [188] |
| 10 | Charley | 2004 | $923 million | [187] |
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At least 55,000 people were evacuated before Hurricane Sandy's arrival.[189] While moving ashore, the storm produced waves up to 29 feet (8.8 metres) and a 6-foot (1.8-metre) storm surge that caused extensive coastal flooding.[190] There was widespread damage, particularly to Santiago de Cuba where 132,733 homes were damaged, of which 15,322 were destroyed and 43,426 lost their roof.[161] Electricity and water services were knocked out, and most of the trees in the city were damaged. Total losses throughout Santiago de Cuba province is estimated as high as $2 billion.[162] Sandy killed 11 people in the country – nine inSantiago de Cuba Province and two inGuantánamo Province; most of the victims were trapped in destroyed houses.[191][192] This makes Sandy the deadliest hurricane to hit Cuba since 2005, whenHurricane Dennis killed 16 people.[193]
ANOAA automated station atSettlement Point onGrand Bahama Island reported sustained winds of 49 mph (79 km/h) and a wind gust of 63 mph (101 km/h).[194] One person died from falling off his roof while attempting to fix a window shutter in the Lyford Cay area on New Providence. Another died in the Queen's Cove area on Grand Bahama Island where he drowned after the sea surge trapped him in his apartment.[156] Portions of the Bahamas lost power or cellular service, including an islandwide power outage onBimini. Five homes were severely damaged near Williams's Town.[195] Overall damage in the Bahamas was about $700 million, with the most severe damage onCat Island andExuma where many houses were heavily damaged by wind and storm surge.[157]
Owing to the sheer size of the storm, Sandy also impacted Bermuda with high winds and heavy rains. On October 28, a weakF0 tornado touched down inSandys Parish, damaging homes and businesses.[196] During a three-day span, the storm produced 0.98 in (25 mm) of rain at theL.F. Wade International Airport. The strongest winds were recorded on October 29: sustained winds reached 37 mph (60 km/h) and gusts peaked at 58 mph (93 km/h), which produced scattered minor damage.[197]
| Rank | Hurricane | Season | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 Katrina | 2005 | $125 billion |
| 4 Harvey | 2017 | ||
| 3 | 4 Ian | 2022 | $112 billion |
| 4 | 4 Maria | 2017 | $90 billion |
| 5 | 4 Helene | 2024 | $78.7 billion |
| 6 | 4 Ida | 2021 | $75 billion |
| 7 | ET Sandy | 2012 | $65 billion |
| 8 | 4 Irma | 2017 | $52.1 billion |
| 9 | 3 Milton | 2024 | $34.3 billion |
| 10 | 2 Ike | 2008 | $30 billion |
A total of 24U.S. states were in some way affected by Sandy. The hurricane caused tens of billions of dollars in damage in the United States, destroyed thousands of homes, left millions without electric service,[200] and caused 71 direct deaths in nine states, including 49 in New York, 10 in New Jersey, 3 in Connecticut, 2 each in Pennsylvania and Maryland, and 1 each in New Hampshire, Virginia and West Virginia.[6] There were also 2 direct deaths from Sandy in U.S. coastal waters in the Atlantic Ocean, about 90 miles (140 km) off the North Carolina coast, which are not counted in the U.S. total. In addition, the storm resulted in 87 indirect deaths.[8] In all, a total of 160 people were killed due to the storm, making Sandy the deadliest hurricane to hit the United States mainland sinceHurricane Katrina in 2005 and the deadliest to hit theU.S. East Coast sinceHurricane Agnes in 1972.[201]
Due to flooding and other storm-related problems,Amtrak canceled allAcela Express,Northeast Regional,Keystone, and Shuttle services for October 29 and 30.[202][203] More than 13,000 flights were canceled across the U.S. on October 29, and more than 3,500 were called off October 30.[204] From October 27 through early November 1, airlines canceled a total of 19,729 flights, according toFlightAware.[205]
On October 31, over 6 million customers were still without power in 15 states and theDistrict of Columbia. The states with the most customers without power wereNew Jersey with 2,040,195 customers;New York with 1,933,147;Pennsylvania with 852,458; andConnecticut with 486,927.[206]
TheNew York Stock Exchange andNasdaq reopened on October 31 after a two-day closure for the storm.[207] More than 1,500 FEMA personnel were along the East Coast working to support disaster preparedness and response operations, including search and rescue, situational awareness, communications and logistical support. In addition, 28 teams containing 294 FEMA Corps members were pre-staged to support Sandy responders. Three federal urban search and rescue task forces were positioned in the Mid-Atlantic and ready to deploy as needed.[208]Direct Relief provided medical supplies to community clinics, non-profit health centers, and other groups in areas affected by Hurricane Sandy, and mapped pharmacies, gas stations, and other facilities that remained in the New York City area despite power outages.[209]
On November 2, theAmerican Red Cross announced they had 4,000 disaster workers across storm damaged areas, with thousands moreen route from other states. Nearly 7,000 people spent the night in emergency shelters across the region.[210]
Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together, a live telethon on November 2 that featured rock and pop stars such asBruce Springsteen,Billy Joel,Jon Bon Jovi,Mary J. Blige,Sting, andChristina Aguilera, raised around $23 million forAmerican Red Cross hurricane relief efforts.[211]
At the time, the National Hurricane Center ranked Hurricane Sandy the second-costliest U.S. hurricane since 1900 (in constant 2010 dollars), and the sixth-costliest after adjusting forinflation, population and property values.[212] Scientists at theUniversity of Utah reported the energy generated by Sandy was equivalent to "small earthquakes between magnitudes 2 and 3".[213]
In South Florida, Sandy lashed the area with rough surf, strong winds, and brief squalls. Along the coast ofMiami-Dade County, waves reached 10 feet (3.0 m), but may have been as high as 20 feet (6.1 m) inPalm Beach County. In the former county, minor pounding occurred on a few coastal roads. Further north inBroward County,State Road A1A was inundated with sand and water, causing more than a two-mile (3.2 km) stretch of the road to be closed for the entire weekend. Additionally, coastal flooding extended inland up to 2 blocks in some locations and a few houses in the area suffered water damage. InManalapan, which is located in southern Palm Beach County, several beachfront homes were threatened by erosion. TheLake Worth Pier was also damaged by rough seas. In Palm Beach County alone, losses reached $14 million.[214] Sandy caused closures and cancellations of some activities at schools inPalm Beach,Broward andMiami-Dade counties.[215] Storm surge from Sandy also caused flooding andbeach erosion along coastal areas in South Florida.[216] Gusty winds also impacted South Florida, peaking at 67 mph (108 km/h) inJupiter andFowey Rocks Light, which is nearKey Biscayne.[214] The storm created power outages across the region, which left many traffic lights out of order.[217]
In east-central Florida, damage was minor, though the storm left about 1,000 people without power.[218] Airlines atMiami International Airport canceled more than 20 flights to or fromJamaica orthe Bahamas, while some airlines flying fromFort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport canceled a total of 13 flights to the islands.[72] TheCoast Guard rescued two sea men inVolusia County offNew Smyrna Beach on the morning of October 26.[219]Brevard and Volusia Counties schools canceled all extracurricular activities for October 26, including football.[220]
Twopanther kittens escaped from the White Oak Conservation Center in Nassau County after the hurricane swept a tree into the fence of their enclosure; they were missing for 24 hours before being found in good health.[citation needed]
On October 28, GovernorBev Perdue declared a state of emergency in 24 western counties, due to snow and strong winds.[221]
North Carolina was spared from major damage for the most part (except at the immediate coastline), though winds, rain, and mountain snow affected the state through October 30.Ocracoke andHighway 12 onHatteras Island were flooded with up to 2 feet (0.6 m) of water, closing part of the highway, while 20 people on a fishing trip were stranded onPortsmouth Island.[222]
There were three Hurricane Sandy-related deaths in the state.[6][223]
On October 29, theCoast Guard responded to a distress call fromBounty, which was built for the 1962 movieMutiny on the Bounty. It was taking on water about 90 miles (140 km) southeast ofCape Hatteras. Sixteen people were on board.[224] The Coast Guard said the 16 people abandoned ship and got into two lifeboats, wearing survival suits and life jackets.[225] The ship sank after the crew got off.[226] The Coast Guard rescued 14 crew members; another was found hours later but was unresponsive and later died.[227] The search for the captain, Robin Walbridge, was suspended on November 1, after efforts lasting more than 90 hours and covering approximately 12,000square nautical miles (41,100 km2).[228]
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On October 29, snow was falling in parts of the state.[146]Shenandoah National Park, buried under about a foot of snow by October 31, was closed starting October 28, and would remain closed for at least several days.[229][230] The storm resulted inBlacksburg recording its first measurable October snowfall in half a century.[231] Gov.Bob McDonnell announced on October 30 that Virginia had been "spared a significant event", but cited concerns about rivers cresting and consequent flooding of major arteries. Virginia was awarded a federal disaster declaration, with Gov. McDonnell saying he was "delighted" that President Barack Obama and FEMA were on it immediately. At Sandy's peak, more than 180,000 customers were without power, most of whom were located inNorthern Virginia.[206][232] There were three Hurricane Sandy-related fatalities in the state.[6][170]
TheSupreme Court and theUnited States GovernmentOffice of Personnel Management were closed on October 30,[233][234] and schools were closed for two days.[235]MARC train andVirginia Railway Express were closed on October 30, andMetro rail and bus service were on Sunday schedule, opening at 2 p.m., until the system closes.[236]
At least 100 feet (30 m) of a fishing pier inOcean City was destroyed. Governor Martin O'Malley said the pier was "half-gone".[237] Due to high winds, theChesapeake Bay Bridge and theMillard E. Tydings Memorial Bridge onI-95 were closed.[238] During the storm, the Mayor ofSalisbury instituted a Civil Emergency and a curfew.[239]Interstate 68 in far western Maryland and northernWest Virginia closed due to heavy snow, stranding multiple vehicles and requiring assistance from theNational Guard.[240]Redhouse, Maryland received 26 inches (66 cm) of snow andAlpine Lake, West Virginia received 24 inches (61 cm).[241]
Workers inHoward County tried to stop a sewage overflow caused by a power outage on October 30. Raw sewage spilled at a rate of 2 million gallons per hour. It was unclear how much sewage had flowed into theLittle Patuxent River.[242] Over 311,000 people were left without power as a result of the storm.[206]
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By the afternoon of October 29, rainfall atRehoboth Beach totaled 6.53 inches (166 mm). Other precipitation reports include nearly 7 inches (180 mm) atIndian River Inlet and more than 4 inches (100 mm) inDover andBear. At 4 p.m. on October 29,Delmarva Power reported on its website that more than 13,900 customers in Delaware and portions of theEastern Shore of Maryland had lost electric service as high winds brought down trees and power lines. About 3,500 of those were inNew Castle County, 2,900 were inSussex, and more than 100 were inKent County. Some residents in Kent and Sussex Counties experienced power outages that lasted up to nearly six hours. At the peak of the storm, more than 45,000 customers in Delaware were without power.[206] TheDelaware Memorial Bridge speed limit was reduced to 25 mph (40 km/h) and the two outer lanes in each direction were closed. Officials planned to close the span entirely if sustained winds exceeded 50 mph (80 km/h). A wind gust of 64 mph (103 km/h) was measured atLewes just before 2:30 p.m. on October 29.Delaware Route 1 was closed due to water inundation betweenDewey Beach andFenwick Island. In Dewey Beach, flood waters were 1 to 2 feet (0.30 to 0.61 m) in depth.[243] Following the impact in Delaware, President Barack Obama declared the entire state afederal disaster area, providing money and agencies for disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.[244]
A 50-foot (15 m) piece of the Atlantic City Boardwalk washed away. Half the city ofHoboken flooded; the city of 50,000 had to evacuate two of its fire stations, the EMS headquarters, and the hospital. With the city cut off from area hospitals and fire suppression mutual aid, the city's Mayor asked forNational Guard help.[227] In the early morning of October 30, authorities inBergen County, New Jersey, evacuated residents after aberm overflowed and flooded several communities. Police Chief of Staff Jeanne Baratta said there were up to five feet (1.5 m) of water in the streets ofMoonachie andLittle Ferry. The state Office of Emergency Management said rescues were undertaken inCarlstadt.[245] Baratta said the three towns had been "devastated" by the flood of water.[246] At the peak of the storm, more than 2,600,000 customers were without power.[206] There were 43 Hurricane Sandy-related deaths in the state of New Jersey.[6][247] Damage in the state was estimated at $36.8 billion.[248]
Philadelphia MayorMichael Nutter said the city would have no mass transit operations on any lines October 30.[208] All major highways in and around the city of Philadelphia were closed on October 29 during the hurricane, includingInterstate 95, theBlue Route portion ofInterstate 476, theVine Street Expressway,Schuylkill Expressway (I-76), and the Roosevelt Expressway;U.S. Route 1.[249] The highways reopened at 4 a.m. on October 30.[249] TheDelaware River Port Authority also closed its major crossings over theDelaware River between Pennsylvania and New Jersey due to high winds, including theCommodore Barry Bridge, theWalt Whitman Bridge, theBenjamin Franklin Bridge and theBetsy Ross Bridge.[249] Trees and powerlines were downed throughoutAltoona, and four buildings partially collapsed.[250] The highest wind gust in the state's history was recorded inAllentown on late on October 29, where an 81-mile-per-hour (130 km/h) wind gust occurred.[251] More than 1.2 million were left without power.[80] ThePennsylvania Emergency Management Agency reported 14 deaths believed to be related to Sandy.[252]
New York governorAndrew Cuomo calledNational Guard members to help in the state. Storm impacts inUpstate New York were much more limited than inNew York City; there was some flooding and a few downed trees.[253]Rochester area utilities reported slightly fewer than 19,000 customers without power, in seven counties.[254] In the state as a whole, however, more than 2,000,000 customers were without power at the peak of the storm.[206]
Mayor of New York CityMichael Bloomberg announced thatNew York City public schools would be closed on Tuesday, October 30 and Wednesday, October 31, but they remained closed through Friday, November 2.[255] TheCity University of New York andNew York University canceled all classes and campus activities for October 30.[256] TheNew York Stock Exchange was closed for trading for two days, the first weather closure of the exchange since 1985.[257] It was also the first two-day weather closure since theGreat Blizzard of 1888.[258]
The East River overflowed its banks, flooding large sections ofLower Manhattan.Battery Park had a water surge of 13.88 ft.[259] Seven subway tunnels under theEast River were flooded.[260] TheMetropolitan Transportation Authority said that the destruction caused by the storm was the worst disaster in the 108-year history of the New York City subway system.[261] Sea water flooded theGround Zero construction site including theNational September 11 Memorial and Museum.[262] Over 10 billion gallons of raw and partially treated sewage were released by the storm, 94% of which went into waters in and around New York and New Jersey.[263] In addition, a four-story Chelsea building's facade crumbled and collapsed, leaving the interior on full display; however, no one was hurt by the falling masonry.[264] The Atlantic Ocean storm surge also caused considerable flood damage to homes, buildings, roadways, boardwalks and mass transit facilities in low-lying coastal areas of the outer boroughs ofQueens,Brooklyn andStaten Island.
After receiving many complaints that holding the marathon would divert needed resources, Mayor Bloomberg announced late afternoon November 2 that theNew York City Marathon had been canceled. The event was to take place on Sunday, November 4. Marathon officials said that they did not plan to reschedule.[265]
Gas shortages throughout the region led to an effort by the U.S. federal government to bring in gasoline and set up mobile truck distribution at which people could receive up to 10 gallons of gas, free of charge. This caused lines of up to 20 blocks long and was quickly suspended.[266] On Thursday, November 8, Mayor Bloomberg announcedodd-even rationing of gasoline would be in effect beginning November 9 until further notice.[267]
On November 26, Governor Cuomo called Sandy "more impactful" than Hurricane Katrina, and estimated costs to New York at $42 billion.[268] Approximately 100,000 residences on Long Island were destroyed or severely damaged, including 2,000 that were rendered uninhabitable.[269] There were 53 Hurricane Sandy-related deaths in the state of New York.[270] In 2016, the hurricane was determined to have been the worst to strike the New York City area since at least 1700.[271]
Wind gusts to 83 mph were recorded on outerCape Cod andBuzzards Bay.[272] Nearly 300,000 customers were without power in Massachusetts,[206] and roads and buildings were flooded.[273] Over 100,000 customers lost power in Rhode Island.[274] Most of the damage was along the coastline, where some communities were flooded.[275]Mount Washington, New Hampshire saw the strongest measured wind gust from the storm at 140 mph.[276] Nearly 142,000 customers lost power in the state.[206]
The flooding caused by Hurricane Sandy overwhelmed water treatment infrastructure on the northeast coast of the United States. More than 200 wastewater treatment plants and over 80 drinking water facilities along the coast of the Tri-State area had been damaged beyond function, with a statement from Governor Cuomo that damage in New York treatment plants alone could reach $1.1 billion. The resulting damage caused more than 10 billion gallons of raw sewage to be released into New York and New Jersey water sources. This contamination resulted in the shutting down of several drinking-water facilities.[277]
The contamination caused by this incident resulted in the EPA issuing a warning that all individuals should avoid coming into contact with the water in Newark Bay and New York Harbor, due to the increased presence of fecal coliform, a bacteria that is associated with human waste. Similar warnings were issued for water sources in both the Westchester and Yonkers areas.[278]
Sandy's rain became snow in the Appalachian Mountains, leading to blizzard conditions in some areas, especially West Virginia,[8] when a tongue of dense and heavy Arctic air pushed south through the region. This would normally cause a Nor'easter, prompting some to dub Sandy a "nor'eastercane" or "Frankenstorm".[279] There was 1–3 feet (30–91 cm) of snowfall in 28 ofWest Virginia's 55 counties.[8][280] The highest snowfall accumulation was 36 inches (91 cm) nearRichwood.[8] Other significant totals include 32 inches (81 cm) inSnowshoe, 29 inches (74 cm) inQuinwood,[281] and 28 inches (71 cm) inDavis,Flat Top, andHuttonsville.[282] By the morning of October 31, there were still 36 roads closed due to downed trees, powerlines, and snow in the road.[281] Approximately 271,800 customers lost power during the storm.[206]
There were reports of collapsed buildings in several counties due to the sheer weight of the wet, heavy snow.[283] Overall, there were seven fatalities related to Hurricane Sandy and its remnants in West Virginia,[284] including John Rose Sr., the Republican candidate for the state's 47th district in the state legislature, who was killed in the aftermath of the storm by a falling tree limb broken off by the heavy snowfall.[285]GovernorEarl Ray Tomblin asked President Obama for a federal disaster declaration, and on October 30, President Obama approved a state of emergency declaration for the state.[286]
Wind gusts atCleveland Burke Lakefront Airport were reported at 68 miles per hour (109 km/h).[287] On October 30, hundreds of school districts canceled or delayed school across the state with at least 250,000 homes and businesses without power.[288] Damage was reported across the state including theRock and Roll Hall of Fame which lost parts of its siding.[287] Snow was reported in some parts of easternOhio and south ofCleveland. Snow and icy roads also were reported south ofColumbus.[288]
The US Department of Energy reported that more than 120,000 customers lost power in Michigan as a result of the storm.[206] TheNational Weather Service said that waves up to 23 feet (7.0 m) high were reported on southern Lake Huron.[142]
More than one foot (300 mm) of snow fell in eastern Kentucky as Sandy merged with anArctic front.[289] Winter warnings inHarlan,Letcher, andPike County were put into effect until October 31.[290]
Mount Le Conte, Tennessee, inGreat Smoky Mountains National Park, was blanketed with 32 inches (81 cm) of snow, an October record.[291]
The remnants of Sandy produced high winds alongLake Huron andGeorgian Bay, where gusts were measured at 105 kilometres per hour (65 mph). A 121 km/h (75 mph) gust was measured on top of theBluewater Bridge.[292] One woman died after being hit by a piece of flying debris inToronto.[158] At least 145,000 customers across Ontario lost power,[293] and a Bluewater Power worker was electrocuted in Sarnia while working to restore power.[294] Around 49,000 homes and businesses lost power in Quebec during the storm, with nearly 40,000 of those in theLaurentides region of the province, as well as more than 4,000 customers in theEastern Townships and 1,700 customers inMontreal.[295] Hundreds of flights were canceled.[296] Around 14,000 customers inNova Scotia lost power during the height of the storm.[297] The Insurance Bureau of Canada's preliminary damage estimate was over $100 million for the nation.[160]
Several media organizations contributed to the immediate relief effort:Disney–ABC Television Group held a "Day of Giving" on Monday, November 5, raising $17 million on their television stations for theAmerican Red Cross[298] andNBC raised $23 million during theirHurricane Sandy: Coming Together telethon the same day.[299] On October 31, 2012,News Corporation donated $1 million to relief efforts in theNew York metropolitan area.[300] As of December 2013, the NGOHurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund had distributed much of the funding raised in New Jersey.[301]
On November 6, theUnited Nations andWorld Food Programme promised humanitarian aid to at least 500,000 people inSantiago de Cuba.[302]
On December 12, 2012, the12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief took place atMadison Square Garden inNew York City. Various television channels in the United States and internationally aired the four-hour concert which was expected to reach over 1 billion people worldwide, featuring many famous performers includingBon Jovi,Eric Clapton,Dave Grohl,Billy Joel, andAlicia Keys. Web sites includingFuse.tv,MTV.com,YouTube, and the sites ofAOL andYahoo! planned tostream the performance.[303]
The U.S. Government mobilized several agencies and departments to mitigate the effects of the Hurricane in the most afflicted areas. The response to the storm on the part of the government was of particular urgency owing to the possible fallout of a poor response on the part of the Obama administration during theupcoming U.S. presidential elections. These sentiments were characterized in the President's speech in the days following the impact, stating the government's response was "not going to tolerate any red tape. We're not going to tolerate any bureaucracy".[304]
Anticipating the destruction of the Atlantic storm, states on the U.S. East Coast, especially in heavily populated regions like in the New York metropolitan area, began to prepare. As thetropical depression strengthened to a hurricane, theDepartment of Defense formed Joint Task Force Sandy on October 22, 2012.[304] Gatheringhumanitarian supplies and disaster recovery equipment, the DOD prepared to carry outDSCA (Defense Support of Civil Authorities) operations across theeastern seaboard. In the aftermath of the calamity, thousands of military personnel provided vital assistance to affected communities. On the first night of the aftermath, 12,000National Guard members across the East Coast worked to assuage the destruction.[305] President Obama mandated theDefense Logistics Agency to supply over 5 million gallons Department of Energy-owned ultra-low sulfur diesel.[306]
On December 28, 2012, theUnited States Senate approved an emergencyHurricane Sandy relief bill to provide $60 billion for US states affected by Sandy,[307] but theHouse in effect postponed action untilthe next session which began January 3 by adjourning without voting on the bill.[308] On January 4, 2013, House leaders pledged to vote on aflood insurance bill and an aid package by January 15.[309] On January 28, the Senate passed the $50.5 billion Sandy aid bill by a count of 62–36.[310] which President Obama signed into law January 29.[311]
In January 2013,The New York Times reported that those affected by the hurricane were still struggling to recover.[312]
In June 2013, NY Governor Andrew Cuomo set out to centralize recovery and rebuilding efforts in impacted areas of New York State by establishing the Governor's Office of Storm Recovery (GOSR). He aimed to address communities' most urgent needs, and to identify innovative and enduring solutions to strengthen the State's infrastructure and critical systems. Operating under the umbrella of New York Rising, GOSR utilized approximately $3.8 billion in flexible funding made available by theU.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development's (HUD)Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program to concentrate aid in four main areas: housing, small business, infrastructure, and the community reconstruction.[313]
On December 6, 2013, an analysis ofFederal Emergency Management Agency data showed that fewer than half of those affected who requested disaster recovery assistance had received any, and a total of 30,000 residents of New York and New Jersey remained displaced.[314]
In March 2014,Newsday reported, that 17 months after the hurricane people displaced from rental units on Long Island faced unique difficulties due to lack of affordable rental housing and delays in housing program implementations by New York State. Close to 9,000 rental units on Long Island were damaged by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, andHurricane Irene andTropical Storm Lee in 2011 per the NY State Governor's Office of Storm Recovery (GOSR).[315] New York State officials said that additional assistance would soon be available from the HUD's Community Development Block Grant funds via the New York Rising program.[316] On March 15, 2014, a group of those who remained displaced by the hurricane organized a protest at the Nassau Legislative building in Mineola, New York, to raise awareness of their frustration with the timeline for receiving financial assistance from the New York Rising program.[317]
As of March 2014[update], the GOSR released a press statement, that the New York Rising Community Reconstruction Program had distributed more than $280 million in payments to 6,388 homeowners for damage from Hurricane Sandy,Hurricane Irene orTropical Storm Lee. Every eligible homeowner who had applied by January 20, 2014, had been issued a check for home reconstruction, including over 4,650 Nassau residents for over $201 million and over 1,350 Suffolk residents for over $65 million. The state also had made offers over $293 million to buy out homes of 709 homeowners.[318]
Hurricane Sandy sparked much political commentary. Many scientists said warming oceans and greater atmospheric moisture were intensifying storms while rising sea levels were worsening coastal effects. November 2012 RepresentativeHenry Waxman ofCalifornia, the top Democrat of theHouse Energy and Commerce Committee, requested a hearing in thelame duck session on links betweenclimate change and Hurricane Sandy.[319] Some news outlets labeled the storm theOctober surprise of the2012 United States Presidential election,[320][321] while Democrats and Republicans accused each other of politicizing the storm.[322]
The storm hit the United States one week before its generalUnited States elections, and affected the presidential campaign, local and state campaigns in storm-damaged areas. New Jersey GovernorChris Christie, one ofMitt Romney's leading supporters, praised PresidentBarack Obama and his reaction to the hurricane, and toured storm-damaged areas of his state with the president.[323] It was reported at the time that Sandy might affect elections in several states, especially by curtailingearly voting.[324]The Economist wrote, "the weather is supposed to clear up well ahead of election day, but the impact could be felt in the turnout of early voters."[325]ABC News predicted this might be offset by a tendency to clear roads and restore power more quickly in urban areas.[326] The storm ignited a debate over whether Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in 2011 proposed to eliminate theFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).[327] The next day the Romney campaign promised to keep FEMA funded, but did not explain what other parts of the federal budget it would cut to pay for it.[328] Beyond the election,National Defense Magazine said Sandy "might cause a rethinking (in the USA) of how climate change threatens national security".[329]
In his news conference on November 14, 2012, President Obama said, "we can't attribute any particular weather event to climate change. What we do know is the temperature around the globe is increasing faster than was predicted even 10 years ago. We do know that the Arctic ice cap is melting faster than was predicted even five years ago. We do know that there have been extraordinarily — there have been an extraordinarily large number of severe weather events here in North America, but also around the globe. And I am a firm believer that climate change is real, that it is impacted by human behavior and carbon emissions. And as a consequence, I think we've got an obligation to future generations to do something about it."[330]
On January 30, 2015, days after theU.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a post-Sandy report examining flood risks for 31,200 miles (50,200 km) of the North Atlantic coast, President Obama issued an executive order directing federal agencies, state and local governments drawing federal funds to adopt stricter building and siting standards to reflect scientific projections that future flooding will be more frequent and intense due to climate change.[331]
Power outages and flooding in the area closed the New York Stock Exchange and other financial markets on both October 29 and 30, a weather-related closure that last happened in 1888.[332] When markets reopened on October 31, investors were relieved that it closed relatively flat that day. A week later, theNational Association of Insurance Commissioners Capital Markets Bureau noted a slight uptick in the market (0.8%) and suggested that the negative economic impact of Hurricane Sandy was offset by the expected positive impacts of rebuilding.[333]
The destruction of physical infrastructure as a result of Sandy cost impacted states, including New York and New Jersey, tens of billions of dollars.[334] EQECAT, a risk-modeling company that focuses on catastrophes, approximated that impacted regions lost between $30 billion to $50 billion in economic activity. The economic loss was attributed to the massive power outages, liquid fuel shortages, and a near shutdown of the region's transportation system.[335]
Thousands of homeowners were denied their flood insurance claims based upon fraudulent engineers' reports, according to the whistleblowing efforts of Andrew Braum, an engineer who claimed that at least 175 of his more than 180 inspections were doctored.[350][351] As a result, a class-action racketeering lawsuit has been filed against several insurance companies and their contract engineering firms.[352] As of 2015[update], the Federal Emergency Management Agency planned to review all flood insurance claims.[353]
New Jersey hospitals saw a spike in births nine months after Sandy, causing some to believe that there was a post-Sandy baby boom. TheMonmouth Medical Center saw a 35% jump, and two other hospitals saw 20% increases.[354] An expert stated that post-storm births that year were higher than in past disasters.[355]
Because of the severe damage and number of deaths caused by the storm in several countries, the nameSandy was later retired by theWorld Meteorological Organization in April 2013, and will never be used again for a North Atlantic tropical cyclone. The name was replaced withSara for the2018 season,[356][357][358] but it was first used in2024.
As Hurricane Sandy approached the United States, forecasters and journalists gave it several different unofficial names, at first related to its projected snow content, then to its proximity to Halloween, and eventually to the overall size of the storm. Early nicknames included "Snowicane Sandy"[359] and"Snor'eastercane Sandy".[360][361] The most popular Halloween-related nickname was "Frankenstorm",[362][363] coined by Jim Cisco, a forecaster at theHydrometeorological Prediction Center.[364][365][366] CNN banned the use of the term, saying it trivialized the destruction.[367][368]
The severe and widespread damage the storm caused in the United States, as well as its unusual merger with a frontal system, resulted in the nicknaming of the hurricane "Superstorm Sandy" by the media, public officials, and several organizations, including U.S. government agencies.[369][370][371][372] This persisted as the most common nickname well into 2013. The term was also embraced by climate change proponents as a term for the new type of storms caused by global warming,[373] while other writers used the term but maintained that it was too soon to blame the storm on climate change.[374][375] Meanwhile,Popular Science called it "an imaginary scare-term that exists exclusively for shock value".[376]
The sea surface temperatures along the Atlantic coast have been running at over 3°C above normal for a region extending 800 km off shore all the way from Florida to Canada. Global warming contributes 0.6°C to this. With every degree C, the water holding of the atmosphere goes up 7%, and the moisture provides fuel for the tropical storm, increases its intensity, and magnifies the rainfall by double that amount compared with normal conditions. Global climate change has contributed to the higher sea surface and ocean temperatures, and a warmer and moister atmosphere, and its effects are in the range of 5 to 10%. Natural variability and weather have provided the perhaps optimal conditions of a hurricane running into extra-tropical conditions to make for a huge intense storm, enhanced by global warming influences.
Irene .. one foot short of paralyzing transportation
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