Hurricane Sandy Flashcards
when did sandy happen
October 2012
What path did sandy take
Formed off the west coast of Africa then went across the Atlantic, crossed through Cuba, Haiti, Bahamas, Caribbean then hit USA
what was the windspeed of Sandy
115 mph Category 3 when coming up to Cuba. After hitting Cuba it went to category 1 which it remained at until it dissipated.
When did Sandy hit USA
4 days after hitting Cuba at 80mph sustained winds
What records did sandy break?
It was the second most costly hurricane and largest Atlantic hurricane by diameter on record.
What caused Sandy to turn towards the USA
An unusual dip in the Jetstream caused sandy to go inland across NY and NJ - possibly caused by warming in arctic.
How many deaths
233 both directly and indirectly - 158 USA, 54 Haiti
how many direct deaths were there
147 direct deaths - most in Caribbean
How many $ of damages did it cause
71 billion, NYC alone had 18 billion
how many houses were destroyed
650,000 in NY and NJ. Shanty towns in Haiti were washed away
Jamaica impacts
70% of residents left without electricity, $100 million of damage.
Haiti impacts
Flooding, 54 deaths, $750 million in damages, 200,000 homeless, food shortages, farmers lost 70% of crops. Increased impacts as Haiti was still recovering from 2010 earthquake and a cholera outbreak.
Cuba impacts
Extensive coastal flooding and wind damage, 15,000 homes destroyed , 11 deaths, $2 billion in damage.
How many homes/businesses were without power in USA
8.5 million
In the US how many people were evacuated beforehand
100,000 people were evacuated
what did supermarkets run out in USA
Essentials like bottled water, batteries from people preparing for the worst
what was cancelled because of flooding (transport)
Trains cancelled for 2 days and 18,000 flights cancelled overall
What was closed temporarily
Schools closed across USA
How much beach was lost in NJ
around 10m - narrower beaches means less natural protection so more erosion
how many army personnel were deployed
45,000 across 7 states
Did USA need international aid
No, it is a rich enough to respond without help allowing for a faster recovery.
What did Disney do to help?
Held a “day of giving” which raised $17 million from TV stations and gave it to red cross
What did UN and World food programme do?
Promised humanitarian aid to at least 500,000 people in Cuba
What did the US plan to do after hurricane
rebuild better than before - better hurricane proof houses, satellite imaging, weather instruments
