Hurricane Sandy Case Study Flashcards
When did this tropical storm form?
19th October 2012
When was the tropical storm upgraded to hurricane status?
24th October
How much money did the hurricane cost in damage?
$65 billion
Was the hurricane the most costly in the US?
No it was the second most costly
What areas were affected?
24 US states and several places in South America
How many lives were lost as a result of the hurricane?
286
What record did the hurricane break in New York?
It caused the largest storm surge of water
How big was the New York storm surge?
13.88 feet
Where did the New York storm surge hit?
Battery Park
What was the barometer reading of the storm?
940 millibars
How far from the eye did the hurricane force winds extend at the windiest point?
175 miles from the eye
How far did the tropical storm force winds extend?
485 miles
What happened on the 19th October?
A tropical wave in the Caribbean formed and went from a tropical depression to a tropical storm in just 6 hours
What happened on the 22nd October?
Tropical Storm Sandy forms in the Caribbean Sea with maximum winds of 40 mph
What happened on the 24th October?
Sandy became a Category 1 hurricane and moved north across the Caribbean, crossing Jamaica and hitting land for the first time.
How fast were the winds when the hurricane hit Jamaica?
80mph
How many deaths were caused in Haiti due to the flooding on the 24th October?
50
What speed did winds hit on the 26th October?
110mph- 1mph off becoming a category 3 hurricane
What happened on the 27th October?
It weakened to become a tropical depression but then got strong again and reached Category 1 hurricane status
What were the peak winds on the 28th October?
80mph
In how many places was the North Carolina highway washed out on the 28th October?
12 places
Why did the hurricane move northwest on the 28th October?
Due to a cold high-pressure front to the north of the storm
What did the moon cause on the 28th October?
A storm surge and winds that covered 1000 miles
What type of weather did the hurricane cause on the 29th October?
It caused some snow in some areas as it interfered with the weather system
What happened in Washington DC on the 29th October?
High winds and heavy rainfall hit causing trees and power lines to fall
On what date did some states experience power cuts?
29th October
What happened on the 31st October?
The storm dissipated over western Pennsylvania
How many deaths were a direct result of the hurricane?
147
How many homes were destroyed or damaged in the state of New York?
305,000
How many homes were damaged or destroyed in the state of New Jersey?
346,000
How many people were without power at the height of the storm?
7.5 million
What had to be rationed in America?
Gas
What was disrupted in America?
Voting- some people had to vote by fax or email
For which country, was this hurricane the most costly?
This was Haiti’s most costly hurricane
Why was there a risk of a cholera outbreak in Haiti?
It still hadn’t recovered from the 2010 earthquake
What led to further devastation in Haiti?
The tents people were still living in as a result of the 2010 earthquake were torn apart by the wind.
What were the negative social effects? (7)
Many areas affected were densely populated
Death
Injury
Insurance costs may drive people out
People lose their jobs as offices and businesses are destroyed
Schools closed due to damage
What was a positive social impact of the storm?
More jobs in construction
What are 8 negative economic effects of the hurricane?
Some of the countries involved are LICs
Money needs to be spent on healthcare
Damaged infrastructure needs to be replaced ASAP which can be costly
More money needs to be invested into protection from such events
Flights disrupted by storms
Crops destroyed
Job losses so less tax and more benefits to pay
What are 5 environmental effects of hurricanes?
Pollution of rivers when debris are deposited which could enter the water supply
Floods
Oil contamination and spills
Untreated sewage could enter some waterways
Pollutants in the water, which may have reduced oxygen levels, can affect aquatic life
What was distributed in Haiti?
Shelter repair materials to help repair homes that were damaged by storms
How much money was given out of the DRF by FEMA in America?
$1.93 billion
What did FEMA do to help those in need?
It gave both Transitional Housing Assistance and Rental Housing Assistance for those whose homes were destroyed
What was sent to monitor the hurricane and where?
Hurricane Hunters were sent to the eye of the storm to monitor the hurricane
Which constituency was the last to call for an evacuation?
New York City
What would an emergency kit entail?
Canned food, a can opener, water, batteries, a torch, a radio and pet items
What efforts were made to protect the beaches?
Dunes were built and lose items were removed
What type of appointments were cancelled by hospitals and clinics?
Non-urgent appointments
What were deployed along the East Coast?
Incident Management Assistant Teams
What was established in America before the hurricane arrived?
Support bases
Why didn’t many people evacuate in America?
There was a lot of confusion due to a lack of communication
Why was there lots of confusion?
The National Hurricane Centre couldn’t forecast the hurricane because it didn’t have the technology
Who forecasted the hurricane?
Local weather service offices which had different predictions
Out of all the people in New York and New Jersey, how many people evacuated?
30%
Aside from the lack of technological equipment, what else caused confusion?
Social media and fake news
How many emergency shelters were there in New York in 2014?
10,000
How many shelters will there be in the future in new York?
120,000
Who are the shelters for?
People who have disabilities and therefore cannot evacuate
What has happened to the existing shelters in New York?
They have been retrofitted to make them more accessible
What is the name of the program introduced to help small businesses bounce back in New York?
RISE:NYC
What does RISE:NYC do?
It helps small businesses bounce back after hurricanes by funding technology projects
Give an example of a project RISE:NYC had funded
Red Hook Initiative
What is the Red Hook Initiative?
It creates a free local wifi network
How was the Red Hook Initiative successful during hurricane Sandy?
The connection stayed live after the hurricane
How much money is being spent on repairs in NYC?
$3billion
What repairs are being made in New York City?
Both public housing and infrastructure are being retrofitted to make them more storm resistant
What is an advantage of making buildings storm resistant now?
It will reduce costs in the long term
Name the program that the Metropolitan Transport Agency has
Fix and Fortify
What has the Fix and Fortify program done?
Put $10.5 billion into repairs and upgrades to make the transport better equipped to cope with storms
What are the hopes for the East River Coastal Resiliency Project?
There are hopes that one day it will protect part of the Manhattan coastline from storm surges
