Tropical Storms and Tornadoes: Hurricane Sandy, 2012 Flashcards
1
Q
What happened?
A
- 5 days before the storm made landfall, it began developing in the Atlantic Ocean where sea surface temps were above the required 26 degrees.
- Moist air rose rapidly, creating huge clouds as it cooled.
- Made landfall in Jamaica/Haiti as a ‘category 2’ on 24th October, and Cuba on 25th.
- Hurricane then headed northwards towards Florida, up the coast.
- Then headed up to New York City, where 8.2 million people live.
- Hurricane lost fuel as the sea water cooled, however it then hit another storm 500-700 miles across which was heading up the east coast of the US.
- The two storms conjoined to create a ‘super storm’ with sustained high altitude winds and heavy precipitation.
- Superstorm Sandy made landfall in NYC on Monday 29th October.
2
Q
Facts about the storm? (4)
A
- The factors causing the storm were described as a ‘freak event’ due to climate change and ‘hotter’ sea temperatures.
- Sandy was a ‘category 1’ hurricane on its approach to the USA, with wind speeds reaching 90mph.
- Had a total diameter of almost 2,000 miles.
- Largest Atlantic storm in history.
3
Q
Why was the USA vulnerable to Hurricane Sandy? SOCIAL factors? (8)
A
- Half of the USA’s population lives within 50 miles of the coast, so vulnerable to coastal processes and flooding.
- Subway was closed, people were trapped and couldn’t evacuate.
- Therefore people tried to evacuate by cars - traffic jams and people were trapped in cars.
- Flights cancelled, many people stranded in airports with lack of food and drink available.
- Storm surge overcame power stations in NYC, causing power issues in the city.
- Impermeable surfaces causing surface run off, effects of flooding more severe.
- Coastal areas population majority elderly, more difficult to evacuate.
- Extremely unexpected - couldn’t monitor easily as it was different to any other storm.
4
Q
Why was the USA vulnerable to Hurricane Sandy? ECONOMIC factors? (4)
A
- Coastal defences are not invested in and they haven’t been maintained after years of erosion and weakening so protection was limited.
- Govt. couldn’t fund the reallocation of valuable economic assets to higher ground - NYC consists of low land prone to floods.
- Sea wall around Manhattan is 1.5m - easily overcome by storm surge.
- As the city develops, the economic value of the buildings, construction and infrastructure increases - the cost of reparation to the area will be more.
5
Q
Why was the USA vulnerable to Hurricane Sandy? ENVIRONMENTAL factors? (3)
A
- Hurricanes are more likely and stronger due to climate change.
- The lands of Brooklyn and Staten Island create a funnel shape from the sea so the storm surge was forced to increase before it reached the coast of Manhattan, heightening it even more making impacts worse.
- The area was low lying at only 5m above sea level - more vulnerable to flooding.
6
Q
What were the SOCIO-ECONOMIC impacts in the USA? (13)
A
- 125 people died.
- People could remember Hurricane Irene, so didn’t expect Sandy to be that bad either - reluctant to leave.
- 1.3 million people in New York without power.
- Winds knocked down power lines.
- Subway tunnels swamped - salt water damaged electrical systems and pumping mechanisms, no power to operate pumps - took 4 days to empty water out.
- $10 to $20 billion estimated cost of storm in NYC.
- $72 billion estimated total economic loss.
- New York stock exchange closed = backlog.
- $3.1 billion damage to NYC homes, so many were sold for bargain prices - ‘Great Sandy sell off’ - flooded houses sold for less than 10% less than before, young buyers seized opportunity, loss of owners as incapable of fixing and loss due to lowered prices.
- Yellow cab parking lot flooded - large cost to company.
- Destroyed over 650,000 homes, 250,000 insured vehicles and 300,000 business properties.
- Affected 15 states in USA.
- 18,000 flights cancelled.
7
Q
What were the ENVIRONMENTAL impacts in the USA? (2)
A
- Fire on Breezy Point - extreme damage caused.
- 11 billion gallons of raw sewage dumped into eastern US waterways, rivers, lakes by storm surge - human disease risk, damage to aquatic life.
8
Q
What were the SOCIO-ECONOMIC impacts in Cuba? (10)
A
- 11 deaths.
- Over 188,000 homes damaged.
- Destroyed about 100,000 hectares of crops in eastern Cuba.
- Vulnerable were evacuated but everyone else stayed.
- No electricity for days after the storm.
- Government announced 50% price cut on construction materials and interest free loans to repair the damage, further subsidies for poorest and hardest hit.
- Soldiers and work force shipped in to help clear neighbourhoods.
- Food prices dramatically dropped.
- Around 800 schools shut due to extensive damage.
- Port continues to function for aid and construction materials.
9
Q
What were the ENVIRONMENTAL impacts in Cuba?
A
- 2 metre storm surge and up to 9 metre waves caused extensive coastal flooding - rivers also over flowed.
- Trees uprooted or stripped of leaves.
10
Q
When did Sandy make landfall in Jamaica/Haiti?
A
October 24th 2012
11
Q
When did Sandy make landfall in Cuba?
A
October 25th 2012
12
Q
How many people live in NYC?
A
8.2 million
13
Q
When did Sandy make landfall in NYC?
A
October 29th 2012
14
Q
What was the total diameter of the storm?
A
2,000 miles
15
Q
Where do half the USA’s population live?
A
Within 50 miles from the coast.
