In late 2012, Hurricane Sandy, the post-tropical cyclone caused major damage caused major damage in the NY metropolitan area, New Jersey, Connecticut and the surrounding areas. To this day, the destruction that this storm caused remains fresh in the minds of many due to the powerful images and structural damage to homes and businesses of those impacted. Hurricane Sandy is the second most costliest hurricane to occur in the United States, totaling nearly $65 billion in damage impacting 60 million people.
Hurricane Sandy brought along heavy rain, strong winds and record storm surges in its path. In addition to structural damage, Hurricane Sandy resulted in 117 deaths in the United States alone including 53 deaths in New York State, 34 in New Jersey, 4 in Connecticut and one in Maryland.
Evidence of the power of this storm includes:
- Closures of federal agencies in Washington, DC
- Closures of the New York Stock Exchange
- 9 million businesses and households without electric power in 15 states and District of Columbia
- Gas rationing in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy for New Jersey, New York City, Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island
Hurricane Sandy Damages in Connecticut
:
More than 360,000 people were evacuated from low-lying areas along the coast from Old Saybrook to Fairfield. 600,000 customers were without power at one point during the storm.
Hurricane Sandy Damages in New Jersey
In New Jersey, total business losses are estimated at $8.3 billion. Similarly, in New Jersey, nearly 346,000 housing units in New Jersey were damaged or destroyed.
Nearly 19,000 small businesses sustained damage of $250,000 or more. Two million people were without power. Sewage flooding, extreme coastal flooding and unprecedented destruction impacted the coast of New Jersey. New Jersey’s public transit system, the PATH and New Jersey Transit was suspended as a result of the storm that included damaged roads and bridges.
Hurricane Sandy Damages in NYC
Damage to New York City is estimated at $19 billion. Nearly 305,000 housing units in New York were damaged or destroyed. Electric power was shut off in Lower Manhattan in an effort to prevent further erosion to key structures in areas impacted by wind damage, flooding and power failures. Fires in Breezy Point, Queens destroyed more than 80 homes as a result of the storm. 375,000 people were evacuated in Lower Manhattan, 2 million people were without power. The New York City Transit system also needed to be repaired due to the flooding and damage caused by the storm. As part of the Sandy Recovery effort, installed 100 miles of new cable, moved 32,000 tons of debris and repaired 46,000 miles of track as part of the Sandy Recovery effort.
Hurricane Sandy Damages in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania experienced 436,000 power outages.
