Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy, also called Superstorm Sandy, was one of the biggest and most damaging storms ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean. It hit parts of the Caribbean and the eastern United States in late October 2012. At its biggest, the storm’s winds stretched over 1,150 miles across—the widest Atlantic hurricane ever measured.

The storm began as a tropical wave in the Caribbean Sea and grew quickly into a powerful hurricane. It struck Jamaica, Cuba, and several other islands before moving toward the United States. Near New Jersey, it merged with another weather system, becoming a large extratropical cyclone. This made its impacts even stronger along the U.S. East Coast, especially in New Jersey and New York, where heavy rains, strong winds, and a big storm surge caused severe flooding and damage.

Hurricane Sandy caused about $70 billion in damage and sadly took many lives across eight countries, from the Caribbean all the way to Canada. It left many people without power, damaged homes, and disrupted daily life for millions. The storm showed how powerful nature can be and reminded everyone of the importance of preparing for big weather events.

Meteorological history

Main article: Meteorological history of Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy started as a low pressure system that became Tropical Depression Eighteen on October 22 near Kingston, Jamaica. It was named Tropical Storm Sandy later that day. By October 24, it became a hurricane and moved over Kingston, Jamaica with strong winds. After leaving Cuba, Sandy turned northward and became very large, with wind effects stretching over 1,150 miles (1,850 km). It hit the coast near Brigantine, New Jersey, on October 29 with 80 mph (130 km/h) winds before moving north and merging with another weather system on November 2.

Forecasts

On October 23, 2012, a weather model from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts correctly predicted Sandy's path nearly eight days before it hit the American East Coast. The National Weather Service later confirmed this path. Improvements made after 2012 have helped weather forecasts become more accurate.

Relation to global warming

See also: Tropical cyclones and climate change

Some scientists believe that global warming made Hurricane Sandy stronger and its rainfall heavier. Warmer ocean temperatures and changes in atmospheric patterns may have played a role in the storm's unusual path and impacts. Rising sea levels also worsened the flooding along the coast.

Preparations

Caribbean and Bermuda

When Hurricane Sandy formed on October 22, Jamaica prepared by issuing warnings and making sure people had supplies. Schools and airports closed, and curfews helped keep everyone safe. Haiti and Cuba also got ready with their own warnings.

Bermuda issued a warning on October 26 because of the storm’s huge size.

United States

Across the East Coast of the United States, people got ready for Sandy by canceling flights, closing schools, and preparing for power outages. Governments and power companies made plans to fix any damage quickly. President Obama helped states get ready by signing emergency declarations.

Southeast

Florida

Schools closed early in some areas like the Treasure Coast.

Carolinas

In North Carolina, a state of emergency was declared, and some areas prepared for snow. Parks like the Blue Ridge Parkway closed.

Mid-Atlantic

Virginia

Virginia declared a state of emergency, and ships moved out to sea for safety. Campaign events were canceled because of the storm.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., also declared an emergency, and federal offices closed. Public transport stopped to keep people safe.

Maryland

Maryland prepared by evacuating some areas and closing schools and bridges. Shelters opened, and pharmacies helped people get needed medicines.

Delaware

Delaware evacuated coastal areas and closed roads. Public transport stopped during the storm.

New Jersey

New Jersey started evacuations early, especially on barrier islands. Tolls were stopped on some roads, and schools closed.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania declared an emergency, and people in flood-prone areas were asked to leave. Airports and public transport closed.

New York

New York declared an emergency and closed major airports and train services. Schools closed, and people in low-lying areas were told to leave. Hospitals prepared for the storm, and stock trading stopped.

New England

Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine all declared emergencies and prepared by closing schools and offices. Shelters opened, and transport services stopped.

Appalachia and the Midwest

States around the Great Lakes prepared for big waves and flooding. Schools closed because of power outages. In West Virginia, people got ready for snow. In the Great Smoky Mountains, roads closed because of snow.

Canada

Canada issued warnings for heavy rain and strong winds. Areas around the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Valley got ready for storm surges and heavy rain.

Impact

A total of 254 people were killed across the United States, the Caribbean, and Canada because of the storm.

Caribbean

Jamaica

Jamaica was the first country directly affected by Sandy. Trees and power lines were knocked down, and some houses were badly damaged by winds and heavy rain. More than 100 fishermen were stuck off the coast. One man died when stones from a hillside fell on him as he tried to get into his house. The country’s electricity service reported that 70 percent of its customers had no power. More than 1,000 people went to shelters. Jamaican authorities closed the island’s airports and set curfews in big towns to keep people safe. Most buildings on the east side of the island lost their roofs.

Hispaniola

In Haiti, which was still recovering from past earthquakes, 75 people died, and about 200,000 were left without homes after days of rain from Hurricane Sandy. Heavy damage happened in Port-Salut after rivers overflowed. In the capital, Port-au-Prince, streets flooded, and many tents and buildings in refugee camps filled with water. Crops were destroyed, and the country asked for emergency help. Damage in Haiti was estimated at $750 million, making it the costliest storm in the country’s history. In the Dominican Republic, two people died, and 30,000 were evacuated. Many streets in Santo Domingo were flooded. One person died in Puerto Rico after being swept away by a river.

Cuba

About 55,000 people were moved before Hurricane Sandy arrived. The storm caused big waves and flooding along the coast. There was lots of damage, especially in Santiago de Cuba, where many homes were destroyed or lost their roofs. Power and water services stopped, and many trees were damaged. Sandy killed 11 people in Cuba – most were trapped in destroyed houses.

Bahamas

One person died when he fell off his roof trying to fix a window. Another died when a sea surge trapped him in his apartment. Some islands lost power, and five homes were badly damaged. Overall damage in the Bahamas was about $700 million.

Bermuda

High winds and heavy rains hit Bermuda because of the storm’s size. A small tornado caused damage to homes and businesses. During three days, the storm brought almost an inch of rain. The strongest winds were recorded on October 29.

United States

Sandy affected 24 U.S. states. The storm caused tens of billions of dollars in damage, destroyed thousands of homes, and left millions without power. There were 71 direct deaths in nine states and 87 indirect deaths. In total, 160 people died because of the storm.

Trains and flights were canceled across the U.S. On October 31, over 6 million customers still had no power in 15 states and the District of Columbia. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq reopened after a two-day closure.

Southeast

Florida

In South Florida, Sandy brought rough surf, strong winds, and heavy rain. Waves reached up to 20 feet in some places. Some roads were closed, and a few houses had water damage. Schools closed, and some activities were canceled. Two baby panthers escaped from a conservation center but were found safe the next day.

North Carolina

North Carolina mostly escaped major damage, though some areas near the coast were flooded. Three people died because of the storm. A ship called Bounty sank off the coast, and 14 crew members were rescued, but one person died, and the captain was never found.

Mid-Atlantic

Virginia

Snow fell in parts of Virginia, and Shenandoah National Park closed because of the weather. More than 180,000 customers lost power. Three people died because of the storm.

Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Schools and government offices closed for two days. A fishing pier in Ocean City was badly damaged. Over 311,000 people lost power.

Delaware

Heavy rain caused power outages for thousands of people. The Delaware Memorial Bridge was closed because of wind. President Obama declared the whole state a disaster area to help with recovery.

New Jersey

A big piece of the Atlantic City Boardwalk washed away. Flooding happened in Hoboken and other towns. More than 2.6 million customers lost power. There were 43 deaths in New Jersey, and damage was estimated at $36.8 billion.

Pennsylvania

Many highways around Philadelphia closed during the storm. The highest wind gust ever recorded in the state happened in Allentown. More than 1.2 million people lost power. Fourteen deaths were reported.

New York

New York City schools closed for several days. The New York Stock Exchange closed for two days because of weather – the first closure since 1985. Flooding happened in Lower Manhattan, and the New York City subway system suffered its worst damage ever. Over 10 billion gallons of raw sewage were released into waters around New York and New Jersey. The New York City Marathon was canceled because of the storm. Governor Cuomo estimated costs to New York at $42 billion. There were 53 deaths in New York.

New England

Strong winds were recorded on Cape Cod and Buzzards Bay. Nearly 300,000 customers lost power in Massachusetts. Over 100,000 lost power in Rhode Island. Most damage was along the coastline.

Appalachia and Midwest

West Virginia

Sandy’s rain turned to snow in the mountains, causing blizzard conditions. Up to 36 inches of snow fell in some places. Many roads closed because of fallen trees and power lines. Seven people died because of the storm. Governor Earl Ray Tomblin asked President Obama for help.

Ohio

Wind gusts reached 68 miles per hour at Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport. Hundreds of schools closed, and about 250,000 homes and businesses lost power. Snow was reported in some parts of the state.

Michigan

More than 120,000 customers lost power. Waves up to 23 feet were reported on southern Lake Huron.

Kentucky

More than a foot of snow fell in eastern Kentucky.

Tennessee

Mount Le Conte in the Great Smoky Mountains got 32 inches of snow, a record for October.

Canada

High winds hit areas around Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. One woman died after being hit by flying debris in Toronto. At least 145,000 customers in Ontario lost power. Around 49,000 homes and businesses lost power in Quebec. Hundreds of flights were canceled. Damage in Canada was estimated at over $100 million.

Aftermath

Relief efforts

Many groups helped after the storm. Disney–ABC Television Group held a special day of giving on November 5, raising money for the American Red Cross. NBC also raised money during a special show the same day. News Corporation gave a million dollars to help the area around New York City. A big concert called “12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief” happened at Madison Square Garden in New York City, with famous singers like Bon Jovi and Billy Joel. The United States government worked quickly to help places that were hurt the most. Military teams and National Guard members helped clean up and fix things.

Political impact

The storm caused many people to talk about climate change. Some leaders said that warmer oceans and rising sea levels made storms worse. The storm happened just before an important election in the United States, and it affected some of the campaigning. President Barack Obama talked about how climate change is real and that we need to do something about it.

Financial markets impact

The storm caused problems for money markets. The New York Stock Exchange closed for two days because of weather, the first time that happened in many years. When it opened again, things were mostly okay.

Infrastructure impact

The storm hurt many important systems. Power went out for millions of people, and it was hard to get gas for cars. Many cell towers stopped working, so people couldn’t call or text. Public buses and subways in New York City stopped for a few days, making it very hard for people to get to work. Hospitals and schools also had to close because of flood damage.

Baby boom

Some hospitals in New Jersey noticed more babies being born about nine months after the storm, which made people think there was a “baby boom” after the hurricane.

Retirement

Because Hurricane Sandy caused so much damage, the name “Sandy” was retired and will never be used again for a hurricane. It was replaced with the name “Sara.”

Media coverage

As Hurricane Sandy moved toward the United States, weather experts and news reporters gave it many different unofficial names. At first, they focused on how it might bring snow, calling it names like "Snowicane Sandy" and "Snor'eastercane Sandy". Later, because it happened close to Halloween, people started calling it "Frankenstorm", a name created by Jim Cisco, a weather forecaster at the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Some news channels, like CNN, stopped using this name because they thought it made the storm seem less serious.

Because Hurricane Sandy caused so much damage across the United States and mixed with another weather system in a strange way, many people, including government officials, began calling it "Superstorm Sandy". This name stayed popular for a long time, even into 2013. Some people who worry about climate change used this name to talk about new kinds of storms that might be linked to a warming planet, while others said it was too early to know if climate change caused the storm. A magazine called Popular Science said the term was just meant to grab attention.