Hurricane Sandy has caused fear, chaos and devastation to the US East Coast and has left 40 people dead. There were significant damages to infrastructure due to the heavy winds and flooding.
Everywhere flooding is a problem and the massive power outage has affected millions of residents. The residents of the devastated areas are now faced with the clean-up which may take several days.
Storm Sandy is now heading to the northern part of Canada and still brings the threat of flooding and damage to properties.
Facts about Storm Sandy’s devastation
- The operations of the public transport system in New York City is still suspended and around 18 people have been killed. About 50 homes were destroyed by fire.
- In Lower Manhattan the subway and road tunnels have been flooded. Witnesses described the view in Lower Manhattan as ‘post-apocalyptic’.
- Due to some cooling problems and power supply, three of the four nuclear reactors have been closed.
- All New York’s major airports have been closed as their runways are flooded. An estimated 18,000 flights were cancelled and combined losses are around $10m per day.
- Around eight million homes and businesses are affected by the power outage.
- The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Exchange will be closed for two days. The last time this happened was in 1888.
- New York’s subway system has been in operation for 108 years and this is the worst damage to the subway due to flooding.
- The piers on the Jersey Shore and the fabled boardwalk in Atlantic City were ripped apart due to the super storm.
- The cost of damage to the business establishments in US East Coast is between $10bn and $20bn.
Witnesses’ description of the devastation
- “In all honesty, it looks like a war zone.”
- “It looks like during the night, that fighter planes or bombers came through and just bombed the entire area. It just looks terrible.”
- “There’s poles down, there’s trees down across wires with transformers blowing up on the street.”
- “You go out and walk around, it’s dangerous, because if you hit a puddle and it’s got electricity — there’s really not much you can do until things get cleaned up a little bit.”
- “But while the property damage there was “pretty extensive I’m happy to report that the human damage, if you will, has been minimal.”
Help after superstorm
The relief groups are working hand in hand to ensure that all of those who were affected will receive the needed assistance immediately. Here are things that you can do during calamities.
- Donate blood
- Give food and shelter
- Help children in need
- Care for animals
- Provide emergency supplies
- Join in the cleanup
Interesting facts about hurricanes
- When the speed of the tropical storm reaches 74 mph (115km/h) it becomes a hurricane.
- The energy of a hurricane during its life cycle is comparable to the energy of 10,000 nuclear bombs.
- The spiralling effect of a hurricane is generated by the Earth’s rotation known as the Coriolis Effect.
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