Hurricane Sandy — The Superstorm That Broke New York
In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy slammed into the U.S. East Coast, forever earning its title as the “Superstorm.” With winds extending nearly 1,000 miles across, Sandy was one of the largest tropical systems ever recorded in the Atlantic. When it reached New York, the impact was catastrophic. Streets turned into rivers, subways flooded, and entire communities were left in darkness.
The storm surge that accompanied Sandy was particularly devastating. Water levels in New York Harbor reached record highs, pushing seawater into Lower Manhattan and surrounding boroughs. Iconic landmarks like Battery Park, the Brooklyn waterfront, and parts of Staten Island were engulfed by the flood. The storm disrupted transportation and shut down Wall Street, halting the financial capital of the world.
Beyond the flooding, Sandy left nearly 8 million people without power. Hospitals had to be evacuated, businesses closed, and families displaced for weeks. The storm caused more than $70 billion in damages, making it one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history.
The legacy of Sandy reshaped how cities think about climate resilience. In New York, officials invested in flood defenses, improved emergency communication systems, and strengthened energy grids. Yet, questions remain about whether enough has been done to prepare for the next superstorm.
Hurricane Sandy was more than just a weather event — it was a wake-up call. It exposed the fragility of even the most advanced cities when confronted by nature’s fury. For New Yorkers, it will forever be remembered as the storm that broke the city, but also the storm that inspired change.
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