Hurricane Sandy's Impact
Dylan Redfield
SOC 332
Block One Paper
September 10, 2014
When thinking of urban cities, most people do not consider them ecological systems, often overlooking the climate and nature of the land that has been built on. The location of a city can dramatically affect the social, political, and economic characteristics of that city, for better or for worse. Different locations offer various risks and advantages, such as cities built near or on shorelines will receive more tourism but are more prone to flooding. New York City leads North America in population, economics, corporate headquarters, culture, and international politics, resides on three islands where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean (Hawkinson, 2014). Access to this major shipping port offers New York City many economic opportunities, but expansion is putting the city at risk for disaster. Hurricane Sandy struck New York City with record-breaking force on October of 2012, claiming many lives and causing billions of dollars in damage. According to National Geographic (2012), the super storm killed over one hundred people in Haiti and the Caribbean and another one hundred people in the United States, 43 of those being New York City residents. The large storm surge flipped trees, swept away cars, and even destroyed many buildings and homes. The large amount of water in the city caused 8 million homes to lose power as well as other electrical problems including fires. Electrical fires destroyed 111 homes in the Breezy Point neighborhood adding to the thousands left homeless from the storm (Mattiuzzi, 2012). Critical city buildings suffered power loss as well, such as the New York University Hospital, forcing them to relocate many patients. Waves of water crashed through the recently built $545 million South Ferry subway station, corroding electrical equipment and even destroying staircases and escalators, putting the subway out of service for possibly two to three years drastically affecting
SOC 332
Block One Paper
September 10, 2014
When thinking of urban cities, most people do not consider them ecological systems, often overlooking the climate and nature of the land that has been built on. The location of a city can dramatically affect the social, political, and economic characteristics of that city, for better or for worse. Different locations offer various risks and advantages, such as cities built near or on shorelines will receive more tourism but are more prone to flooding. New York City leads North America in population, economics, corporate headquarters, culture, and international politics, resides on three islands where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean (Hawkinson, 2014). Access to this major shipping port offers New York City many economic opportunities, but expansion is putting the city at risk for disaster. Hurricane Sandy struck New York City with record-breaking force on October of 2012, claiming many lives and causing billions of dollars in damage. According to National Geographic (2012), the super storm killed over one hundred people in Haiti and the Caribbean and another one hundred people in the United States, 43 of those being New York City residents. The large storm surge flipped trees, swept away cars, and even destroyed many buildings and homes. The large amount of water in the city caused 8 million homes to lose power as well as other electrical problems including fires. Electrical fires destroyed 111 homes in the Breezy Point neighborhood adding to the thousands left homeless from the storm (Mattiuzzi, 2012). Critical city buildings suffered power loss as well, such as the New York University Hospital, forcing them to relocate many patients. Waves of water crashed through the recently built $545 million South Ferry subway station, corroding electrical equipment and even destroying staircases and escalators, putting the subway out of service for possibly two to three years drastically affecting
Bibliography: Hawkinson, C. (2014). SOC332: Block 1: Introduction and North American Cities Cities of the World: Chapters 1 and 2. Tempe, AZ, USA. Lemonick, M. D. (2012, October 29). Sandy’s Storm Surge Explained and Why It Matters. Retrieved September 8, 2014, from Climate Central: http://www.climatecentral.org/news/hurricane-sandys-storm-surge-explained-and-why-it-matters-15182 Currington, M. (Director). (2012). National Geographic Superstorm New York What Really Happened [Motion Picture]. UK. Tollefson, J., & Nature, M. (2013, February 13). Natural Hazards: New York City versus the Sea. Retrieved September 5, 2014, from Scientific American: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/natural-hazards-new-york-city-vs-the-sea/