Frankly, this is not an occasion for commentary. Instead I shall suffice to humbly share a few highlights:
Much of the destruction was caused by sustained wind gusts of between 50 and 90 mph, creating unprecedented surges of seawater, which caused flooding of coastal areas all along the Atlantic seaboard.
The state of New Jersey took it in the neck worse than any other state. It’s going to take us a while to dig out from under it, but we will dig out from under it.
(New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, CBS News, October 30, 2012)
- 8 million homes and businesses across 13 states (from Virginia to Maine) are without power; restoration will take up to 10 days (especially since the electrical grid itself in places like NYC sustained considerable damage). Not to mention blizzard conditions in places like West Virginia and Ohio.
- Electrical fires continue to rage out of control in some areas – over 100 homes were destroyed in Breezy Point, Queens despite the best efforts of 200 firefighters, and many other homes have been blown off their foundation.
Wind gusts, tidal surge, and resulting flood waters have paralyzed and shutdown much of New Jersey and New York City – with a 13-foot surge causing unprecedented damage to the transit system in both areas.
The New York City subway system is 108 years old, but it has never faced a disaster as devastating as what we experienced last night. Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on our entire transportation system, in every borough and county of the region.
(MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota, NY Post, October 30, 2012)
- Heroic search and rescue missions continue – highlighted by the evacuation last night of hundreds of patients, including babies in neo-natal care, from NYU hospital at the height of the storm.
- The New York Stock Exchange will be closed for a second consecutive day, which did not happen even after 9/11. This is the first time a weather event has forced closure of the markets for two-consecutive trading days since the blizzard of 1888. JFK, La Guardia, and Newark airports remain closed – causing traveling nightmares for tens of millions worldwide.
We knew this was going to be very dangerous. This is a once-in-a-long-time storm. Maybe the worst we have ever experienced
(NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, CNN, October 30, 2012)
President Obama has issued emergency/disaster declarations for much of the Northeast, which will make unlimited rescue and recovery assets as well as financial resources to help with rebuilding immediately available.- Storm damage is projected to cost $50 billion (of course much of this will be offset by the construction boom that invariably follows such disasters…).
- Remarkably, despite the historic scope of this destruction, only 26 people have been reported killed. But I suspect that number will rise. (Sandy left 69 dead in the Caribbean.)
- Perhaps the most dramatic image of the damage caused, and of the danger that remains, is a crane now hanging over Manhattan like a Damoclean sword from the 70th floor of a luxury high rise under construction in midtown.
With that, it is fair to say that much of the ratings-motivated media hype was warranted – at least insofar as New Jersey and New York City are concerned. My prayers and thoughts go out to all those affected.
NOTE: We fared relatively well in the DC-metropolitan area: some power outages (but not in my neighborhood); reports of property damage – with trees falling on homes (but I only suffered a few leaks). Most offices and businesses remain closed today.
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