HURRICANE SANDY-USA 2012

 HURRICANE SANDY-USA 2012

 

Hurricane Sandy, also known as Superstorm Sandy, was one of the most destructive and powerful storms to strike the United States in recent history. It formed in the Caribbean Sea on October 22, 2012, and became a Category 3 hurricane before making landfall in the Northeast U.S. on October 29, 2012. Sandy caused catastrophic damage, particularly to the states of New Jersey, New York, and parts of the Northeast U.S., as well as Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba.

Sandy’s size and strength made it unique. It was an unusually large storm, spanning more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km), and caused widespread flooding, especially in coastal cities. The storm surged up the East Coast, with New York City suffering extensive damage, including flooding of the subway system and power outages across the city. In addition, a storm surge of up to 14 feet (4.3 meters) inundated parts of New Jersey, devastating coastal towns and destroying thousands of homes.

The storm caused at least 233 deaths across eight countries, with over 100 of those in the U.S. Property damage in the U.S. alone exceeded $65 billion, making it one of the costliest hurricanes in U.S. history. Power outages affected millions of people, some for up to two weeks. Recovery efforts were slow, and the storm highlighted the vulnerability of urban infrastructure to extreme weather events. Hurricane Sandy also prompted widespread debates about climate change, urban resilience, and the need for better preparedness for such large-scale natural disasters.