CASE STUDY - Hurricane Sandy, USA 2012

Question 1

Location and introduction

Answer 1

• Sandy began in the Western Caribbean on 22nd October 2012

-First hit the Caribbean (Haiti)

-Referred in the press as a superstorm due to its strength and speed

• lasted from the 22nd October to the 31st 2012

Question 2

Causes

Answer 2

-Ocean temperature of 27 degrees Celsius and over

-storm hit a nor’easter over the Atlantic which intensified the storm

-corolius effect

-low wind shear

-ocean depths 60-80 metres

Question 3

Environmental impacts

Answer 3

• waves reached about 25 feet above the sea level in Manhattan

Question 4

Economic impacts

Answer 4

-New Yorks stock exchange was closed for two days so tens of millions of dollars in revenue were lost

-total losses were $20 billion

-predicted 15th worst hurricane of all time

-not everyone was insured and half the total loss was in insurance

Question 5

Social impacts

Answer 5

-50 people died in Haiti alone

-10 people were killed in the USA

-8 million homes and business were left without power

-more than a million people were forced to evacuate their homes along the storms path

Question 6

Political impacts

Answer 6

-Hurricane Sandy interrupted the presidential election campaign. President Obama cancelled 3 days of appearances and engagements

Question 7

Short term responses

Answer 7

• hospitals had back- up generators to keep power on

-subways were evacuated

-NYCs three airports were immediately closed down

Question 8

Long term responses

Answer 8

Hurricane actions on primary and secondary curriculum for state schools

-updates to technology that gives flood warnings

• 40000 people had to be rehoused as a result of the snow and low temperatures that followed Hurricane Sandy