In the wake of Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy

[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/EW-11-19-12-Hurricane-Sandy.mp3|titles=EW 11-19-12 Hurricane Sandy]

In late October, a tropical cyclone devastated parts of the Caribbean and America’s East Coast. Named Hurricane Sandy, this “super storm” was the largest Atlantic hurricane on record. Many impacted areas are still recovering, with damages in excess of $50 billion dollars.

Haiti, New York, and New Jersey suffered the heaviest losses. Lower Manhattan was a flood zone and New York City’s Transit system – which includes aging subway lines, rail lines, and tunnels – was damaged from storm surges, corrosive salt water, and winds.

Blackouts impacted the New York metropolitan area, with millions left in the dark for more than a week. Coastal properties, from Long Island to the Jersey Shore, were flooded. Atlantic City lost its boardwalk. And more than 100 homes in Queens burned to the ground.

Hurricane Sandy left residents in our nation’s most populous metro area feeling vulnerable. There were gasoline shortages following the storm and millions went without power on Election Day.

In the storm’s wake, many are wondering what can be done to protect coastal populations. One thing is certain – extreme weather is becoming more commonplace. And warming ocean waters and man-made sea level rise likely intensified Hurricane Sandy’s impacts.

NBC’s Tom Brokaw called Hurricane Sandy a “climate change wake-up call.” And after the storm, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg endorsed Barak Obama on the grounds that he was better positioned to take action on climate change.

For the safety of our citizen, let’s continue the climate change dialogue, and work together to invest in new research and policy needed to minimize the coastal effects of extreme weather.