By Jaime Ortega.
Video: Ocean City, Maryland Aftermath of Hurricane Sandy
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Hurricane Sandy gave a big blow to the North American east coast. The level five hurricane that struck the Caribbean kept its route all the way to New Jersey and parts of lower New York.
Sandy became a level one hurricane close to North Carolina were it met with a low temperature cold front that came from Canada and another front from the northeast.
The anticipated hurricane swiftly rerouted northeast resulting in the worst possible scenario causing over 22 billion $USD in damage and over 67 million in power shortages on late Tuesday.
The Hurricane caused over 56 deaths and the total might go up as other reports continue to follow.
The hurricane winds reached 60-70 mph in parts of lower Maryland, including Ocean City, and 85-90 mph in lower Manhattan, Battery Park, Staten Island, Atlantic City Jersey Shore and Chesapeake Bay. Parts of Delaware such as coastal Fenwick did not escape either.
The winds created nine-foot waves as they impacted the beach, but as the hurricane gusts accelerated closer to land, waves reached over 15 feet in some coastal regions including the Jersey Shore and parts of Virginia Beach.
When Sandy made contact with New Jersey’s coast the hurricane disfigured its spiral form and became a super tropical storm.
The 900 mile wide hurricane was felt in Navy Peer, Chicago were a few surfers got the opportunity to ride the seven-foot waves.
Floods six feet deep registered in all east coast regions and in parts of southern Pennsylvania. Flood warnings were also in effect in cities like Cleveland closer to Lake Erie.
President Obama and Gov. Chris Christie made relief efforts to help those affected by the super-storm in New Jersey and are working to get New Jersey back on its feet.
Power outrages, transit shutdowns and local floods are also issued in Philadelphia, a city near the coast.
Wall Street resumed today after a two-day shut down. The New York City Metro Transportation Authority shut down for a few days due to underground floods in the subway, and it is expected to reopen sometime this week.
The Holland tunnel was also reported to be flooded as local officials and authorities were trying to restore New York’s transit system back to normal.
NYC also dealt with local fires as buildings’ gas and electric power exploded with the powerful winds pushing electrical wires and polls. Thirty deaths were reported in New York alone, but the death toll might go up as reports finalize.
The cold front also covered West Virginia in five feet of snow and other parts of southern Ohio.
Hurricane Sandy made an historical scar in U.S. history, and unlike Hurricane Irene most meteorologists gave an accurate prediction of its destructive path.
The question remains as to whether or not these recent new super storms will continue to push upward to northeast U.S., and what should be done in the future to avoid destruction from storms like Sandy.
