Scary Sandy

As October nears its end, Americans prepare for a monster hurricane. Hurricane Sandy, the incoming storm that has passed through the Caribbean, has already taken more than five dozen lives, with 51 deaths in Haiti. The onslaught has yet to reach its peak as Sandy continues to travel up, affecting the entire East Coast of the US and even parts of Canada. The approach of Sandy has affected life greatly- New York and the other East Coast states ordered the evacuation of everyone living on the low lying lands next to the ocean, which could produce waves 12 feet tall. The transportation system in the Northeast has been affected as well, with commuter rail lines bringing activities to a halt in preparation for the arrival of the hurricane. Air travel has taken a hit, with thousands of flights delayed or cancelled. Broadway shows and Carnegie Hall performances have been cancelled, and the New York Stock Exchange shut down its trading floor.

To me, Sandy might be a repeat of Katrina back in 2004; however, while Katrina affected mainly the residents living in the Southeast, particularly Louisiana, Sandy looks like a potential national disaster brewing in the ocean. The hurricane can cause major power outages all over the East Coast, damage infrastructure in coastal cities, and cause massive loss of life. With a hurricane this big, the East Coast might be severely crippled after the hit, requiring major rebuilding.

There is one possible positive side to Sandy. Sandy, although destructive, will bring a snow dump to the Northeast; this is a possible boon to the ski industry, which suffered greatly last winter due to a snow drought.