Remembering Super Storm Sandy: A Collage for LMAC #86

When I first saw @shaka's template photo this week, nothing jumped out at me.

@shaka's Template Image

Usually I look for a particular element around which I can build an idea. This time, the whole picture was my idea. The water's proximity to the skyscraper reminded me of Super Storm Sandy. In New York (USA), this massive storm was called a super storm. In other places it was called Hurricane Sandy.

Super Storm Sandy in Lindenhurst, NY, November 2012

Image credit: Jason DeCrow. Used under CC license

In terms of material damage, Hurricane Sandy was one of the costliest storms in U. S. history. The hurricane struck New York City on October 29, 2012. Although at that point the hurricane was downgraded to a super storm, it hung around for two days. It drenched the region with incessant rain. A powerful storm surge pushed water onto land. This, in combination with high tides, brought devastation to northeastern coastal areas.

Here is a Youtube video showing flooding in the East Village of New York City.

According to the NYC Disaster Relief website, 44 people died as a direct result of the storm. Thousands of New Yorkers were displaced, as 69,000 residential units were damaged. The newspaper USA Today reported that 40 of the deaths were from drowning. And most of those deaths occurred in what were mandatory evacuation zones. People didn't believe the dire warnings and stayed in their homes. They were unable to escape when the waters rose.

Flyover of Staten Island, Assessing Damage

Most coastal areas in Staten Island were in a mandatory evacuation zone. Tragic stories were written about Staten Island residents who decided to ride out the storm.

Where was I?
I was home. I didn't believe the predictions, either, although I did not live in an evacuation zone. If I had known what was coming, I would have cleared out and gone inland with my husband. Once we lost power, and the power stayed off, dread began to set in.

Hurricane Sandy Blackout, October 31, 2012

Image credit: David Shankbone (1974-). Used under CC 3.0 license.

The window to leave had closed. Gas stations were closed, so we couldn't risk taking a long trip. Fuel terminals, pipelines and refineries were damaged. Devastation was suffered all along the East Coast. If we ran out of gas, it was possible there would be none available as we traveled.

Aerial View of Damage in Connecticut

Image credit: Dannel Malloy. Used under a CC 2.0 license.

There was no communication from local authorities. We listened on a small battery-charged radio to a sportscaster who lived nearby. He would give regular updates on power restoration.

And then the snow came. It is rare that a Nor'easter follows a hurricane, but Sandy was a rare event. Named by some Winter Storm Athena, the storm rolled in on November 8, and dropped record snowfalls on New York City and Long Island. We were cold, but had it better than many because our gas stove worked, we had candles and lanterns, and most important, we had water. People stranded in high-rises had neither elevator service, nor potable water.

Winter Storm Athena

Image credit: NASA. Public domain.

Why Hurricane Sandy, and What of the Future?

According to the Princeton University Office of Engineering Communications, we can expect to see more storms like Sandy in the future. Princeton researchers refer to a report from the National Academy of Sciences that predicts: "Sandy-like flood events will increase...sharply...due to the compound effects of sea level rise and storm climatology change". In explaining the cause of the storms, Princeton cites specifically climate change and storm surges in which winds push water onto coastal areas.

Here is a Youtube video of a storm surge on Staten Island as Sandy assaulted the borough.

My Collage

Elements, all from Pixabay, except for @shaka's great template picture
Stormy sea Pexels on Pixabay
Boy waving Mohammed hassan Pixabay
First aid kit Alexas_fotos on Pixabay
Dog elisabettabelommi on Pixabay
Canoe Perkins on Pixabay
Helicopter rescue: 14428522 on Pixabay
Girl sitting: RyanMcGuire on Pixabay

Anyone who is reading this should see that creating a collage is a liberating experience. If you look at some of the collages that have been made for this template (check out the LMAC community,) you will see there is no limit to where the imagination may lead you.

Rules for the community may be found on @shaka's blog. We have a Discord channel, and a school. Our teacher and colleague, @quantumg, posts lessons and answers questions.

Please note: I do not compete in this contest. I make collages because I love the community, and I love the creative exercise.
Thank you @shaka for creating LMAC and for doing all the work it takes to keep the community thriving.

****Important****

Please read this blog, LMAC School - Public Domain Picture sources (Free Materials for creating collages), written by @quantumg, which discusses public domain issues. The blog offers links to sources that offer public domain pictures. Using public domain pictures is an absolutely essential requirement for all collages submitted in the LMAC contest.