The Implications of Hurricane Sandy for Disaster Response Thomas Chandler, PhD National Center for Disaster Preparedness The Earth Institute Columbia University

1,000 miles long

The 700 Year Storm? Knocked power out for 8 million people 32 ft wave recorded in New York Harbor 3 feet of snow in West Virginia

Linkage to Climate Change? Sea levels have risen 1 ft since 1900 Intensity vs frequency Insurance industry: Munich Re: Weather risks are changing faster in North America than anywhere else in the world.

But, Wait… Recent IPCC report downplayed linkage between hurricanes and climate change Historical record of hurricanes in the Atlantic is not extensive Monstrous hurricanes have always threatened the US east coast: The Great Miami Hurricane of 1926 would have cost $180 billion today

What We Know 1/3 of all Americans live in counties immediately bordering the oceans The sea level will continue to rise this century and impact storms like Hurricane Sandy

Risk Communication: What Happened? NYC residents expected strong winds, not flooding 1/3 of residents did not have flood insurance Uncertainty about evacuation zones Underestimation of power failures and lack of fuel

Why Didn’t People Evacuate? Lack of family or financial support network NYC Shelter System: Concerns about safety Fear of looting Religious fatalism Inability to leave: Eg, Elderly residents in the Far Rockaways. -> Take Away: Government messages need to be decentralized

Typhoon Haiyan How do we define a disaster? Haiyan affected 11.3 million people and displaced at least 673,000 Filipinos. In contrast, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami killed perhaps 250,000 people throughout Southern Asia but affected roughly 5 million. Strongest tropical storm ever recorded at landfall, packing sustained winds of at least 195 mph with gusts of 235 mph

Building a Culture of Preparedness In many nations, disaster preparedness is part of the school curriculum 2004: Hurricane Ivan struck Cuba as a category 5, no deaths 2005: Hurricane Katrina, 1,833 deaths

You Are Your Own First Responder Misperception that help will arrive immediately Need 3 day supply of water and food

Resources ready.gov fema.gov ncdp.columbia.edu Preparedness Wizard

In Conclusion 1/3 of all Americans live in counties immediately bordering the oceans The sea level will continue to rise this century and impact storms like Hurricane Sandy