Hurricane Sandy, commonly referred to as Superstorm Sandy, was an extremely destructive hurricane that brought heavy rains and devastating winds to the northeast coast of the United States, specifically New Jersey and New York, in late October and early November of 2012. Classified as a Category 3 Hurricane, Superstorm Sandy holds the record for the Atlantic Hurricane with the largest diameter – with its winds spanning a diameter of 1,150 miles. The devastation and aftermath of Hurricane Sandy precipitated many of the coastal projects and initiatives that are currently occurring in coastal communities along the United States today.
One of the reasons that Hurricane Sandy was so devastating – resulting in its title of a “Superstorm” – was because it was the conglomeration of multiple weather patterns – tropical storm and hurricane activities from the warm waters in the Caribbean and weather patterns moving eastward across the United States. Another factor is that Hurricane Sandy made an initial landfall across the Caribbean Islands but then cruised over the Atlantic Ocean before making landfall again in New Jersey. Typically, tropical storms and hurricanes make landfall again in the United States along the Florida Coast, Gulf Coast, or the coast of the Carolinas. The unique travel path of Hurricane Sandy and the longer time spent travelling over the Atlantic Ocean than the usual tropical storms gave this storm the time and resources to become a much stronger storm than typical hurricanes. Ultimately, this increased strength is what resulted in unprecedented damage – $70.2 billion dollars worth of damage, 8.5 million people without power, and 650,000 homes destroyed!
Congress Directs USACE to Conduct Feasibility Studies
Following the aftermath and reviewing the immense destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy, Congress authorized and directed the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to conduct a series of Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) Program Feasibility Studies in coastal communities in the United States. The goal of these studies was to study coastal communities, conduct analyses and make recommendations for projects that would mitigate damage from future tropical storms and hurricanes. Florida Keys, St. Augustine, FL, Charleston, SC, Galveston, TX, Norfolk, VA, New York City, and New Jersey – even San Juan, Puerto Rico, which is a US Territory – are just a few examples of locations where CSRM Feasibility Studies are ongoing or have been recently completed.
Goals of CSRM Feasibility Studies and Next Steps
The main objective of the CSRM Feasibility Studies conducted by USACE is to identify projects that reduce the community’s risk of loss of life, and damage to infrastructure and private property during future tropical storms and hurricanes. These projects can be divided into two main categories: structural features and non-structural projects. Structural features refer to constructing infrastructure features that are specifically designed to hold back floodwaters and storm surge – abnormally high water levels above the predicted cyclical tidal levels – such as floodwalls, levees, storm surge barriers, and tide gates, pumps, pump houses and piping systems to pump water out of low lying areas or other built features that will protect communities during storms. Structural features also include beach nourishment and widening projects to increase shoreline protection. Non-structural projects refer to mitigation measures that will be applied to existing buildings and critical infrastructure to reduce their risk during a storm. This includes: elevating homes, filling-in basements, adding flood protective barriers such as deployable walls in front of commercial buildings, or even in some extreme cases relocating a structure. Ultimately, the goal is that homes, businesses, and other buildings and vital infrastructure in the community will be better protected when future storms occur.
As the Feasibility studies are completed and projects are identified, funding sources, as well as federal authorities, will be sought to complete the projects. The Norfolk CSRM Project in coastal Virginia is a unique example. The Norfolk CSRM Project was the first CSRM Project authorized in 2020 after the completion of its associated feasibility study in 2019. Furthermore, this project received $400 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill in early 2022 and will be looked at as a model for the implementation of project recommendations from the Feasibility Study for other coastal communities across the United States.
Why Does This Matter?
So what makes all of these Feasibility Studies in Coastal Areas after Hurricane Sandy so significant or blog post worthy? The significance of the Feasibility Studies is that it is the first time in the nation’s history that a proactive and preventative approach towards coastal storms and identifying potential projects to reduce risk and mitigate the impact of future storms, has been taken before they occur. Previously in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and after prior storms, the focus was on rebuilding after the storm and damage cleanup. These efforts were purely response based and not proactively-based. The CSRM Feasibility Studies aim to get ahead of future storms and implement projects that will ultimately reduce property loss, and loss of life, and protect critical infrastructure in future storms.
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Author: Matt Fanghella, PE, CFM
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