Superstorm Sandy: Lessons Regarding Warnings and Responses

Superstorm Sandy was a late season hurricane that transformed into a major post tropical storm, making a New Jersey landfall on October 29, 2012.  Sandy was a transformative event with respect to its impacts on the natural environment, to changes in forecast and emergency management procedures, and, even more so, to the psyche of those living in coastal states.  This presentation will focus on preparations and responses in the days leading up to landfall through the week following the storm.  Were warnings sufficient, and did they result in prudent actions by officials and citizens?  Lessons learned and important continuing dialogs will be addressed.  For example, the National Hurricane Center has revised watch and warning criteria. Improved means of communication between the forecast community and decision makers, and subsequently in getting the message out to the greater population, continue to be studied and implemented.  Sandy has led to a greater appreciation of the power of Mother Nature and the ever-growing vulnerability of individuals and their communities to storms.