NYC Still Vulnerable to Hurricanes 10 Years After Sandy
- City has spent 73% of federal aid as of June, comptroller says
- Rising tides to put $242 billion worth of real estate at risk
A resident looks over damage in the Breezy Point neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York, in October 2012.
Photographer: Scott Eells/Bloomberg
Hurricane Sandy swept through New York City in October 2012, leading to 43 deaths and an estimated $19 billion in damages. The fallout devastated city residents as their homes, along with the city’s public transit system, were submerged in water.
A decade later, the city is still rebuilding after the superstorm as it confronts the threat of extreme weather. New York needs to step up its efforts and spend the $15 billion in federal grants that it received for recovery efforts, a new report by New York City Comptroller Brad Lander released on Thursday said. As of June 2022, it has only used 73% of those funds, the report said.