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Ravages of Sandy

The news of the hurricane’s impending arrival had been aired with ominous-sounding music playing in the background and John Travolta signing the song “Sandy” in his musical film Grease.

But now its clear that the American media was not stirring an unwarranted hype about the alleged “Frankestorm”. Sandy has hit the eastern US coast with disastrous hurricane-force winds and has triggered severe flooding, causing power failure affected thousands of people. Till now the devastating storm has claimed 16 lives. In New York City, Sandy caused a record rise in seawater, causing flooding in subway and road tunnels. The Manhattan subway has never experienced such devastation in its 108-year history. Since Sandy struck the East coast, much of Lower Manhattan has plunged into darkness. The routine hustle and bustle in America’s financial centre has come to a complete standstill. New York Stock Exchange — one of the world’s largest stock exchanges — and Nasdaq remain suspended for a second day on Tuesday. This is the first time that the stock market has been shut down since September 11; and in fact, it’s also the first time it has shut down for two consecutive days due to weather since 1888.

The superstorm is currently in the process of subsiding, but the exact extent of the devastation it has wrought will be assessed only once it subsides completely. Sandy has cogently demonstrated the amazing power of nature; in just a day’s time, the fast-paced New York life came to a screeching halt and the functioning modern metrapolis was reduced to an inundated wasteland. Americans will get back to their routine life in a few days, but with the knowledge that they will continue to be vulnerable to natural disasters.