Surviving Sandy: The Superstorm That Reshaped Our Lives

by Ambient Funding

"Surviving Sandy: The Superstorm That Reshaped Our Lives" is a book with many facets. Hurricanes are certainly not new to North America. We have agencies that model the seasonal expectations before the first tropical systems show up on the radar. There are satellites announcing the formation of each one, and tracking their courses from the coast of Africa to the islands of the Caribbean, and on to the coasts of the U.S. and Mexico. Our government has a fleet of aircraft designed to travel above and into these systems to provide the most accurate readings of what each storm is 'planning' to do. We have a host of computers - both at the NOAA's National Hurricane Center and elsewhere - measuring, tracking, modeling and forecasting: the best of man's capabilities doing the most possible to advise and protect. Why, then, such widespread devastation, over and over and over again?

The fact is, every storm - like every snowflake - has a distinct design and pattern of its own: Sandy stands as perfect proof of this fact. As the book will tell you, there are five categories of hurricanes in the system developed in the 1970's - the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale - to measure the types of damage likely, based on the intensity of a storm (its barometric pressure, anticipated wind speeds, and potential storm surges along the coastlines). Categories 3 to 5 on the scale are considered "major" storms, with sustained winds over 110 miles per hour.

But, Sandy defied the best predictions. While only a Category 1 hurricane - the lowest category to be considered a hurricane - it came with a mind of its own. Most storms traversing the east coast move in a northeasterly direction and finally wear themselves out over the North Atlantic. Not Sandy, - Sandy followed the northeasterly pattern until it passed the Carolinas, then turned northwest until it made landfall with a broadside to Atlantic City around 8pm on October 29, 2012. From there it meandered across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Western New York State, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, and finally wore itself out, north of Toronto, in northern Ontario, - scattering wind, rain and snow (yes, - snow: up to three feet in some parts of West Virginia, on October 31, 2012, - just another unplanned side effect of Sandy).

What "Surviving Sandy" will give the reader is incredible coverage - both in pictures and real life stories - of the breadth of unexpected factors that can arise, even in the face of the best laid plans. It describes, in depth, the awesome, grueling efforts of our first responders and our emergency management personnel, - using every available resource under their hands. But, it also includes many heart-warming stories of people helping people, - ordinary citizens putting their lives and their resources on the line: why? because of the innate feeling of compassion that springs up where helpless victims are crying for assistance.

And, "Surviving Sandy" gives the reader more than that...Consider this: when you read the stories of survivors, put yourself in their shoes: if you and your town were confronted with what upended their lives, what should you think about now - beforehand - that might save lives and lessen losses? "Surviving Sandy" is a useful 'handbook' of experience for anyone - mayor, hospital administrator, EMS responder, firefighter, policeman, dad or mom, or anyone else - what plans should you make, now?

We'll never stop hurricanes from coming, - or other disasters, either - but we can keep working together to develop and share tools, like "Surviving Sandy" to aid in disaster preparedness.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

298 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 2013

Reviews

[Pam Mooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful! The pictures and the stories are amazing. They say that you can't imagine the impact unless you see it for yourself - this is as close as you can come. I shared with family and friends and they could not put the book down. This is more than a book - it is an experience/journey/adventure. My 13 year old niece insisted on taking home to read some more-crosses generations. A combination of history, weather and the human spirit. A good read.

[Jeana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully detailed book with lots of vivid pictures that really put into perspective the damage this storm caused. I can think of many people that would appreciate having this book. Especially one interested in hurricanes and their impacts. This book covers the science and the emotional side. I love the pictures that show what something looked like before the hurricane and then after. It's pretty amazing and a beautiful book.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book not just for anyone that Hurricane Sandy effected, but for anyone who wants to see the pure devastation left in her path. This is a big book and is loaded with intense photos of the damage that was caused. This storm hit Long Island particularly hard, and as a former Long Islander having been born and raised there, the photos truly hit home to me.

[Maia Chowdhury · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in the interim between Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma (2017) and found it a catharsis to jump into the details of preparation, documentation and recovery before, during and after a devastating storm. First person accounts of survivors and highlighted stories of first responders form the mesh of the book, arranged with dramatic and many not-previously-seen photographs of 2012's Superstorm Sandy.

Surviving Sandy: The Superstorm That Reshaped Our Lives

[RN · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not in ebook form

The pictures were amazing, which is the only reason that I gave it 3 stars, otherwise, I'd have given it a one star. I couldn't read the text, even with the zoom. Make it so it'll fit as a proper ebook and I'll reconsider my rating