In late October 2012, Hurricane Sandy roared into New York Harbor with unprecedented force, causing record-breaking water levels. Many neighborhoods were devastated, with homes and businesses becoming flooded, public services interrupted, and infrastructure damaged. After the storm passed and the water receded, a new reality emerged: New Yorkers must confront the implications of living in a coastal city.

Sandy claimed the lives of 44 New Yorkers and caused $19 billion in damages and lost economic activity. It also highlighted the vulnerability of New York City—as well as the entire region—to the risks posed by coastal storms. As the city counted the costs and pushed ahead with a robust recovery effort, a new conversation began: Recovery must also result in a city better able to face a wider range of risks—not just the “next Sandy.”