Hurricane Sandy

Impact of Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy hit New York City on October 29, 2012. Over the course of 48 hours, wind, rain, and water destroyed approximately 300 homes, left hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers without power, damaged critical public and private infrastructure, and left many New Yorkers vulnerable with limited access to food, drinking water, healthcare, and other critical services. The City of New York’s preparation and immediate response to Hurricane Sandy was one of the largest mobilizations of public services in its history, and demonstrated the dedication of the City’s workforce and the perseverance of New Yorkers to recover and rebuild.

The storm resulted in the deaths of 44 City residents and inflicted an estimated $19 billion in damages and lost economic activity across the New York City. Most significantly, over 69,000 residential units were damaged, and thousands of New Yorkers were temporarily displaced.

The Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 provided emergency relief funding to multiple Federal agencies to assist in the recovery efforts. As part of this legislation, New York City received roughly $4.2 billion in Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery funding to address a range of needs, including rebuilding and rehabilitating housing, assisting displaced tenants, providing aid to businesses, and bolstering coastal defenses.