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Recovering and rebuilding after a disaster like Hurricane Sandy could take years, but experts say the impact is not expected to significantly alter economic conditions for the construction industry generally.
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When this image was captured Oct. 29, Sandy was the largest hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
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Hurricane Sandy hit Atlantic City, NJ, about 8 p.m. Monday (Oct. 29) and wreaked havoc as it traveled inland as a post-tropical cyclone, killing as many as 33 people, knocking out power to millions, and flooding numerous areas, according to reports.
Short-Term Construction Spike
Major metropolitan areas throughout the Northeast will experience a "temporary spike" in construction activity and employment due to Sandy's wrath, the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) forecast.
"However, the overall impact of reconstruction work on construction employment is likely to be minimal, as planned projects in hurricane-damaged communities are put on hold while people rebuild," according to Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist.
Disastrous Storm
From North Carolina to Maine, thousands of residential, commercial and industrial properties were damaged by Sandy's powerful winds and storm surge.
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David Shankbone / WikiMedia Commons |
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White-capped waves crashed on the banks of the East River before Sandy even came ashore. New York saw "unprecedented storm impact," the mayor said.
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“We expected an unprecedented storm impact … and that’s what we got,” New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a news conference Tuesday morning.
Significant structural damage was reported in New York City, New Jersey and other states in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic region. Many states have been declared disaster areas, opening the way for federal aid to assist in storm recovery.
Architects to Assist Rebuilding
The American Institute of Architects said it would work closely with its members in communities hardest hit by the storm to help with rebuilding and recovery.
"Through our network of chapters, we are beginning to assess the damage to communities in the Northeast and Midwest regions," said Jeff Potter, FAIA, AIA president. "Now that the storm is passing, we will formulate plans to assist architects there in evaluating the building damage caused by the storm and map a path to recovery.
"Meanwhile, experienced disaster responders with the AIA have resources to help prepare architects for this important role," Potter said.
Many resources are available on the AIA’s Disaster Response Program website.
Sandy's Pricetag
Sandy's total effect on U.S. economy is estimated at between $10 billion and $20 billion, according to Eqecat, one of the most widely cited economic modeling agencies.
Insured losses from Sandy are estimated at between $5 billion and $10 billion, according to Eqecat. Another catastrophe modeling firm, AIR Worldwide, said insurance companies would have to pay out $7 billion to $15 billion to compensate for Sandy losses.
Those estimates reflect insured physical damage to property (residential, commercial, industrial and auto), both structures and their contents, but do not include losses to infrastructure or those resulting from the compromise of existing defenses, such as natural and mand-made levees, AIR said.
Wind Fuels Fire
Breezy Point, Queens, NY, was one area that endured extensive damage, as wind-fed, fast-moving fires took out more than 80 homes in the small coastal community.
Remarkably, only minor injuries were reported in the neighborhood tragedy. City officials said most residents appeared to have heeded the evacuation order in the area.
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nyc.gov |
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Fueled by Sandy's wind gusts, fast-moving fires took out more than 80 homes in Breezy Point, Queens. Only minor injuries were reported.
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The streets were flooded and rescuers used boats to pull trapped residents to safety, firefighters told news outlets.
'Resembles WWII'
"To describe it as looking like pictures we've seen at the end of World War II is not overstating it," said Bloomberg, recounting his Tuesday visit to the low-lying neighborhood after the flood waters subsided.
"The area was completely leveled. Chimneys and foundations were all that was left of many of those houses," he said.
However, despite the despair, talk of recovery and rebuilding is inevitably beginning, in Breezy Point, as well as other areas affected.
Construction Crane Damage
Sandy's gusty 80 mph winds were also to blame for a collapse of a construction crane boom in Manhattan, according to city officials.
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57UN / Twitter |
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This construction crane buckled from Sandy's high-powered winds.
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The winds were blamed for shifting the crane Monday (Oct. 29) atop One57, a 90-story luxury high-rise that's scheduled for completion next year, leaving the equipment swaying and dangling more than 1,000 feet above the streets.
Emergency crews cleared streets and evacuated nearby buildings. No injuries were reported.
Though deemed "secure" Tuesday by the New York Department of Buildings, the access equipment still hung overhead Wednesday (Oct. 31) morning as city officials and contractors hammered out plans to fully secure it.
City officials have to approve the plan before the crane can be secured, according to reports.
In a statement issued late Tuesday, Extell Construction, the developer, and Lend Lease, the general contractor, said the team had taken "all recommended measures to position the crane in anticipation of a hurricane."
"This was inspected and approved by the Department of Buildings and is the standard for hurricanes," the companies said.
"We apologize for the considerable inconvenience experienced by our neighbors, but safety is paramount. We are thankful that no one has been hurt."
One57 was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Christian de Portzamparc.
The high-profile construction site was not the only one affected by Sandy. Flooding waters from the storm poured into, among other places, the World Trade Center building site, according to reports.
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