It is an odd and chilling feeling to see Hurricane Sandy called a superstorm. It’s going to go down in history as Superstorm Sandy.
I didn’t coin the word ‘superstorm’ but the Coming Global Superstorm, certainly brought it into the language. And the movie based on it, the Day After Tomorrow, fixed the idea of such storms in the public imagination.
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Hurricane Sandy is weakening and moving faster than anticipated. A computer model developed by an engineer at The Johns Hopkins University is now predicting fewer power outages than initially expected. Seth Guikema is predicting that an overall cumulative total of 8 to 10 million people will lose power in the wake of the hurricane, based on the last storm track and intensity forecast at 2 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, Oct. 30.
6.5 million people in the Northeast US are without power, including all of Manhattan below 39th Street. Nuclear power plants in the region are on alert because of the danger that they may lose outside power supplies, or their water exchange systems may be flooded. The power plants rely on diesel generators for backup power. Outside power is essential to the continued functioning of their cooling pumps.
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A tsunami warning has been issued for Hawaii, and the warnings for US and Canadian coastal areas have been called off. Four to Seven foot wayve area expected to reach the Hawaii’s north facing beaches today. The warning has been issued after a 7.1 earthquake struck an island off the coast of Canada.
At the same time, the northeastern US is doing its best to prepare for Sandy. New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced that all public transportation will be shut down starting with buses and subways at 7PM Sunday and extending to commuter trains at 9PM.
Residents of the region are being urged to take the storm seriously and to move to higher ground in areas that are prone to flooding.
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