Under Water, Actual Water

Abstract

This chapter talks about Hurricane Sandy, which charged toward the East Coast in the final days of October 2012. It emphasizes how residents of Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town were encouraged to shelter in place as the area was not officially in an evacuation zone, despite being only one hundred yards from the East River. It also recounts how Hurrican Sandy caused to shut off power and water to Stuy Town and Peter Cooper and about a quarter of New York City's homes and businesses. The chapter describes the traffic into Manhattan after the hurricane cane, which was so severe that the mayor announced restrictions on single-occupancy cars entering Manhattan. It highlights the severe damages residents saw as they slowly returned to the affected buildings, such as destroyed basements and unsightly recycling bins now located right in front of their front doors.