Hurricane Sandy Archives - State of the Planet

She Led Scientists Advising New York on Climate Change. Did the City Listen?

Cynthia Rosenzweig co-chaired the New York City Panel on Climate Change, an expert body advising the mayor, from its inception four years before Hurricane Sandy, and well after. Here, she assesses what was learned, and done, before and after.

by |October 29, 2022

The ‘Cassandra of the Subways’ on Hurricane Sandy, Ten Years Later

Klaus Jacob predicted for years how the New York City subways would flood in a superstorm. Finally, authorities began to listen, but long-term preventive action came too little, too late.

by |October 21, 2022

New York City’s Former Top Climate Official on the Lessons of Hurricane Sandy

Engineer Daniel Zarrilli advised both the Bloomberg and deBlasio administrations in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. He is now a special advisor on sustainability and climate to Columbia University.

by |October 20, 2022

A Climate and Weather Expert on What We Know About Giant Storms Since Sandy

A scientist and writer reflects on the links between climate and extreme weather, New York City’s preparedness, and the role of the media in informing the public.

by |October 19, 2022
flooding in nyc street from hurricane sandy

What City Planners Can Learn From Hurricane Sandy

Based on a decade of data from Hurricane Sandy, two New York City planners explore the inequities of disaster mitigation and recovery — and what needs to change to prevent climate gentrification.

by Thaddeus Pawlowski and Donovan Finn |October 18, 2022
core repository

Presenting Climate LIVE K12: RSVP for Winter 2022 and Spring 2023 Sessions

In the Climate LIVE video series, experts from across the Columbia Climate School present climate and sustainability content for grade school and university students, educators, parents, and the public.

by Laurel Zaima and Christina Deodatis |October 11, 2022
Malgosia Madajewicz headshot

Malgosia Madajewicz Studies How Communities Make Decisions in the Face of Rising Seas

The development economist thinks that understanding the factors that influence climate adaptation decisions will be key to building a more resilient future.

by |July 8, 2020
sign says 'fema please help us'

Hurricane Sandy May Have Worsened Gentrification in Brooklyn and Queens

A study finds evidence for land speculation in Coney Island and the Rockaways, in some of the neighborhoods hardest-hit by the storm.

by |October 3, 2019

The Tribe That Brought a Damaged Shoreline Back to Life

How the Shinnecock Indian Nation Tribe in Long Island, NY, transformed a desolate and barren stretch of shoreline to protect their land from erosion and sea-level rise

by |September 18, 2019
sea wall

When Is a Sea Wall a Good Idea?

Scientists at Columbia’s Earth Institute are using simulations to test how well different methods protect coastal areas from hurricanes and sea level rise.

by |September 13, 2018