You have all seen it on the news, but there are things to learn about Sandy.
I left the Rhode Island coast (on the island I am moving to) Thursday morning, to work at Lamont-Doherty in New York and then drive back for my last few months in the heartland. While driving in Ohio we saw 3 convoys of utility trucks headed northeast and east (Sat night and Sunday morning). I was not surprised by the damage in New Jersey. I was surprised by the storm surge in Rhode Island, 450 km from the storm center, with the strongest winds being from the northeast and blowing offshore of this south-facing coast. It was about 4 feet (1.2 meters) and it mostly destroyed the family dock (I am not a co-owner of that any more). It also washed completely over the road connecting 2 parts of the island, but I expected that.

The vulnerability of the NY subway system was known; it was a close call last year for Irene. I'm wondering if anything was done. It looks like just some sandbags. Looks like some sea walls are needed for critical stuff like the subway, tunnels, and electrical infrastructure.

The storm turned northwest then west because it was blocked from turning east. There is talk that this pattern could become more common because of climate change, but I am skeptical: it will become more common, less common, or about the same. But sea level will rise, and at an increasing rate. That is pretty much a given.

Chris