East Coast vs. Sandy, The Aftermath

Emergency management efforts to clean up the destruction left in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, which was reclassified as a nontropical storm due to its intense dynamics.  The storm's strength, indicated by barometric pressure before landfall, broke the record according to CNN. 

Sustained winds of 100 mph or more and dangerous flood tides as high as 13 feet left hundreds of cities, neighborhoods, boroughs, and communities with property and infrastructure damage, not to mention a disruption of millions of lives on the East coast. 

A handful of 911 call centers were destroyed, and the upgrade to Washington D.C.'s communications system had some setbacks-- expensive and unfortunate losses for these agencies, however that seems to be the worst of reported Public Safety damage.  Public Safety communications infrastructure fared better through the storm than commercial infrastructure, with roughly 25% of wireless/cable/wireline broadband facilities out in atleast 158 counties stretching from Virginia to Massachusetts. The storm also caused the FirstNet Board of Directors to extend the comment period offered by the NTIA on the PSBN's architecture to today, from Nov. 1.

Damages in the Northeast were intensified by a "nor'easter," or major blizzard, that pounded the region only days after Sandy.  Transit services were suspended, and tens of thousands of residents lost power again.

Sandy's record-breaking water surge topped 13.88 feet, and significant destruction.  Economic losses are approaching $50 billion, according to Reuters, and many are concerned about where the money will come from to repair and rebuild.

Our sympathy and support goes out to all of those affected, especially the families of the more than 100 people whose lives were ended by the storm.  The best to you and those you love.