Emergency workers in Little Ferry, New Jersey, used a hovercraft to rescue people in flooded areas.
On the evening of October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy made landfall near Atlantic City, New Jersey. The impact of the storm was felt along the Atlantic Coast from North Carolina to Maine. By the next day, more than 100 people had lost their lives in the storm. Many homes were damaged, and more than 8 million people were without electric power. Among the 12 states that were affected by the storm, New York and New Jersey were hit the hardest.
The storm surge, or rise of ocean water, from Hurricane Sandy flooded cities and towns along the coasts of New York and New Jersey. Some areas of New York City were underwater, including parts of the subway system. On October 30, President Barack Obama declared New York and New Jersey to be major disaster areas.
Local emergency workers organized teams to search for and rescue those trapped by the floodwaters. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) quickly stepped in to support local governments as they worked to provide food, shelter, clothing, and other assistance to those affected by the storm. President Obama worked with the governors of the states affected to help plan the relief efforts. More than 3,800 Red Cross workers also rushed to the aid of those living in the hardest hit areas. People around the country came together to donate millions of dollars to the relief efforts.
In New York City, most of the floodwaters have gone down, and the subway is again carrying passengers. However, it will be a long time before life gets back to normal for many people in the Northeast. The storm is estimated to have caused more then $50 billion in property damages. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie plan to work together to help their states rebuild.
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