A storm made its way from the southern US headed right for Long Island New York and clean-up crews battling the effects of Hurricane Sandy were put at additional risk for safety issues. Rain, snow, and wind were a big part of this storm, setting back some areas with recovery efforts.
In Long Island where additional flooding occurred, the colder, windy temperatures are hurting efforts for clean-up and putting workers at risk of additional dangers. After Sandy, the flooding caused severe beach erosion so any additional storms will allow for flooding. The protective dunes are gone and the beach has dropped in elevation by several feet.
Winter weather is impacting the hard-hit areas where cleanup continues. Workers are exposed to cold weather conditions and additional concerns of flooding in some areas. Freezing temperatures at night may be creating additional hazards for workers. It is estimated that the October hurricane caused more than $60 billion in damage to areas of New York and New Jersey.