New Hurricane Protections Leave New Yorkers Wanting More

"Glorified sandbags," costing $3 million, will be installed in New York City.

1 minute read

May 9, 2019, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Robert Moses Field 4 Deserted Beach

Anthony22 / Wikimedia Commons

"Nearly seven years after Superstorm Sandy decimated the city, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration has finally come up with a temporary plan to protect part of lower Manhattan — glorified sandbags," CBS New York reports.

The report includes locals expressing their doubts that the sandbags will make a difference in the event of another storm like Superstorm Sandy. Local officials also admit that the sandbags aren't pretty. Robert Freudeberg of the Regional Plan Association, is quoted in the article saying function is more important than form when it comes to coastal resilience.

"The sandbags will be installed from the Brooklyn Bridge to Wall Street. It’s about a mile and there will be 18 gaps, so pedestrians can get to the Esplanade," according to the report.

On a related note: this week is "Hurricane Preparedness Week," according to the National Weather Service.

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