BBC: Sandy - Anatomy of a Superstorm (December 2012)


Duration: 58 mins 28 secs
SBU investigator Malcolm Bowman begins speaking at 55 minutes 01 second into the broadcast

Stony Brook Storm Surge Research Group investigator Malcolm Bowman and others provide the BBC with insights on Sandy and where we should go moving forward when it comes to being prepared for severe storms in the documentary "Anatomy of a Superstorm."

"The time has come for a series of storm surge barriers to protect New York, northern New Jersey, and parts of western Long Island Sound from this ever happening again," said Bowman. While the barriers would take decades to build and cost at least $10 billion, Sandy has already tallied over $62 billion in economic losses, making it the second most costly storm event in U.S. history. Bowman urges, "This is a serious proposal that the City now should investigate."

BBC Synopsis:

“Sandy: The Anatomy of a Superstorm” tells an all-encompassing story of the massive impact Hurricane  Sandy had upon tens of millions across multiple states, including its nighttime landfall and the revelation of mass destruction upon sunrise. This one-hour special reveals the science of how this hurricane began in the Caribbean and developed into a devastating super storm, slamming the eastern United States as a combination hurricane/nor’easter/winter storm.

A dramatic minute-by-minute account of the superstorm that brought New York State to its knees. Using satellite imagery, CGI mapping and the powerful personal testimony of those who lived through it, this is a forensic analysis of the meteorological, engineering and human devastation wreaked by Sandy.

The program spotlights historical records broken by the storm and explores the possibility of more super storms in our future. Produced by Peacock Productions, “Sandy: The Anatomy of a Superstorm” features the scientific insights and expertise of The Weather Channel meteorologists including Jim Cantore, Stephanie Abrams, Bryan Norcross and Stu Ostro as they relay their first-hand experience in analyzing, forecasting and warning of the unprecedented storm.

Note: SBU investigator Malcolm Bowman begins speaking at 4 minutes 33 seconds into the broadcast

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After Sandy

More than six months after Super Storm Sandy hit America’s East coast, Angela Saini reports from New York where scientists, engineers and State officials have gathered to debate how best to prevent future flooding wreaking havoc on that scale again. One option is to build a giant storm protection barrier. But not everyone is convinced that the risk of another Sandy is worth its 10 billion dollar price tag. A cheaper solution is to restore the coastline to its natural State, which would help to slow down the flow of water along the Hudson, should another super storm occur. But something like Sandy is, say sceptics, a highly unusual event - the last time the East Coast was hit with something similar was in 1821. However, with rising sea levels predicted, storms could become more frequent and others insist that the time to act is now, to save the people and homes of New York.