New York City Flooding

Stunned and in awe, I saw a news report with parts of the Hudson River Drive under water. These are parts of New York where I have walked, sat on benches and spent time in my younger years. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that parts of New York would be hit by a hurricane such that flooding would become a real risk. I remember fondly the snow blizzard of 1969 in NY which turned NT into a playground for children. I’m sure now, as I re-read accounts of the storm, it was a disaster for adults. Here I am many years later realizing and recognizing the destruction that lies with such terrible natural events. New York with all its “bad rap” and aggressiveness, is a city of diverse people who have one thing in common: they are New Yorkers. As such, they (we) come together and feel, truly feel, pain in situations like this, and always rise to the occasion. Thankfully, in this particular instance the flooding receded quickly causing only modest structural damage.

You can imagine the degree and cost of damage that would occur from a hurricane flooding the southern end of Manhattan (Battery Park) into the lower streets (the former World Trade Center, Wall Street, etc.) The destruction, the loss of lives (for those who did not heed evacuation warnings), and the immobility of the New York market would have been devastating worldwide. I think we all have to recognize and be thankful (whether you like New York or not) that we were bypassed in this instance. That is not to say that the destruction that fell upon Vermont and other neighboring states was not significant or devastating. Indeed it was, and we likewise wish them well and a speedy recovery to some normal resemblance of their lives.