After the Storm: How Hurricane Sandy Changed Staten Island's Coast

On October 29, 2012—over 13 years ago—Hurricane Sandy slammed into the East Coast, and Staten Island was changed forever. It wasn't just the high winds or heavy rain that caused the most damage; it was the storm surge. A storm surge is like a giant wall of ocean water pushed onto the land by the storm.

For coastal neighborhoods like Midland Beach and Oakwood Beach, this surge was devastating. The ocean rose higher and faster than anyone had ever seen, flooding streets and homes within minutes. The storm surge didn't just carry water; it carried debris and pollution. This saltwater flood not only destroyed human property but also damaged local ecosystems, killing plants that couldn't handle the salt and overwhelming local habitats. The storm showed just how vulnerable our coastal communities and environments are.

Protecting the Coast: Two Ways to Fight the Next Flood

After Sandy, scientists, engineers, and city planners knew they had to find better ways to protect the coast from future storms. The main debate has focused on two very different approaches: building "hard" walls or using "soft" natural defenses.

The first solution is to build engineered barriers. This is the traditional "hard" approach, where we build massive structures to physically block the water. Think of a seawall, which is a high, strong concrete wall built right along the coastline, much like a fortress wall. Another option is a levee, which is a long, raised mound of earth (like a very wide, tall hill) built farther inland to keep a community dry, similar to the banks of the Mississippi River. These structures are designed to be a simple, strong defense. However, they are extremely expensive to build and can damage the environment. A giant wall, for example, can stop sand from moving naturally along the beach, leading to erosion, and it creates a physical barrier that can disrupt coastal habitats.

The second solution is to use natural and nature-based features, sometimes called "living shorelines." This "soft" approach uses the power of biology and ecology to defend the coast. Instead of a concrete wall, we could restore a salt marsh wetland. These wetlands act like nature's sponges. Their thick grasses and muddy, peaty soils are amazing at absorbing huge amounts of floodwater. The dense plants also slow down the waves, stripping them of their energy before they can crash into neighborhoods. Another example is building oyster reefs. As millions of oysters grow on top of each other, they form a hard, bumpy underwater reef. This natural structure acts as a breakwater, forcing waves to break offshore instead of on the beach. The biggest bonus of this approach is the co-benefit: these natural defenses also create critical habitat for fish, crabs, and birds, and they help filter pollution from the water, making the whole ecosystem healthier.

Hurricane Sandy taught us a powerful lesson about the sea's power. To prepare for the future, we will likely need a smart combination of solutions, to protect both our homes and the local ecosystems we depend on.