Hurricane Sandy was the costliest natural disaster in the history of New Jersey, with economic losses to businesses of up to $30 billion. The most intense storm of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season, Sandy formed in the Caribbean Sea on October 22. For days ahead of its eventual landfall, the hurricane was expected to turn toward New Jersey, as anticipated by tropical cyclone forecast models and the National Hurricane Center (NHC). On October 29, Sandy lost its characteristics of a tropical cyclone and transitioned into an extratropical cyclone while approaching the New Jersey coast. About two and a half hours later, the former hurricane moved ashore New Jersey near Brigantine in Atlantic County, just north of Atlantic City, producing wind gusts as strong as .
Over two million households in the state lost power in the storm, 346,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, and 38 people were killed. Storm surge and flooding affected a large swath of the state. Governor Chris Christie said the losses caused by Sandy were "going to be almost incalculable...The devastation on the Jersey Shore is probably going to be the worst we've ever seen."
Background and preparations
Hurricane Sandy originated in the Caribbean Sea on October 22. By a day later, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts computer model anticipated that the hurricane would eventually strike New Jersey. Early on October 25, Hurricane Sandy moved across eastern Cuba as a major hurricane and emerged into the western Atlantic Ocean. Later that day, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) first forecast a landfall in New Jersey, due to the anticipated interaction between Sandy and an approaching trough, as well as the presence of a ridge over New England. The forecast reflected the majority of computer models, which had previously suggested a northeast track across the Atlantic Ocean.
The NHC expected that Sandy would become extratropical at some point before hitting the coast, but there was uncertainty in the timing. To avoid potential confusion, the agency did not issue hurricane and tropical cyclone warnings; instead, the National Weather Service (NWS) offices in Mount Holly and New York City issued high wind warnings for the state, reflecting the expectation of wind gusts over . The NWS issued a flood watch and a coastal flood watch on October 27 for much of the state. These were upgraded to warnings as Sandy approached the state. The NHC anticipated a storm surge of .
On October 26, or three days before landfall, then-Governor Chris Christie issued a voluntary evacuation order for all barrier islands along the Jersey Shore, which were upgraded to a mandatory evacuation a day later. About 115,000 people were under evacuation orders, of whom about 15,000 people used emergency shelters. A woman in Atlantic City died of a heart attack while evacuating on a bus. On October 27, Christie declared a state of emergency, activating 2,000 National Guard troops.
The passage of Sandy prompted the closure of all state parks and historic sites, state offices, courts, and all 580 school districts. All Atlantic City casinos closed on the day before landfall and remained closed for six days until November 3. This led to a 28% drop in revenue during the month of November. It was the biggest monthly drop in 34 years.
Tolls were suspended on the northbound Garden State Parkway and the westbound Atlantic City Expressway starting at 6:00 a.m. on October 28. In Cape May County, New Jersey, officials advised residents on barrier islands to evacuate on October 26, becoming a mandatory evacuation on October 28. There was also a voluntary evacuation for Mantoloking, Bay Head, Barnegat Light, Beach Haven, Harvey Cedars, Long Beach, Ship Bottom, and Stafford in Ocean County. On October 28, Hoboken mayor Dawn Zimmer ordered an evacuation of all basement and street level residential units, due to possible flooding. Similarly, Jersey City mayor Jerramiah Healy ordered an evacuation of all basement and 1st-floor units east of Greene Street, south of Columbus Drive, and east of Washington Boulevard north of Columbus Drive. On October 29, a mandatory evacuation was put in effect for residents in some parts of Logan Township. On November 1, Governor Christie lifted mandatory evacuation orders in Atlantic and Cape May counties.