Essay about SOCIOLOGY EXAM 2

Submitted By Veronique-Robichaud
Words: 2258
Pages: 10

HURRICANE SANDY
For many centuries, the world has witnessed numerous natural disasters (Josef, 2013). Although many tend to be man-made in regards to terrorism and wars, mother-nature has definitely taken her toll on the share of damage (Josef, 2013). During the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season, one of the most destructive hurricanes of the season, as well as the second-costliest hurricane in history to hit the United States took place (Blake, 2012). Hurricane Sandy is known as a; “typical late-season post-tropical cyclone”, that swept through the Caribbean and up the East Coast of the United States during October of 2012 (Toro, 2013). Millions of individuals throughout five Caribbean nations, more specifically; The Bahamas, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and Puerto Rico were affected in result of this historical natural disaster (Toro, 2013). Individuals and properties throughout the United States of America were also affected due to Sandy (Toro, 2013). Hurricane Sandy was primarily associated with a tropical wave that left the West coast of Africa on October 11th, 2012 (Blake, Todd, 2012). The large tropical wave encountered a large upper-level trough over the eastern Atlantic a couple days after leaving Africa which resulted in an extensive area of showers and thunderstorms, but was not strong enough for the development of the hurricane itself (Eric S. Blake, Todd B, 2012). The wave then began to produce little convection near the wave axis for another couple days and passed near a weak pre-existing disturbance in the Intropical Convergence Zone where it began to form into the hurricane which first hit Cuba on October 25th (Sharp, 2012).
Methodology
For the purpose of the following paper regarding Hurricane Sandy, a mixed method approach was used. More specifically quantitative data (numbers) was collected through the reading of multiple statistics as well as many graphs and charts in order to better comprehend how many people were affected by the natural disaster. The quantitative data that was gathered for this essay examines approximately how people are deceased, how many people are missing up to date, when the storm was at its worst point (magnitude level) as well as the global and economic costs that were provoked due to the storm. Qualitative data (writing) was collected through reading numerous news reports and articles as well as interviews with survivors of hurricane Sandy. Qualitative data was gathered for this paper in order to help give readers a better understanding of the experiences that survivors underwent after the catastrophe as well as how people were affected directly and indirectly. In addition the qualitative data was helpful in a sense that it assists in giving readers a better understanding of the organizations that were involved in hiring workers, donating food/clothing/money, and building shelters after hurricane Sandy.
Micro Level Analysis For the purpose of the following paper regarding Hurricane Sandy, a micro-level analysis and macro-level analysis were used. More specifically, a micro-level analysis is used in this paper to help give a better understanding of the economic damages that were caused on a smaller scale as well as the experiences that people directly affected with Sandy underwent. Micro level analysis helps explain the local economic costs of the disaster as well as what the communities who were affected did after the Hurricane to restore their “normal” lives. A macro-level analysis is present in the following paper in order to help ensure that readers grasp a better understanding of how the hurricane affected individuals on a larger scale. The macro-level analysis used in this paper examines how individuals who were indirectly involved with Sandy were still affected.

Analysis
Direct Effects Hurricane Sandy’s effects were devastating on not only people but property as well, and had various direct effects on residents who experienced Sandy (Stone, 2013). During the tropical storm,