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Jenn Pincher Professor Lago November 9, 2013 College Writing Essay Four: First Draft Hurricane Sandy We are the survivors of the storm. We have overcome the devastation, the tragedy of what is known to have forever altered the Jersey shore. Hurricane Sandy is one of the most iconic storms that has hit the North East. Showing no mercy, it put millions of people without power for weeks and destroyed thousands of homes, leaving residents stranded and in desperate need of help. Organizations like FEMA and The American Red Cross have been known to provide a countless number of families with food and shelter, along with the reassurance of their safety. The recovery process of a natural disaster is one of the most devastating experiences a person can go through. (more explaining/ NEED THESIS) We learn best from our mistakes. This expression is often used to create a positive outlook of something that is considered negative. The mistakes that people made during Hurricane Katrina were quite unfortunate, and definitely could have prevented further devastation to both buildings and casualties, but it gave us some insight as to what to expect from future natural disasters. We have to be more prepared. Why were people getting evacuated five days after Hurricane Katrina made landfall? How come there wasnt enough staff to provide aid and help those who are in need? If we just have taken more precautions before the storm hit, maybe the devastation that Katrina has wrought wouldnt have been as bad as it was. As more

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and more storms occur, the more we are prepared for a storm, like Sandy, to hit. ( more explaining tie it into Sandy) Relying on a persons mistakes to help prevent devastation from a storm isnt exactly the best way to go. As our technologies become more advanced we can predict just how destructive these storms can be. From recent flood maps to new meteorology technology, knowing what areas are in flood zones is going to become an important asset when it comes to knowing who to evacuate. Not only are these flood maps useful for determining the likelihood of floods, it will warn people ahead of time, to maybe consider elevating their home a few feet from the ground. Elevated homes would have been a major way to prevent such catastrophic damage on the shores of New Jersey.