The gathering storm: 3 ways hurricane Sandy will impact America

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[media-credit name=”Associated Press” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]When people hear of hurricanes, thoughts of widespread destruction and flooding immediately come to mind.  With the approach of Hurricane Sandy, people will need to anticipate the usual occurrences, but Sandy will have more far reaching consequences than a few damaged buildings, and will do more than putting 50 million people in danger.  Despite what may happen in the immediate future, the storm has already taken a toll on AMerica without reaching the coast:

 

1.  Presidential campaigns will stagger

The elections are close, and the impending storm has brought both campaigns to a grinding halt.  Both presidential candidates hoped to increase their foothold on the east coast, but the hurricane has canceled many of their plans.  Mitt Romney cancelled several stops in Virginia and re-shifted his focus to Ohio, whereas Barack Obama has decided to cancel his visits to Ohio and remain in Washington to monitor the storm.  In swing states like Florida, the heavy rain could decide the sway of votes during early voting.  And like the debates, this hurricane will force both candidates to act, become a “Katrina Moment” that may make or break their (re)election chances.

 

2.  Travel will be stopped

Sandy will freeze travel along the east coast.  Already over 7,500 flights have been cancelled, and will remain so through tuesday.  These cancellations affect travel all over the U.S., along with international flights to the U.K. and Europe.  Trains coming in and out of the region will also be stopped.  Reports have surfaced of dozens of cruise ships seeking safe harbor elsewhere or canceling vacations altogether.

 

3.  The economy will take a hit

Even though Sandy will cause many damages to property, it will also damage the economy.  Many grocery and hardware stores closed today, along with every Starbucks coffeehouse in New York City.  Experts estimate that the cost of damages will reach $100 billion and put business out of work for weeks.  Other experts say that the storm may become a stimulus package to fuel the economy, but the lack of trade in the region may cancel out the money put into repairing the damages.

 

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