This section of the blog is dedicated to the waves team. It will focus on Hurricane Sandy as well as the Tōhoku earthquake and subsequent tsunami and the effects they had socially on its victims. These natural disasters forever changed communities, families and public perception of the government.
In times of natural disaster, the physical damages are often easy to get lost in. With so many casualties, homes torn apart, and cities swept away, the future of an affected region’s development is easily forgotten. Hurricane Sandy revealed the power structures embedded in socioeconomic class, as homes in certain areas of New Jersey were rebuilt more quickly than homes that were less affluent. In the 3.11 earthquake and tsunami event in the Tōhoku region of Japan, families were displaced and disaster preparedness was not enough to sustain the lives of survivors.
Although initially unnoticeable, the social damage done by both disasters was just as significant as the physical damage.
