Hurricane barriers floated to keep sea out of NYC

Submitted by hlowengard on Thu, 06/04/2009 - 21:42.

Start: 12/31/1969 - 20:33

Timezone: Etc/GMT-4

Story Link:

Source:

Associated Press

Pub Date:

31 May 2009

Category:

NY State/Local

Some scientists and engineers are floating an ambitious solution to

protect NYC from a potential hurricane - barriers to choke off the

surging sea and protect flood-prone areas. Several proposals for barrier

systems were outlined at a conference in NYC this spring. One option

calls for barriers in three places: on the Aurthur Kill, East River, and

at the Verrazano Narrows. Another option calls for a 5 mile long barrier

between Sandy Hook, NJ and Queens, NY. Depending on its track, a

Category 3 storm could produce a storm surge as high as 25 feet in some

parts of the city affecting 600,000 people's homes, causing 3 million to

evacuate, and costing upwards of $100 billion.