Effects Other wikis Hurricane Sandy was the costliest natural disaster in the history of New Jersey, with economic losses to businesses of up to $30 billion.

By a day later, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts computer model anticipated that the hurricane would eventually strike New Jersey.

[4] Later that day, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) first forecast a landfall in New Jersey, due to the anticipated interaction between Sandy and an approaching trough, as well as the presence of a ridge over New England.

[9] Tolls were suspended on the northbound Garden State Parkway and the westbound Atlantic City Expressway starting at 6:00 a.m. on October 28.

[11][12][13] On October 28, Hoboken mayor Dawn Zimmer ordered an evacuation of all basement and street level residential units, due to possible flooding.

[23] On October 29, about two and a half hours from its New Jersey landfall, Sandy transitioned into an extratropical cyclone as it encountered cooler waters and a cold air mass.

At about 23:30 Coordinated Universal Time (6:30 p.m. EDT), the center of former hurricane Sandy made landfall near Brigantine in Atlantic County, with maximum sustained winds of about 80 mph (130 km/h).

[4][8] Record-high water levels occurred in the state due to the storm's fast motion toward the coast and its passage during the regular high tide.

[6] The highest water levels occurred north of the landfall point in Monmouth and Middlesex Counties, especially along the Raritan Bay, where the surge reached an estimated 4 to 9 ft (1.2 to 2.7 m).

Along the Jersey Shore, the high water levels inundated several barrier islands, with a new temporary inlet created in Mantoloking.

[4] The large swath of strong winds and widespread flooding produced the costliest natural disaster in the history of New Jersey, with damage estimated at $29.4 billion.

[26] An analysis of aerial imagery conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) indicated that approximately 72,000 homes and business in New Jersey were damaged or destroyed by the storm, with over 40,000 of the buildings affected being in Ocean County.

[8][32] In Seaside Heights, toward the southern end of the Barnegat Peninsula, the storm washed away a 50 ft (15 m) portion of Funtown Pier, a local amusement park.

In the same city, a portion of Casino Pier collapsed into the ocean due to intense waves, with all of its roller coasters damaged, and a haunted house washed ashore nine miles (15 km) away.

Scores of homes and business were destroyed and the storm surge deposited up to four feet of sand on island streets, making them impassable.

About 255,180 US gallons (966,000 litres) – the equivalent of 30 tanker trucks – spilled into the Arthur Kill and its tributaries, the tidal waterway separating New Jersey from Staten Island, New York.

Within 24 hours, hundreds of workers used skimmers, trucks, barges, and other means to contain the spill, ultimately recovering 457,519 US gal (1,731,900 L) of oily water; much of the remaining spilt oil evaporated or dissipated.

[47] High tides also damaged the pier to the Fort Mott ferry crossing, causing it to be rerouted to Barber's Basin in Salem.

There were massive power outages in Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, North Bergen, and Edgewater,[50] forcing the evacuation of patients from Palisades Medical Center.

Both breaches caused water to rush down Columbus Drive and Marin Boulevard where they met near the Historic Downtown.

[56] In the early morning of October 30, authorities in Bergen County, New Jersey, were evacuating residents after a berm overflowed and flooded several communities.

Jeanne Baratta, Chief of Staff for Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan, said there were up to 5 feet (1.5 m) of water in the streets of Moonachie and Little Ferry.

[61] In Edison, New Jersey, wind gusts near 86 mph knocked two large trees into each other, downing power lines that triggered explosions.

[71][72] On October 29, the same day as Sandy's landfall, Governor Christie requested an expedited federal disaster declaration, which would allocate funds for individual public assistance and debris removal.

[75] On the night of November 2, Governor Christie took action to prevent a fuel shortage and ease the problem of extended wait times and lines at gas stations by signing Executive Order 108, declaring a limited state of energy emergency with regard to the supply of motor fuel and implementing odd-even rationing for gasoline purchases in 12 New Jersey counties.

[77] Governor Christie signed an executive order to suspend the Bergen County Sunday blue laws on November 4, allowing stores and malls to be open for the benefit of those severely affected by the hurricane.

[79] The governor estimated the cost to repair storm damage at $36.8 billion at the end of November 2012, requesting that amount from the federal government.

[89] The North Jersey Coast Line also resumed operating on November 4 only as far as Woodbridge (and skipping Avenel); however, after one day, this service was discontinued due to severe overcrowding, and NJCL passengers were directed instead to Metropark station.

[90] SEPTA loaned 31 buses to NJ Transit to support shuttle service for New Jersey commuters going to New York City.

[94] Daytime PATH train service was scheduled to be restored to the World Trade Center station starting Monday, November 25 at 5 a.m.