Boston narrowly dodged disaster when Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast, but Atlantic City, New York City, and many other communities were not so lucky. Dozens of people lost their lives. It also caused tens of billions of dollars in damage — already making it the most costly weather event in United States history.

The storm surge at the iconic Battery Park in New York reached 13 feet — three feet higher than ever before. In Boston, such a surge would have caused similar damage, with flooded subways and tunnels, Back Bay, and waterfront streets turned into lakes, and a tremendous human and economic toll.