Mother Nature and the Metropolis

As those of us in New York (and the entire tri-state area) wake up today to the stunning effects of flood, wind, and rain after Hurricane Sandy slammed into us, it’s hard to ignore the power of Mother Nature.  

If you have ever walked the streets of Manhattan, you can appreciate the imperious influence of man; from towering skyscrapers to bustling subway lines, this is a confident metropolis. Our lights blaze through the night and we come and go without any concern for time or tide.

But we’ve been humbled by water today.

View of East River and Lower Manhattan from Brooklyn Promenade
10/27/2012
The pier is being transformed into a public park.

View of East River and Lower Manhattan from Brooklyn Promenade
10/29/2012
(as the storm and the high tide arrived)

A view of East River and Lower Manhattan from Brooklyn Promenade
10/29/2012  (high tide).
The river run through the park and over the piers.
Most of downtown
(but for the new World Trade Center building) have gone dark.

A view of East River and Lower Manhattan from Brooklyn Promenade
10/29/2012  (high tide).
The river runs through the park and over the piers.
 Much of downtown has gone dark.