Hurricane Sandy

[Shore Hotel sign damaged from the Hurricane Sandy], 2012, 2014.010.7, MIchael Claro Hurricane Sandy Photographs, 2010.010; Brooklyn Historical Society.

It’s been six years since Hurricane Sandy, but it’s not soon forgotten. The storm began on October 29, 2012 and brought flooding, wind, and storm surges that devastated many communities throughout Brooklyn and New York City. The photo of the week depicts the Shore Hotel sign in Coney Island showing damage from Hurricane Sandy.

This photograph is by Michael Claro, a Brooklyn resident and photographer, who documented the after effects of Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. The photographs were taken the day after the storm as he traveled along the Belt Parkway to Coney Island in Brooklyn. About the above photograph, Claro says, “Reaching Coney Island, I was happy to see the Parachute jump still standing as well as the iconic Wonder Wheel, however, the Shore hotel sign flapped in the wind like a cheap vinyl banner. Sad.”

The Michael Claro Hurricane Sandy photographs collection is comprised of eight digital photographs documenting the damage from Hurricane Sandy. They can be viewed online here.

A selection of Claro's photographs  are on display at BHS Dumbo's Waterfront exhibition in a section titled "Rising Waters," dedicated to Hurricane Sandy and sea level rise.

Interested in seeing more photos from BHS’s collection? Visit our online image gallery, which includes a selection of our images. Interested in seeing even more historic Brooklyn images? Visit our Brooklyn Visual Heritage website here. To search BHS’s entire collection of images, archives, maps, and special collections visit BHS’s Othmer Library Wed-Sat, 1:00-5:00 p.m. library@brooklynhistory.org