Ferries to the Rescue: Lessons for Resilience on Waterways

Ferries are valued for their role in economic development but also have proved their worth in responding to emergencies. This article summarizes how ferries in the New York City region demonstrated their resilience and their value during and after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Ferries operated throughout the storm even as all other transportation modes were severely disrupted. After the storm, new routes were quickly established to provide transportation alternatives while subway lines were restored. The success of New York ferries is attributed to careful preparation. The successes from this experience offer lessons for improved planning.