Stepping Up after Hurricane Sandy: World Trade Center

Challenge

Hurricane Sandy was the largest Atlantic hurricane ever when it made landfall in the United States. It brought torrential rains to New York City and swamped much of Lower Manhattan—including the World Trade Center—with floodwater from the East River and 10 billion gallons of raw or partially treated sewage.

Solution

Concerned about extensive flooding and potential mold growth, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey enlisted TRC to survey the damage to the World Trade Center. TRC mobilized an army of air sampling technicians, construction inspectors and industrial hygienists to perform air monitoring and moisture mapping. The team also oversaw cleaning and disinfection of plenums and HVAC system ducts and performed clearance sampling to ensure the facilities were safe for humans.

Result

The quick response enabled work crews at the World Trade Center to quickly resume their activities at the site without having to do extensive demolition and reconstruction.