About

What Happened When The Lights Went Out is a website showcasing the effects of Hurricane Sandy in several neighborhoods within Lower Manhattan. Each documentary displays a different point of view of what happened in the wake of one of the worst natural disasters to ever hit New York City. We explore the various factors, some being part of the very history of the neighborhood, that affected how each neighborhood dealt with the superstorm. These documentaries in turn paint a picture of the overall scope of the damage the storm had on Lower Manhattan and answers the question: What happened when the lights went out?

The following are the groups responsible for each neighborhood:

Alphabet City East Village

Cassidy Liz Briana Calderon

Kalliope Dalto Frank Cone

Veronica Perez Olga Pavlenko

Financial District Lower East Side

Aaron Williams Andrew Zagelbaum

Alla Uts Billy Zhao

Quiana Isaza Chris Freire

Special Thanks

Professor Philip Kasinitz

Anton Borst, ITF

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Alphabet City

The tension between the residents of Alphabet City and the local authority has left a lasting impression on the community. It has bred a generally independent community. When Sandy hit, it was ultimately the residents that restored Alphabet City.
East Village

Our documentary introduces the East Village and how it was shaped into the neighborhood it is today – filled with a unique culture and daily interaction between residents and tourists. We study how the events Hurricane Sandy altered the social identity of the neighborhood more than anything else. The disaster turned the lively downtown atmosphere of the East Village into empty streets that resembled what residents described as New York Cities more quiet uptown neighborhoods.
Financial District

Our documentary explores the change in the demographic of the Financial District in the last decade. Previously thought as an area primarily for business, the Financial District has welcomed new residents, including families. We explore these changes and how they have contributed to one of the fastest recoveries of Hurricane Sandy in New York City.
Lower East Side

In our trip to the Lower East Side, we wanted to see how Hurricane Sandy affected not only the individuals, but the community as a whole. We found that in emergency situations, while crimes such as looting take rise, people also come together and help those who are in need of it. Both within the neighborhood and from surrounding areas, people of New York City were ready to aid the Lower East Side.