Cuomo likens Katrina, Sandy as damage total soars

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared Superstorm Sandy in some ways worse than 2005’s Hurricane Katrina as he said his state would need $42 billion to recover.

The figure includes more than $32 billion for damage and restoration and an additional $9 billion to head off damage in future storms.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has put the preliminary damage estimate in his state at more than $29 billion. He announced Monday that he couldn’t abandon the state during its recovery and would seek re-election next year.

All told along the East Coast, most recent estimates indicate damage totaling more than $62 billion from Sandy in late October. More than 100 people died.

Katrina killed more than 1,800 people and caused some $108 billion in damage along the Gulf Coast.