Sandy’s Effects Spreading

Hurricane Sandy’s effects are beginning to trickle their way across the nation. Airports, businesses, and commuters are slowly getting back on their feet, but each day that passes is costly.A TIME magazine article states Sandy will cost around $60 billion. Crews continue to restore utilities and power and travel is improving, but now there are concerns fuel will run short. Despite that, Mid-Missouri will likely miss out on most of the problems caused by Sandy.Fuel shortages in the Northeast have some Missouri drivers thinking about climbing gas prices. Mid-Missouri saw gas prices jump from $3.07 to as high as $3.23 recently. A petroleum analyst says Sandy is not to blame for the rising prices, just yet.Another ripple effect from Sandy are transportation headaches, but they are improving. The three airports in the New York City area have partially reopened, helping the thousands of stranded travelers. The city’s subway and buses are running some routes, helping to get residents back to work.According to a financial analyst, that’s key to limiting damage done to businesses’ bottom lines.”If people cant get to work then productivity isn’t happening,” said University of Missouri professor Robert Weagley. “That needs to be happening and they may or may not be paying the employees.”Weagley says businesses that closed add to Sandy’s mounting cost. However, he says with airports set to completely reopen Friday, things are on the right track.”They’re making good as best they can and I think we should feel good about that,” said Weagley. “I mean frankly, it amazes me we weren’t shut down for longer given what happened to the city of New York.”