The Statue of Liberty will be closed indefinitely due to extensive damage to Liberty Island from Hurricane Sandy on Oct. 28.
The statue, designed to sway in the wind, was unharmed, said David Luchsinger, superintendent of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. However, more than 75% of Liberty Island's 12 acres was underwater during the storm.
The hurricane hit the day after the statue's crown had reopened to visitors. The new elevators and air-conditioning system inside the statue were not damaged.
The docks, where more than 4 million visitors disembark each year, were damaged. Brick walkways heaved up, sea walls pulled away from the shoreline, a fence is missing long sections an electrical systems were flooded.
An information building and an administration building also were flooded.
Marble blocks that had held plaques in place by the sea wall were found halfway across the island after the storm.
Lady Liberty has been lighted by temporary floodlights with electricity from a generator since the storm.
Luchsinger, who lived on the island, said his home there was completely demolished by Hurricane Sandy.
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