The effects of Hurricane Sandy, later evolving into Superstorm Sandy, were severe for the security industry as they were for residents of the East Coast and other industries. The combination of blackouts that left alarm systems to rely on backup batteries, the interminable lines at gas stations in New York and New Jersey that put service vehicles out of commission and the strain put on cell towers and other communications conspired to make being a security dealer on the East Coast an even tougher job than usual.