Sandy affected a broader geographic area than most storms, hitting a bigger population and a range of industries from manufacturing and finance to retail and shipping.
"Even with the broadening population and wide range of competing activities, mobile owners are drawn to news on their tablet and smartphones, " said PEJ deputy director Amy Mitchell.
No-till, practised more in America than in Britain, means growing crops without ploughing fields, and leads to many-fold increases in bird population and a range of other environmental benefits.