Do you remember Hurricane Sandy?
Of course you do. It absolutely devastated New York City, drowned cars, and wrecked houses.
It's now been three years since the 2012 hurricane, but for some, the damage the hurricane wrecked upon their homes and lives is far from over. According to the NY Times, 142,000 homeowners filed flood insurance claims with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the wake of the hurricane.
In August of this year, 11,000 homeowners asked FEMA to look again at their cases because they believed their claim was underpaid.
These 11,000 homeowners are far fewer than the amount of homeowners who were eligible to receive more payment. In fact, the NY Times referred to the number of people who asked FEMA to reinvestigate their claims as "scary low."
It is low. As though people gave up on seeking help entirely.
Why would people give up on receiving government compensation for their wrecked homes?
"This is the most painful thing I've ever done," said 52-year-old Iraq war veteran William T. Lynch in reference to his dealings with FEMA after Sandy. "I'd rather go back to Falluja."
Lynch is on his third apartment rental since his Long Island cottage was decimated by Hurricane Sandy three years ago.
The hurricane lasted from October 22nd to October 31st in 2012, and during its tirade it flooded the NYC subway system, many suburban communities, and all road tunnels entering Manhattan besides the Lincoln Tunnel.
Hurricane Sandy destroyed over 100 homes in Breezy Point, Queens, and killed at least 53 people in New York. Estimated financial losses across New York were at least $18 billion.
Most of Hurricane Sandy's victims have not been repaid adequately by the government, and yet most say they don't have the energy to fill out papers and handle red tape anymore, even though they could be giving up tens of thousands of dollars.
Only a fraction of the homes destroyed by the hurricane have been rebuilt, and thousands of people occupy partly rebuilt homes.
_brmd Can't believe tomorrow marks 3 years since #HurricaneSandy.. this photo was taken looking down 9th Ave. in Belmar 2 days after the storm hit. #sandy #rebuildrecover #superstormsandy #jerseyshore #jerseystrong #jshn #belmar #natgeo #weatherchannel #strongerthanthestorm #huffpostgram #hurricane #photooftheday #igmasters #top_masters #
There were programs that tried to help people restore their lives after the hurricane. None of them accomplished what Sandy's victims needed.
There was the Build It Back initiative in NYC, which struggled due to a daunting application process. There was the Rehabilitation, Reconstruction, Elevation and Mitigation Program in New Jersey in which consultants lost months worth of documents.
The New York Rising Program on Long Island alienated storm victims who took out federal loans to rebuild before Congress authorized relief funds, and got smaller grants than their slower neighbors.
museumoftemporaryman A fleet of flooded taxis in Hoboken, New Jersey, after Superstorm Sandy, in October, 2012/PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHAEL BOCCHIERI / GETTY #taxis #storm #water #hurricane #hurricanesandy
About 2,200 people sued FEMA because they didn't believe they were paid what they were entitled. The maximum coverage set by FEMA'S National Flood Insurance Program is $250,000 in property damage and $100,000 for the contents of homes.
Many of the hurricanes' victims received very little of this money. Of the 2,200 people who sued FEMA, many have since settled.
Many of Sandy's victims are, quite simply, sick and tired of battling with the government to get the restoration money they need to rebuilt their homes.
"I don't want to do it anymore; I'm done," said 70-year-old Joyce Andersen. Water soaked the insulation in her house, ruined her floors, and weakened her foundation piers. She received only $23,000 from the government.
Still, Andersen cringed at the thought of delving into the monstrous stack of papers she's received from the government in regards to her flood damage.
She's far from the only one whose not the only one whose FEMA restoration money was pitifully low.
When FEMA appraised the damages of Lynch's apartment, they offered him $77,000. Lynch then hired an independent engineer who assessed his damage at $375,000.
Conversely, Lynch's neighbor-across-the-street had a different engineer, and a private insurance company. He got the maximum $250,000 in flood coverage, rebuilt his house, and a year ago returned to Lynch's street, which still remains half empty.
None of this makes sense. So, FEMA, we know you have an awful track record, but we deserve better than this. You owe more than what you've done, and the victims of this three-year old hurricane should not still be struggling.
Again: Sandy was three years ago. It's an understatement that we should have much more than half of our citizens moved back into their homes by now. These people should not still be fighting for their homes.
Check out 7 Times You Absolutely Hated NYC with a Passion.
[via NY Times]
[Feature Image Courtesy Peta Pixel]