After Sandy, More Hopeful Signs of Progress

By Mark E. Ruquet

Midland Beach, Oct. 30, Lincoln Ave. from Fr. Capodanno
Blvd. (Photo: Mark E. Ruquet)

Today, Oct. 29, is the one-year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy. The local TV networks are doing their special coverage focusing on how far we’ve come since that hellish night. This evening, the Midland Beach Civic Association will hold a candlelight vigil in memory of the people lost in those desperate hours after the floodwaters changed so many lives forever.

Frankly, I’ve grown weary of reliving that day and the days after. I’ll leave the reminiscing to others. There are enough voices out there to do that. Even the BBC is taking notice. Today, we’ll feel sadness and hope for a better future where we don’t need to worry about our lives once more being profoundly altered by storm surge. Some good engineering and getting some lucky breaks for decades in the future would help. Many of us continue to struggle not only with the financial burdens the storm brought, but also with the emotional anxiety whenever there is talk of another storm coming up along the East coast that brings heavy rainfall and warnings of local flooding.

On this anniversary though, the greatest challenge we face is not rebuilding our homes or developing storm

Midland Ave. on Oct. 30, an empty container sits in
the middle of the street. (Photo: Mark E. Ruquet)

management systems to prevent, or at the least, lessen the impact of a tremendous storm like Sandy. No, for individual homeowners the major challenge today has less to do with nature and everything to do with paying for the recovery after this disaster. This is a challenge not only for those of us affected by Sandy, but those of us facing the crippling cost of flood insurance.

At least on this front, the good news is that legislators are getting an earful from their constituents and doing something about rates. According to some reports, a bipartisan deal  was crafted between members of the House and Senate to put a freeze on the increases until a new plan is put in place to make the Flood Insurance program solvent, but not put the entire burden of solvency on those who can least afford it.

Among those in Congress who have been pushing for this change is Congressman Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.) who has spent the past week in Staten Island keeping people informed of progress on Capitol Hill while doing his bit to keep this issue front and center in the mind of the public.

It has been a long road for many of us—and there is still a long way to go until this journey of recovery ends. On this anniversary, there is hope that at least one burden is lifted from our shoulders.