As reported on Businessinsider.com
by Daniel Goodman
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Nearly two months after Hurricane Sandy, the devasted community of Rockaway Beach, N.Y. is still reeling.
Pieces of the boardwalk are littered across the beach, homes need to be cleaned in full hazmat gear, and insurance claims are only just starting to get resolved if at all.
Many people we spoke to said they felt let down by the city government and that local business owners and individuals from the community played a crucial role in organizing volunteers and donations. Devin Fitzgerald, a resident of the area, said, “I don’t know how we would have survived without the community pulling together.”
We saw the way the community can rally together over Thanksgiving when Occupy Sandy and independent volunteers organized dinners throughout the area. Many of these were grassroots efforts that relied on social media to get the word out.
As the recovery process continues, the needs of the community have shifted away from emergency items like food, clothing, and cleaning supplies to financial aid, legal services for FEMA/insurance claims, and building supplies. Some people we spoke to said their insurance claims have been denied, and that claims evaluators only came last week to survey home damage.
As of December 17, over 507,950 individuals have registered for FEMA assistance and $1.09 billion in aid will be distributed as a result of Sandy, according to the government agency. Some people said they had received FEMA aid, but others said they were denied because of insurance issues.
Electricity and power are back, but phone service has been slower in returning, especially for people who rely on copper land lines instead of fiber-optic connections. The people using the older service tend to be older themselves and lower-income, some don’t even have cell-phones, and the lack of phone service is preventing them from contacting family and insurance.
Richard Ganci, who lives on B 115th St, spent 54 days without phone service, just getting it back this past week. He missed his uncle’s funeral two weeks ago because his phone was out. Ganci has been using prepaid cell phones but has had trouble securing them and getting minutes because many stores in the area remain closed. He has received FEMA aid but has been having trouble getting through to insurance without a working landline.
Despite the challenges, people are moving forward.
In a small restaurant bar by the beach, many locals gathered to distribute toys, through a toy drive organized by Rockaways-native Donna Miley-Figueroa, who lives in Manhattan now. The community came together to relax, sip eggnog, and enjoy the holiday spirit, gathering their spirit for the long rebuilding process ahead.
The season of gift giving.
Despite the damage this store is getting back on its feet and has opened its doors.
However, many stores remain closed.
And dirt still covers many walkways.
The shattered boardwalk is covered with sand in many areas.
And piles of it lay strewn across the beach.
The Park Inn looks almost exactly as it did in November.
The emergency tape and vehicles are no longer needed here.
The beach is deserted on a cool Saturday late in December.
The signs of relief work are everywhere.
And so are the signs of what needs to be done.
Construction workers check out the damage on the beach.
Sand Bar won’t be opening any time soon, though it has always been a seasonal business.
Looking at the water one can almost forget the scene.
But not when you turn around.
But life continues.
And people are resuming their normal activities.
Suncycle Studios played an important role as a donation collection and distribution center after the storm.
We first met Suncycle Studios owner Kenny Peña on this corner where he was cooking up hot dogs and hamburgers for lines of people. Now it looks more normal.
But things are not fully back up and running.
There weren’t many people on the streets.
And people are still waiting for needed repairs.
This building looks identical to its state in November.
The wreckage is complete.
Some debris has been cleared here.
YANA served as a base of operations for Occupy Sandy and its owner Salvatore Lopizzo has been an important local organizer for relief and recovery. They are busy rebuilding the store so they can reopen.
Many houses are shuttered.
While others are being worked on.
Donna Miley-Figueroa (left) has been organizing donations and volunteers through Facebook since the storm struck.
She put together this Christmas gift donation and distribution for her community.
Many there told us, Miley-Figueroa has been more helpful to the community than outside aid organizations.
From the Rockaways, but now living in Manhattan, Miley-Figueroa has two children of her own and a full time job, but she has been working non-stop to help her community.
The intimate gathering was enjoyed by all.
Especially the children. A moment of peace after the storm.
As bad as things got, Sandy could have been worse