Statement on Superstorm Sandy Anniversary

Statement

Long Islanders will never forget the lives lost and devastation caused when Superstorm Sandy made landfall one year ago today. When the high winds and powerful storm surge receded, Sandy left behind ruined homes and businesses, a battered power and communications network, and thousands of residents in need of help to rebuild their lives.

I joined with my colleagues in the Long Island Delegation to overcome the misguided opposition from some in Congress to federal disaster aid, and made a successful bipartisan case for over $60 billion in assistance for our communities. The federal government has partnered with New York State and local governments to develop plans for protecting homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure in hard-hit areas. Emergency coastal stabilization projects on Fire Island and Montauk are now slated to begin construction this winter to rebuild our first line of defense against future storms.

One year after Sandy, we have made important progress rebuilding from such a destructive storm. But too many of our neighbors still lack decent housing and too much of our coastline and vital infrastructure remain vulnerable. Significant work remains to be done to protect a densely populated coastal area like ours from storms that are expected only to grow in severity and frequency.

As we mark this one year milestone, we look forward to faster and more visible progress in the year to come.

Source