De Blasio: Build It Back Program Slated for Completion
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today that the Superstorm Sandy Build it Back single-family home program will be complete by the end of 2016, and that 100 percent of reimbursement checks have now been sent out to homeowners.
To date, there have been 2,015 construction starts (including 1,217 construction completions), as well as 5,319 reimbursement checks totaling nearly $104 million (representing all homeowners eligible for checks). In total, 63 percent of applicants have now seen a check or construction. Over 5,000 homes have entered design. All of these numbers are compared to zero in early 2014.
“Last year, we were fixing Build it Back – and now we’re finishing it, committing to completing the program and getting families home by the end of next year,” said de Blasio. “While there has been major progress since our overhaul – including 100 percent of reimbursement checks now out to homeowners – we won’t stop pushing forward until every applicant sees relief.
“Even as we work to get every family home, we are also aggressively moving to address the risks of climate change. We’re already safer today than we were three years ago, and we will continue to implement our comprehensive $20 billion resiliency plan across the five boroughs.”
Schumer, Gillibrand Keep Pressure On Feds For Sandy Funds
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand revealed today that, only 700 cases submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Superstorm Sandy National Flood Insurance Program Claims Review Process have been closed, representing less than 5 percent of the total claims that have been submitted for re-review.
Just as troubling, says Schumer and Gillibrand, is the fact that more than half of the 17,000 submitted cases to be reviewed by FEMA have been in the program for more than 90 days, and more than a third of the claims have been in the program and gone unresolved for more than 120 days.
The stark statistics led Schumer and Gillibrand to fire off a letter to FEMA saying they are deeply disturbed because FEMA had initially said that those who entered the Claims Review Process would receive a resolution of their claim within 90 days.
“We know from brutal experience that the flood insurance program was broken and denied countless Sandy victims timely and just payments on their claims. This is a travesty that FEMA promised to rectify with its Flood Insurance Program Claims Review Process, but the bottom line is that it is failing miserably to promptly and fairly review and pay many thousands of unjustly denied policyholders’ claims,” said Schumer.
Gillibrand said it is unacceptable that three years after Superstorm Sandy tore through the city and months after it came to light that FEMA underpaid homeowners, New Yorkers continue to face a slow, burdensome, and backlogged process to have their flood insurance claims reviewed.
“FEMA must do better so that New Yorkers who have been forced to endure this endless red tape since Superstorm Sandy and are still struggling to rebuild can begin to put their lives back together,” said the lawmaker.
Adams Commemorates Sandy With Climate Resiliency Initiative
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams, the Mayor’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency (ORR), and the borough’s waterfront city council members today unveiled a new public map to help accelerate progress on climate resiliency projects borough-wide.
The ORR in partnership with Adams and Coney Island City Council Member Mark Treyger created the map, which is a detailed accounting of initiatives designed to improve Brooklyn’s ability to withstand extreme weather events such as Hurricane Sandy, which struck the borough three years ago today.
The map will pinpoint work completed in Brooklyn to date as well as the task force’s mission to move additionally needed work forward on an expeditious timeline.
Donovan, Jeffries On Sandy’s Third Anniversary
Central Brooklyn and Southern Brooklyn Congressmen Dan Donovan and Hakeem Jeffries – the borough’s two House members representing neighborhoods that Sandy hit hardest – each issues statements of support for their constituents.
“Today, we remember the friends and neighbors who were lost three years ago. We also contemplate the lives that were torn apart, and how work has progressed to put them back together,” said Donovan.
“Three years after the storm, homes are still destroyed or in disrepair. Non-profit providers and volunteer organizations have selflessly done everything within their capabilities to help their neighborhoods recover, but the government’s response has been lacking. No one person or administration is to blame, but one thing is clear: government promised recovery, and government failed to deliver it quickly. Government must rethink the way it delivers disaster relief, and do so before the next storm hits.
“Here, out of the fatigue and frustration, there is hope on the horizon. I’m encouraged by the City’s work with state and federal partners to make our neighborhoods safer from future hurricanes. These types of smart investments – spending mitigation money now to reduce the chances of having to spend recovery money later – will leave Staten Island and Brooklyn less vulnerable for generations.”
Jeffries noted that Sandy devastated the Brooklyn neighborhoods in his district of Coney Island, Sea Gate and Canarsie.
“New Yorkers are a strong and resilient people and we have made significant progress in rebuilding the homes, worship centers and neighborhood businesses damaged in the storm,” said Jeffries.
“In Washington, the congressional delegation has worked hard to bring home billions of dollars in federal funding for our recovery efforts. But there is much more to be done. We will not rest until every storm victim who was knocked down is back on their feet.”
Deutsch Thanks Volunteers Gives Sandy Progress Report
Sheepshead Bay/Brighton Beach City Councilman Chaim Deutsch today thanked the volunteers and emergency workers who worked tirelessly during a difficult time for the thousands of people affected by Sandy.
“I witnessed firsthand the dedication of volunteers, in particular the members of the Flatbush Shomrim Safety Patrol, who knocked on hundreds of doors to urge people to evacuate. Many left, but some stayed behind – and none of us could have anticipated the devastating aftermath. We were left with little resources and almost no city services to tackle the multitude of needs that were desperately sought by the people of Southern Brooklyn,” said Deutsch.
“We must all acknowledge our heroes, who left their families behind and devoted countless hours to the community to ensure that resources would be available – New York’s Finest: the NYPD, New York’s Bravest: the FDNY, and New York’s Strongest: the Department of Sanitation,” he added.
Deutsch said in the storm’s aftermath, Coney Island Hospital received $923 million in FEMA for the building of a new, resilient critical services building that will house an Emergency Department and essential medical facilities. Also with this funding, Coney Island Hospital plans to construct a flood wall that will protect the campus to the level of a 500-year flood plan.
“Schools in our district have received federal money to assist with post-Sandy repairs, as well as a police station house and four FDNY facilities. Repairs will be primarily mechanical work, and upgrades to resiliency measures,” said Deutsch.
“I have also allocated $4.7 million to Asser Levy Park. Some of these monies will go towards fixing the sewer and drainage system that was overwhelmed during Sandy, and to rebuilding parts of the playground and path that were hit hardest,” he added.
46 AD Race: Harris, Regina-Potter On Sandy
Pamela Harris (D) and Lucretia Regina-Potter (R) released the following statements regarding the third Anniversary of Sandy. The two are running for the vacant 46th Assembly District seat in a special election this coming Tuesday, Nov. 3. The district includes Coney Island, which Sandy hammered.
Pamela Harris: “The devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy when it hit three years ago today is personal to me. The homes in my neighborhood, including my own, were severely damaged. My neighbors needed help and that’s why I led local relief efforts, going door to door delivering food and supplies. We’ve all come a long way since that terrible day, but more must be done to prepare and protect our families when disaster strikes.
“As we look back on the storm and its impact on our communities, we must continue rebuilding and fighting for the recovery aid we were promised. I helped my neighbors when they needed me then, and now I want to go to Albany to keep fighting to make our communities safer and stronger.”
Lucretia Regina-Potter: “On the anniversary of Hurricane Sandy it is very sad to see so many families unable to return to their homes With all the resources given to the city one would think that more than half of the victims would be back in their homes. Yet only 10 percent or less have been given that opportunity.
“We need to make a stronger effort to make government to do a better job. We need to make recovery more personal to the victims and address their needs individually. There is too much beuracracy involved in this rescue effort.”
