1,000 Days After Hurricane Sandy

A message from Long Beach City Council President Len Torres:

Last Saturday, July 25 marked exactly 1,000 days since Superstorm Sandy struck our barrier island. And together, we have all been through so much.

While so much has been accomplished, the rebuilding is ongoing, and there is still so much left for us to do. As we reflect on the monumental task of our initial recovery efforts from critical infrastructure repairs to rebuilding our boardwalk and our parks and even replanting our trees, so many of us all feel the difficult daily struggle of rebuilding and elevating our homes. Seeking the necessary resources from insurance companies, FEMA, and New York Rising has been an arduous task.

This City Council has participated in countless meetings with all levels of government, aggressively advocating on behalf of all Long Beach residents – and we will continue to fight for our community. Additionally, we were the first municipality on Long Island to establish a rebuilding assistance program, helping our residents navigate through the process or rebuilding and cutting through red tape wherever possible.

Together, we have fought some difficult battles on behalf of Long Beach residents – some of which we have won and others we have not won yet. Nothing has come easy for us here in Long Beach, and the struggle will most certainly continue for quite some time.

Looking ahead, we are planning smart for the long term, while taking decisive action in the short term. For the first time ever, Long Beach will soon have an engineered beach and a secure bayfront. Simply put, we are doing everything in our power to protect against future storms.

As we move forward in our long-term recovery, we must continue to stand together, united as one Long Beach – until everyone comes home and until everyone has the resources they need and deserve to rebuild stronger, smarter, and safer.

Image via Joe Kellard