New Yorkers mark the anniversary the same way many survived the storm—by coming together. Vigils were held all across the city. NY1′s Michael Herzenberg filed the following report from Red Hook.
Families and floats march down once flooded streets in Red Hook.
“The storm ruined this place for a period of time,” one man says.
The revelers say there’s reason to celebrate the spirit of a tight knit community, though.
“I’m here today because Redhook came back stronger and better,” says another resident.
“A lot of people know each other and we stick together so that’s why we’re here,” the man says.
A ceremony on the lower east side honored the struggle many residents had.
Few expected Sandy to impact the area but building basements flooded, knocking out utility services and elevators for hundreds of apartments on upper floors.
It took some buildings weeks to recover.
“We still have a long way to go, but its just good to be here and celebrate and commemorate,” says resident Nereida Cancel.
Gerritsen beach was one of the hardest hit areas of the city.
A mother and long time resident brings her boy back just for a visit.
“I want to see no more hurricanes,” says Matthew Cherichetti.
The Cherichetti’s still don’t live in the shell that was their home.
“The whole thing is just insane and there’s no end in sight,” Tami Cherichetti says.
They were mired in build it backs initial confusion and inefficiency.
Now they have chose a private contractor for the city’s assistance program only allowed because of the recent overhaul of Build It Back.
They say the process remains complicated and they’re appealing the settlement award while husband and wife still live separately.
“My kids are miserable. I can’t live with my husband. I’m done. How much more miserable could you be?” Tami Cherichetti says.
“My heart breaks for these people,” says Jamison Wells of the nonprofit Gerritsen Beach Cares.
Gerritsen Beach Cares estimates 100 of the 1,850 families here are still not in their homes.
“It’s going slowly, but I have to say they are doing a wonderful job fixing what was wrong with the program,” Wells says.
Build It Back says it has made settlement offers to the nearly half of the 14,000 active applicants. It plans to issue settlement checks to all of those eligible by the end of next year.
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