Last Wednesday, October 29th, marked the 2-year anniversary of when Superstorm Sandy made landfall along the eastern seaboard and wreaked havoc in New York and New Jersey; earning every penny of its claim as the second costliest hurricane in U.S. history. Two years later recovery is occurring, although not at the rate that many residents and business owners would hope. Insurance claims are being paid and federal assistance is being issued, although not as much or as effectively as many recipients would like. However, the recovery process for Superstorm Sandy is not unique to the other recovery efforts we’ve witnessed in the U.S. following major disasters. This is because recovery takes time and is a long-term process no matter how you “slice” it. Unfortunately, much of this time waiting for the payout of claims and financial assistance disbursement is spent living under less-than-ideal conditions. The following article discusses some of these recovery frustrations faced by Superstorm Sandy victims two years after its devastation.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/superstorm-sandy-anniversary-arrives-as-towns-continue-healing/
Financial recovery, although difficult, is oftentimes not even the primary struggle in one’s recovery efforts but rather just a compound to the loss of loved ones or items of sentimental value that cannot be recovered. This is why every household is encouraged to speak with their loved ones about preparedness, make contingency plans with one another, identify and mitigate hazards, learn CPR/First Aid, prepare supplies, and plan to protect or salvage sentimental items, documents or pictures that you couldn’t bear to lose in a disaster. In spite of the disasters that our country has experienced and collectively responded to, we, as a culture, do not place the value we should on personal preparedness and this is, unfortunately, highlighted when we get in to the recovery efforts of these major disasters as illustrated in the disaster cycle image attached (Preparedness -> Response -> Recovery -> Mitigation).
It’s not a matter of “if” but “when” and “what kind” of disaster will be our Hurricane Katrina or Superstorm Sandy here in southern California. And, while there are some recovery factors that will inevitably be outside your control, much of your recovery and conditions of your recovery in the months and years to follow will be directly influenced by your level of personal preparedness and mitigation efforts you put forth now.
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