Superstorm Sandy: To You a Memory, To Many Still a Reality

Like many tragic moments in history, Superstorm Sandy is one event that we will never forget. One year ago, Superstorm Sandy hit southern New Jersey on Monday, October 29th and wreaked havoc throughout the Garden State. Whether you experienced little to no damage or your home and belongings were destroyed, you have a story to tell. You can still remember the howling sound of the wind when the storm hit, being hopeful that your power wasn’t going to cease, and praying that your home would still be in one piece as you waited out the storm. Although many of us were “lucky”, experiencing only the loss of power for days/weeks and waiting online for hours upon hours for gas to get to where we needed to go or to fill up our generator, some of us were not as “lucky”. Many experienced the destruction of their homes, where their memories and possessions were ripped away from them.

Today, the damage that Superstorm Sandy left upon New Jersey residents is still existent. It is impossible not to know someone that was adversely affected by the storm. You may have helped a friend by making them dinner or letting them stay at your home and you may have helped others by donating money or clothes. Although many of us have stopped helping and donating, two local Bergen County nonprofit organizations that are still making a difference today are Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County and Rebuilding Together Bergen County.

Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County:

In keeping with its mission to provide decent, affordable housing, Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County launched its Sandy Restoration program in February 2013 to help repair, rebuild and restore the homes that were damaged in Little Ferry, New Jersey. The affiliate has launched a block-by-block approach to revitalize the town of Little Ferry. To date, Habitat Bergen has worked on 30 homes and hopes to have restored 100 homes by next fall.

Habitat Bergen has been working closely with Habitat for Humanity’s Disaster Response team to assess the damage throughout the affected community. In addition to traveling from Americus, Georgia, to visit Bergen County, Habitat International has secured a $500,000 American Red Cross grant for Habitat Bergen to be used exclusively for seniors, the disabled and low-income homeowners.

The Sandy Restoration program is unique to the affiliate’s typical affordable housing program in which Habitat Bergen passes its material costs to the homeowner pursuant to a signed contract, though labor is still provided at no cost. Habitat Bergen is always looking for volunteers, whether skilled or unskilled, to restore Little Ferry as well as for other projects.

Rebuilding Together Bergen County:

Rebuilding Together Bergen County is also still hard at work repairing homes severely damaged by flooding. Rebuilding Together helped rebuild and repair countless homes in Moonachie, including installing new electric, insulation, sheetrock, walls and flooring. Crate and Barrel employees helped with three homes by spending the day painting, trim carpentry and installing flooring. Volunteers from Popular Mechanics and Delta Faucets helped put the finishing touches on a home on Joseph Street, Moonachie so that the owner could move back into his home during the first week of June, after having lived in a shelter, a rented apartment, and then eventually with friends. In another Moonachie home, a couple stood on the second floor of their long-time family home, where they raised their two children, and watched water quickly rise as they lost their two cars and everything on their first floor. Rebuilding Together, with a grant from Lowe’s, painted all the walls and installed new flooring, appliances, kitchen cabinets and countertops, and a new laundry room. Thanks to generous grants from all of these companies, rebuilding and repairs were made possible for these homeowners in Moonachie.

Several teams of AmeriCorps NCCC members and some students also helped Rebuilding Together Bergen County repair 125 Sandy-damaged mobile homes in Moonachie from January through May. A new team, joined to help insulate 25 additional mobile homes in August and September. Funding for these materials and supplies came from the Bergen VOAD Long Term Recovery Group.

Both the Hook & Ladder Company on Main Street and the House Company on Marshall in Little Ferry were flooded with three feet of water in minutes, even as the volunteer firefighters were helping to rescue others in their community. Thanks to a grant from Sears and additional funding and assistance from Rotary District 7490, Rebuilding Together was able to repair both buildings. IBEW Local 164 electricians made repairs at the Hose Company and new walls have been framed, tiled, and painted.

Ongoing Recovery:

Those still in need should request assistance with Bergen County VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters) at 201-470-3143 or visit the Storm Recovery Information Center located at 221 Moonachie Road in Moonachie. A volunteer or staff member can help you access local resources and fill out requests for assistance from VOAD member agencies.

How You Can Help:

For more information on how to volunteer or make a donation, please visit www.habitatbergen.org and www.rebuildingtogetherbergen.org.