One year after Hurricane Sandy, thousands of Americans still derelict

Already one year since Hurricane Sandy swept through the Northeast states, thousands of people in New York, New Jersey still derelict, homeless. They have to fight with the insurance companies and the government bureaucracy to get bailout money.


Powerful storms swept across the United States on 10/29/2012 caused about 160 deaths and destroyed more than 650,000 houses, of which only two states in New York, New Jersey, 366,000 buildings were damaged storm. Thousands of people had to be evacuated while the business was closed for weeks. Estimated caused by Hurricane friendly up to billions of dollars.

One area of the city after the storm ravaged New York Sandy

So far the situation where reconstruction takes place every other one . In some areas most severely affected , most houses are still empty building . The residential " torn " because this quiet storm with the sale sign .
Some families try to overcome to continue living in the old place , the building process has been slow and also expensive . Many people accepted the new house though only partially repaired .
Others do not have enough money to rebuild the house , including those who fought for the insurance money , or wait for the government bailout money , the shelter must live with relatives or in temporary housing .
Kieran Burke , 41, who lives with his family in an apartment in the area of ​​Yonkers , New York , said most of the time last year he was worried a struggle to get a building permit and insurance claims to rebuild their old house . So far , though most of the premiums paid , but Burke has expressed anger when told of his encounter difficulties .

" I was here when the fire spread to ," Burke , commander of the firefighters and the father of two boys said . " And frankly , dealing with the process of obtaining permits and insurance claims is 10 times more difficult to deal with any fire yet."
With most of those displaced by the storm Sandy - including at least 27,000 households in New York and New Jersey, according to data from state and local governments - money is the main obstacle that they can not go home .
Agencies responding emergency federal spending over $ 1.4 billion to support more than 182,000 disaster survivors in five U.S. states . But the state was slow to allocate the $ 150,000 grant and $ 300,000 necessary , by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development for the household lacks money to build the house .
So far , with many victims of Hurricane Sandy , the home is unclear .
One recent Saturday , Joe and Lori Argentina has recovered the foundation has sunk , which is where their old house . Floodwaters have swept away in the storm 5 bedroom house they lived nine years more than 60m away from the swamp lands .

" This past year has completely nothing. Not a thing , " Joe , 68 years old and retired, now living in one-bedroom house with his wife, Lori , 50, and two small daughters . One of her first daughter in college they plan to return soon after graduation . The family did not have money to build a house by the bank asking them for money to pay flood insurance mortgage earlier .
So fast they owe and are not eligible to receive preferential loans from the federal government for disaster victims . They have rejected 2 times .
Lori , an experienced assistant to the education department in New York City , said the family said they now only count on the support of $ 150,000 in state agencies and state urban development . She has filed a preliminary end of May and accepted early July , but did not know when to receive the money and how much .
That way the car runs about an hour south , in Manahawkin , New Jersey , home of Jackie and her husband Mike Terefenko has run out of money to fix the house . Living on the second floor of the house , they had to use the bathroom to the kitchen and sat down on a card table set in the bedroom . First floor has no electricity , heating or insulation .
"We 're living in hell ," Jackie said .

The family is still struggling with insurance companies because they are paid only $ 84,000 compared to $ 250,000 compensation , Jackie said . Meanwhile, they spent a total of $ 139,000 from the insurance , savings and government support . Jackie estimate , when finished they need more than $ 220,000 .
Currently they are still waiting to see her be eligible for assistance from the housing authority and the urban development of the state or not . This process can be confusing , the couple said . They have heard from consultants throughout the storm passed. " We really can not solve what is happening to her ," Jackie pity .
Similarly, Michael 's family and Elizabeth Carlson and 18 -month-old son had to move 3 times in the past year , and have to wait many months with instructions to rebuild under new regulations on flood prevention . Meanwhile the battle with the insurance company to claim continues , Michael said .