Hurricane Sandy's unprecedented impact on the New York-New Jersey region is still being felt over a month after the storm has passed. The storm resulted in a massive response effort that continues today and has involved every level of government along with an impressive outpouring of private help. It is now clear that it will take a long time to recover from this disaster. Despite the wealth of this region, we will need help from the rest of the nation if we are to fully recover. The nation must develop a more routine and adequate method of funding response to disasters. We need a federal Disaster Superfund.
Unlike the response to Katrina, we have seen an intense and reasonably competent governmental response to this disaster. But the scale of the impact means that people continue to suffer and until life resumes its normal rhythms, people will complain. These complaints need to be heard, and government must continue to mobilize for response.
Read Full Article »