file photo from Sandy aftermath man with gas can on bike
One year after Sandy, ‘normal’ remains elusive for New Jerseyans hit hardest
Saturday, October 26, 2013 Last updated: Sunday October 27, 2013, 1:00 AM
BY REBECCA D. O’BRIEN AND KAREN SUDOL
STAFF WRITERS
The Record
If Superstorm Sandy showed the profound vulnerability of New Jersey’s coastal communities — homes smashed, beaches washed away, neighborhoods underwater — the year that followed has exposed other issues: the frailty of the state’s emergency planning and infrastructure, layers of conflicting and confusing bureaucracy and the challenges of quickly but responsibly disbursing billions of dollars in federal aid.
Sandy’s enduring legacy will be one of great destruction, a moment of reckoning for the entire metropolitan area: The storm’s crippling impact will set the regional agenda for years to come as the area rebuilds and confronts the challenges of adapting to climate change.
Seven million New Jersey residents were without power the day after the storm, which left 37 dead statewide; some remained in the dark for up to two weeks. Gas lines stretched for miles along dark highways.
Federal storm aid to residents trickled down slowly, held up by congressional infighting, a maze of agencies and state-run grant programs, processing delays, application errors and high demand.
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