The Aftermath of Hurricane Sandy: Recovery Efforts Across New York & New Jersey

Abstract

How did differences in federal disaster relief and local political engagement impact the long-term economic and demographic recovery of Staten Island, the Rockaway Peninsula, and northern Monmouth County in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy (2012)? While existing literature acknowledges that socioeconomic disparities often arise in post-disaster contexts, there is a lack of comparative analysis across affected regions exploring the interplay of local, city, state, and federal assistance in recovery. This paper hypothesizes that higher levels of FEMA compensation and strong local political leadership correlated with greater economic stability, accelerated recovery timelines, and stabilizing demographic shifts. It also supposes that political fragmentation and bureaucratic hurdles hindered an efficient recovery process in affected areas. This research uses (1) ACS 5-year census data estimates from 2011, 2017, and 2022 for exposed and unexposed areas within the three case study regions, (2) data from FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program, and (3) qualitative interviews with local politicians who were in office during Sandy or shortly after, in an effort to further understand the dynamics of post-disaster recovery. My case study analysis reveals that Staten Island, the Rockaway Peninsula, and northern Monmouth County experienced vastly different recovery timelines and trajectories due to differences in FEMA compensation levels and local political advocacy. Staten Island’s high FEMA compensation levels and strong political leadership contributed to a relatively more stable recovery, while the Rockaway Peninsula and northern Monmouth County suffered from delayed assistance and a reliance on larger state-led and federal-led efforts. The observed differences reveal important takeaways surrounding preparedness methods for future natural disasters.