Table of ContentsBefore the StormAfter the StormSolidarity of Rockaway BeachBeing a little slice of paradise for those living in New York City, Rockaway Beach, Queens, is a bustling, close-knit community on the outskirts of the noise of the city. All year round, whatever the temperature outside, the small town is always bustling with locals and New Yorkers. Once it gets warm and sunny, the long stretch of beaches fills up with tourists and locals alike, trying to enjoy their little piece of sunshine. The city's escape district is a surfer's paradise and an artist's paradise. The main attraction, the boardwalk, lined with old wood and rusty nails, is also lined with bars, restaurants, art exhibits and more. Since many businesses are locally owned, owners take pride in their livelihoods and their community. Unfortunately, in late October 2012, this quiet town was engulfed by a superstorm, destroying much of what residents considered ordinary. Hurricane Sandy had a colossal impact on the daily lives of Rockaway Beach residents. Homes were destroyed, waves reached more than five feet above sea level, animals and pets went missing, their beloved boardwalk was destroyed. Everything these citizens knew and loved about their town was long gone or was disappearing. I will investigate the ongoing rebuilding and rehabilitation of Rockaway Beach and surrounding areas in Queens, New York after superstorm Hurricane Sandy, and the solidarity and progress citizens are making to rebuild their city. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on "Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned"? Get the original essay More than four years after superstorm Hurricane Sandy, residents of Rockaway Beach are still recovering. Homes are still evacuated, citizens still displaced in motels and government housing, and extensive damage has rocked neighborhoods, leaving enormous debris in streets, parks and public facilities. When the storm finally stopped raging, the destruction spread throughout the region. Businesses and homes were completely destroyed, with much debris scattered throughout the city itself, and many were forced to leave their buildings, left to their own devices. With no electricity, heat or hot water in those lucky enough to remain standing, it was completely habitable. Guests were forced to come together to solve what may be the biggest challenge Rockaway Beach has faced: recovery. Although already a city devoted to its neighbors, residents had to step out of their comfort zone and express unity in the determination to rebuild their beloved community. Solidarity spread among citizens and new community groups, activism and economic progression emerged from a disaster that ravaged their city. In 2016, I volunteered throughout the month of April with AmeriCorps and St. Bernard's Project to help rebuild homes in Rockaway Beach. I was able to familiarize myself with the difficulties and disasters that the inhabitants were experiencing. As the years go by, fewer and fewer volunteers come forward to help the cause, as most would assume there is no more work to be done. The neighborhood, Rockaway Beach, was a close-knit, quiet and peaceful community, made up of people who lived and grew up in the same house. The stories I heard during my trip always began with uplifting memoriesand warm: those of the beach, the promenade and all the family shops lining the lively streets. These stories, unfortunately, end with horrific accounts of cars floating on roads flooded with eight feet of water, homes with water pouring through windows, and hundreds of people swimming with their families and belongings. could handle being soaked. Years after the storm, the boardwalk still remains in pieces, hundreds of residents still displaced but paying rent or mortgages on their homes, people still walking the streets and businesses and storefronts abandoned. Homes and buildings are not rebuilt for fear of another storm, causing the local economy to suffer, attracting even more potential buyers. I returned to Rockaway Beach on April 28, a rainy day and not warm enough to attract beachgoers. . Prior to my visit, I was provided with contact information for supervisors and coordinators with whom I had worked in the past. After contacting them, I was able to set up appointments to meet them at their headquarters. Unfortunately, only one was available for an interview on the day I arrived. Zach Chaney, who is the volunteer coordinator for Friends of Rockaway, was available and allowed me to think for a few hours. He was fantastic to talk to and very knowledgeable about the history of Rockaway Beach and its citizens. Coincidentally, he also resides in Rockaway Beach and lived there despite the storm. So he was able to tell me about his experiences in the first person. Since I wasn't able to speak with other members of the organization, I had to have only one perspective on how they operated. Along with his perspective, I have a very vivid memory of my time working there and my experiences with local citizens and businesses. Much of the damage was very memorable and emotional to experience.Before the storm, Rockaway Beach is particularly a low-cost place to live, with rents on average higher than those in more expensive areas (like Manhattan), and allowing the possibility to live. in a house. Even though a large portion of the population is white, the unemployment rate can range from two to fourteen percent. This may be because the median age is approaching fifty, assuming many residents are retired or disabled and unable to work (Nycopendata.org, 2013). Many seniors migrate to a city like Rockaway Beach to open small businesses and live a relaxing life. Since the storm, the population has declined, the median age has decreased, and the unemployment rate has increased by almost a third (Nycopendat.org, 2015). “Before Hurricane Sandy,” Zach Chaney remembers, “it was a busy, bustling place. Artists loved it here. Lots of landscapes to discover and there were always people to talk to. The winters were calmer, but we never felt alone. The construction of the buildings and boardwalk was old and decrepit, but that did not deter tourists and residents from enjoying their time in the neighborhood. Many people living in the neighborhood were unaware or unable to afford it, but most residents did not have flood insurance before 2012. Most believed that federal disaster aid was able to distribute money in the event of a natural disaster. Unfortunately, this is usually never the case. Federal assistance often takes the form of a short-term government loan for which the owner is fully responsible (FEMA, 2014). Not having anticipated the hurricane at such speed, it caught homeowners off guard and many did nothad the time or money to purchase expensive insurance (not to mention the 30-day waiting period after paying for the policy). After the StormWhen Hurricane Sandy hit, many of these homes and businesses were ruined. The storm disrupted the peaceful life that many people who have settled here aspire to. Causing millions of dollars in damage, many were forced to file appeals with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, in hopes of repairing or replacing what they had lost. Many citizens rent apartments month after month in the hope that their permanent housing will be financed and rebuilt. When I returned to Rockaway Beach, I took a walk with my interviewee and we discussed the aftermath of the storm. He reassured me that even after a natural disaster and multiple deaths, the community remained strong. He felt that there had never been a loss of hope or a change in the general attitude of residents. People still visited the beach, although covered in debris, and still walked what remained of the boardwalk. Citizens gathered on their porches and in public spaces to discuss the future and their hopes for the neighborhood after the disaster. When Hurricane Sandy's storm finally ended its rage, destruction was widespread throughout the region. Businesses and homes were completely destroyed and many rooms scattered throughout the city itself were forced out of their buildings and left to fend for themselves. As of April 2017, much of Rockaway Beach has been restored. For years, homeowners and businesses have struggled to keep their doors open and avoid travel. Nearly two years after the disaster, homes, storefronts and the famous promenade were still in ruins and in need of reconstruction. Due to complex and extensive government practices, the paperwork required to repair these buildings can take a long time and be delayed by other small agencies. Although the city has worked hard to keep the community together, it has been difficult and citizens have been frustrated ever since. Nearly three years after the storm's devastation, there was still rubble, collapsed homes and areas of Rockaway Beach still untouched by FEMA or local government. Walking around the city gave me a strange feeling, almost like the storm happened yesterday. Only a few restaurants were active, the parks were still empty and covered in ruined play equipment, and the locals seemed gloomy. Rockaway Beach Solidarity Guests were forced to come together to solve what may be the biggest challenge Rockaway Beach has faced: recovery. Although already a city devoted to its neighbors, residents had to step out of their comfort zone and express unity in the determination to rebuild their beloved community. Solidarity spread among citizens and new community groups, activism and economic progression emerged from a disaster that ravaged their city. Every year, Rockaway Beach hosts a Hurricane Sandy recovery walk. This walk raises funds to help the city and state with storm repairs. Every year since 2013, the walk has raised thousands of dollars that continue to help neighbors and public facilities. Most of the families and friends of those who went missing or were seriously injured during the storm participated in the walk. It is nicknamed the “Remembrance and Restoration” Walk for Sandy (Ross,.