SANDY ONE YEAR LATER: Canarsie
Canarsie was hit hard by Sandy, but residents “were excluded from” a lot of relief aid and recovery services, says Assemblymember Nick Perry.
“People in Canarsie, especially the Paerdegat area, were excluded and it was very hurtful to me and the people I represent who saw homes devastated, lost cars, basements flooded, and structural damage,” Perry explained, noting that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) “system was inadequate.”
Part of the problem was the fact that much of the neighborhood is located in the lower-priority Zones 3, 4 and 5, placing much the neighborhood outside of the immediate evacuation zone and the attendant federal and city aid. There are also fewer public transportation options, and flooded subway tunnels kept volunteers at bay.