For many living along the coast of New York and New Jersey, Superstorm Sandy was the event that no one thought would happen. Though weather forecasts were dire, many felt it was unlikely for the storm to hit with the intensity meteorologists feared. Just the year prior in 2011, Hurricane Irene had hit with significantly less force than predicted. Yoram Eliyahu acknowledges that Superstorm Sandy brought a new reality to light for many living in the tri-state area.
Since the arrival of Superstorm Sandy, the area has been scrambling to recover with the help of FEMA, insurance companies, the Red Cross and a vast number of local and community groups. Yoram Eliyahu, not only a real estate professional but also a volunteer for many local associations, was gratified to see the community outreach that had such profound effects following the storm. He does highlight however, the need to learn from this experience, and prepare for other storms that may follow.
In the months since Sandy’s arrival, many Long Island community groups and politicians have held workshops discussing the importance of storm preparedness. The hope is that by being better prepared for the next storm, less damage will be sustained. Yoram Eliyahu suggests that homeowners educate themselves, and those in flood-prone areas take note when doing repairs. By building smarter, he says, we can avoid seeing the same issues repeated.
In particular, Yoram Eliyahu recommends that homeowners reference the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, on the web at NYS Emergency Services - OEM . The website includes information on winter weather conditions, flooding safety tips, disaster preparedness and other valuable topics.