Sandy Victims Blast Delays in Flood Insurance Aid

Even as Congress passed the first part of an aid package for victims of Superstorm Sandy, many victims seethed, wondering why it took so long.

The $9.7 billion measure, approved on Jan. 4 and signed into law by President Obama on Jan. 6, allows the National Flood Insurance Program to continue to pay claims. It was due to run out of money on the week of Jan. 7.

But some of those still lugging waterlogged debris from homes or shoveling sand from lawns and walkways after the late October storm weren’t impressed.

“I think it’s horrible it took this long,” said Susan VanVeen, of Randolph, N.J., who was part of a volunteer group that drove to Lavallette to help clean up strangers’ homes. “This area is completely devastated. It’s still probably going to be weeks before people get this money. This should have happened a long time ago.”

John Condit, of Seaside Heights, N.J., which lost the boardwalk upon which much of the “Jersey Shore” reality series was filmed, also said the delay in approving aid after the storm was disgraceful. “It’s just criminal,” he said. “We do all this work for other countries, but when it comes to us, it takes like 60 days. You pay taxes, and your government is supposed to be there for you. That’s part of the deal.”

Mike Furrey, part of the volunteer group in Lavallette, said he was angry about the delay in approving aid. “They turned their backs on New Jersey and New York, but when Katrina happened, or things in other parts of the country, they act right away. I’m not going to vote for anyone who is in Congress right now, no matter what party.”

The Jan. 4 vote was the first of two anticipated votes, with a much larger appropriation of $51 billion coming up for consideration Jan. 15.