Sandy 10 years later: Still waiting – Some Long Islanders have yet to return home

Susan Goldstone, of Oceanside, is one of them. During the October 2012 storm, approximately 8 feet of water flooded out her home. But Goldstone says the red tape she encountered in the aftermath was just as brutal.

News 12 Staff

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Oct 25, 2022, 9:53 PM

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Updated 787 days ago

There is a club of Long Islanders who have not yet been able to move back into their homes 10 years after Superstorm Sandy.

Susan Goldstone, of Oceanside, is one of them. During the October 2012 storm, approximately 8 feet of water flooded out her home. But Goldstone says the red tape she encountered in the aftermath was just as brutal.

She says she ran into permitting problems and a contractor who only did half the work. Goldstone says the contractor took her money, then walked off the job. Since 2017, she has not been able to find a contractor to finish the work. Contractors who have spoken with her want to start the project from scratch.

MORE: Sandy: 10 Years Later

“They don't want the responsibility. So, what do you do? I don't know what to do,” Goldstone told News 12.

Experts say there are some things displaced residents can do to hopefully get back into their homes faster. Richard Corbett, from Nassau County Emergency Management, says homeowners should:

Always do their due diligence on contractors before hiring them.
Review insurance policies coverage limits before a storm hits
Keep all receipts and records in a secure location.

“You need those documents because…unless you have it in writing, it doesn't exist,” he said.

Goldstone says she kept good records over the years, and now just wants back into her home. When asked how frustrated she has been by the process, she laughed off the question:

“I can’t say that on TV.”