hurricane sandy autobiography

7/23/2019 Hurricane Sandy Autobiography

1/6

1

THE ESTABLISHMENTOF THE HURRICANESANDY NEW JERSEYRELIEF FUNDinvolved the input ofnumerous disaster recovery experts, fellow funders and

countless in-kind donations from generous individuals andcorporations. The strong leadership of our Chair, guidance

of our Board of Directors and Grants Committee, and

continued support of charitable donors from around the

world has allowed the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief

Fund to respond to the evolving long-term needs of New

Jersey communities and families over the last three years.

This autobiography of the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey

Relief Fund examines the development, experiences,

insights and close out of a local, nonprofit disaster relief

organization. Preparation of this organizational overview

involved talented designers, humanitarians and editors

whose at something I had envisioned doing, but it has

been one of the most significant experiences Ive had as

First Lady of the great State of New Jersey.

Our objective as a funder of New Jerseys long-termrecovery from Hurricane Sandy went above the collection

and distribution of philanthropic dollars. The Relief Fund

assistance and input is greatly appreciated.

1 | Message From Our Chair

2 | Executive Letter

3 | Hurricane Sandys Aftermath

by the Numbers

4 | Overview of Sandy

Recovery Challenges

5 | Sharing Our Start-Up Story

6| Fundraising

7 | Grant-Making

8| Sparking Solutions

9 | What It Takes to Return Home

10 | Grant Highlights

11 | Distributing HSNJRF Dollars

12| Financials

13 | HSNJRF Close Out

14| Special Thanks


2/6

2

DEAR FRIEND,

Hurricane Sandy brought destruction on a scale never seen before to the doorsteps of New

Jersey homes, businesses and communities. Chris and I knew we had to act a nd so with

guidance and input from individuals and organizations experienced in disaster relief and

response the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund was formed. Founding and chairing

a nonprofit focused on recovery from a natural disaster is noendeavored to be a committed

partner, empathetic ear and advocate for the communities and residents navigating a path

toward normalcy.

As Chair of the Hurricane Sa ndy New Jersey Relief Fund, Id like to thank you for standing

with us over the last three years. Whether you volunteered to rebuild a familys home, made

a donation to our mission o r brought awareness to New Jerseys ongoing rebuilding efforts,

your compassion has culminated to assist more than xxx,xxx in need of kindness, support

and a helping hand in the wake of Sandy.

While I hope to never see a storm of this magnitude again, the outpouring of aid and

displays of solidarity Ive witnessed since the storm gives me both confidence and comfort

in the strength of our states resolve and the resilient spirit of my fellow New Jerseyans.

Proud to be a New Jerseyan,

Mary Pat Christie

First Lady of New Jersey

Chair, Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund

MESSAGEFROM OURCHAIR

ID LIKE TO THANKYOU FOR STANDINGWITH US OVER THE

LAST THREE YEARS.

TO OUR SUPPORTERS,

Three years ago you saw the images of what H urricane Sandy left behind. Maybe you grew

up in New Jersey, have special memories of vacations down the Shore or you were moved

to help rebuilding and recovery process takes longer than anyone expects. This year our

country recognized ten years of building back from Hurricane Katrinas impact. S even years

after Hurricane Ike recovery efforts in Texas continue and Hurricane Irenes mark can still be

seen in parts of the northeast.

Though devastating, natural disasters underline infrastructure faults and should be a

catalyst for change. Affording impacted areas the opportunity to redevelop smarter, better

and in a more purposeful way.

Fortunately, the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund (HSNJRF) has been able to

draw down on the invaluable knowledge gained from experienced friends in Louisiana,

Missouri and Florida to guide its support of long-term rebuilding efforts here in New Jersey.

More than $37.7 million in grants has been distributed by the HSNJRF to 10 9 nonprofit

organizations in support of programs singularly focused on New Jerseys recovery from

Sandy.

This composition is a record of our organizations life as a funder of lo ng-term disaster relief

efforts. Together with local leaders, the philanthropic community, state officials, faith-based

groups and volunteers we arent aiming to rebuild the New Jersey we had, we are working

to construct the New Jersey we want. One that is stronger and better prepared to confront

and respond to future challenges.

With sincere appreciation,

Kim Frawley Cam Henderson

Executive Director, HSNJRF Former Executive Director, HSNRF

WE ARE WORTO CONSTRUCNEW JERSEY W

EXECUTIVELETTER


3/6

4

STATE PROGRAMS

properties approved for state buyout

program (Blue Acres Program)/ 500

homeowners have accepted

of the estimated 8,400 homeowners in

New Jerseys RREM Program have finished

construction and moved back into their

homes

in RREM grants approved for 3,707

homeowners

small businesses benefited from

the Small Business AdministrationsSBA Loan Program

Sandy-related boardwalk and beach

restoration projects

719

10%

$710M

1,718

84

HURRICANE SANDYBY THE NUMBERS

127miles of New Jerseycoastline that spans fourcounties from Cape May

in the south to Monmouth

County in the north.

12number of countiesaffected by Sandy and

supported by the HSNJRF

THEGARDENSTATE

REBUILDING

75,000

flood claims submitted

to the National Flood

Insurance Program

(NFIP) in New Jersey

after Sandy

average NFIP

settlement in New Jersey

$50,667

average cost to rebuild a

modest home in New Jersey

$241,000

the cost to elevate

New Jersey homes

$10-100,000

$150,000

maximum RREM

grant award

15,370

structures have been deemed

substantially damaged by local

flood plain administrators and

are required to elevate

boa

a

ONESTRUM EXPERIO. XERFERRO VOLUT

ACCULLE SCILLAB IPSA VOLORI

SIMPERSPED ES ET FACEATU RITATQUIS

MAIOR EPUDAE QUAE NIS PRAE. ENDAM

CON RERSPER SPITENDI CONE PARUM

ETUR SINTIBUS NIT.

$3.75Breceived by New

Jersey as of 3/5/15

87,000housing units

damaged statewide

40,500primary residences

damaged

$6.28BAwarded by Federal

Departments to New

Jersey for Sandy

recovery

$32Bin damages sustained

by New Jersey

400,000businesses impacted directly or

indirectly by the storm, suffering

nearly $2 Billion in commercial loss

& interrupted business operations

DAMAGE

The Gulf Region has been

rebuilding from Hurricane

Katrina for 10 years

2%of New Jerseyans thatthink it will take more than a

decade to return to normal

XXXvercidu ntinis ullignimilipsa volorenet faccaestin eos

core, arunto mollaut ipic tem

volest di a dessitasped

LONG-TERM RECOVERY A CALLOUT HEREUDAN

BLABORRO EXPLIAM UNSOLUPTI BUSAE. NEM F

NAMUS, IBER FEROR ER

1Data gathered using FEMA Individual Assistance and Pu

claims, insurance claims provided by the NJ Departmen

Insurance, input from State agencies- States Action Pla

2 Source: United States Recovery Accountability and Tran

3 According to classifications made by HUD States Actio

4 http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/13/03/14/assessin

superstorm-sandy/

5 According to classifications made by HUD States Actio

6Based on the average GFI awardees rebuilding costs a

received.

7 According to DEP data from local flood plain administr

8 The Department of Environmental Protection 04/2015

9 http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/15/04/28/two-an

hurricane-sandy-storm-victims-continue-to-struggle/10 https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2014/10/28/two

most-new-jerseys-boardwalks-rebuilt

11 Rutgers Eagleton Poll released April 2013 http://news.r

news-releases/2013/april-2013/most-new-jerseyans-s-2

VeXK9XiRZUQ

References: (http://nj.gov/gorr/), the States Sandy Trans

(http://nj.gov/comptroller/sandytransparency/), and the S

(http://www.renewjerseystronger.org/plans-policies-repo


4/6

6

VOLUNTEER COORDINATION

Managing and directing volunteer groups offering assistance

in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy presented significant

challenges. In October 2012 the existence of a centralized

HelpNJNow.org

HelpNJNow.org was launched in April 2015. Created in

partnership with NJ Voluntary Organizations Active in

Disaster (NJVOAD), the NJ Office of Emergency Management

(NJOEM), and the NJ Governors Office of Volunteerism this

website provides public information and guidance on how

to help New Jersey communities recovering from a disaster.

Having a single site for individuals and corporations can

donate to a specific disaster response group operating in

New Jersey, learn what type of assistance is needed, where

it is needed and how to contact an organization active in

immediate and long-term recovery efforts will address many

of the volunteer coordination issues faced by state officials,

local leaders and nonprofit organizations in the aftermath of

Sandy.

Salvation Army Impact Report

Because of the organizations history with NJ VOAD, The

Salvation Armys ability to collaborate with community

partners resulted in coordination of resources and services andminimized duplication of effort.

HOUSING VOLUNTEERS

Following Hurricane Sandy New Jersey saw an ou

financial and human support. The mass influx of o

volunteers uncovered a significant lack of volunte

the state. In response HSNJRF contributed to the

and improvement of volunteer host sites in storm

areas of New Jersey.

Camp Evans

Serving: Monmouth and Ocean Counties

The location of Camp Evans in southern Monmou

makes the two counties most impacted by Hurric

Sandy, Monmouth County and Ocean County, acc

to volunteers. It took x months to transform Camp

into a fully functioning volunteer site capable of h

volunteers. Since opening its doors in October 20

500 unique volunteers, providing 30,000 voluntee

stayed at Camp Evans.

Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church, Voluntee

Serving: Monmouth and Ocean Counties

1155 volunteers were housed, working 35,800 hou

relief and recovery work. Over 200 homes/familie

helped. supply non-profits with volunteer labor fo

rebuilding.

SIGNIFICANTSANDY RECOVERYCHALLENGES

Hurricane Sandy was just the beginning of the storm. Nonprofit organizations, faith-based

groups and state departments needed to establish disaster response programs capable

of distributing assistance quickly and efficiently. Sandy has been described as a once in a

lifetime event; everything that could have happened to strengthen the storm did. Neither

New York, nor New Jersey had dealt with extreme weather to this degree contributing to

delays in the distribution of immediate and long-term aid to residents.

The HSNJRF sought to address many of the main recovery challenges in its grant making.

1 ATitlefor thePhoto | 2 ATitlefor thePhoto | 3 ATitlefor thePhoto | 4 ATitlefor the Photo

1

2

3

4


5/6

8

INCREASE VOLUNTEER COORDINATION AND HOUSING

n Volunteer labor is vital to long-term recovery efforts.

High rebuilding costs in the northeast are are able to be

subsidized by skilled volunteers. On October 29, 2012 New

Jersey was not capable of housing and coordinating the

number of volunteers that were ready and willing to come

to our state and rebuild after Hurricane Sandy.

n The reconstruction of Camp Evans into volunteer housingwas scheduled for completion on xx/xx/2013. Due to

weather and construction delays the host site did not

accept its first volunteers until October 2014, two years

after the storm. Though this project is one that will

continue to give back to the community as the facility is

able to serve as volunteer housing in the event of a future

disaster, it did not have the anticipated impact we had

expected due to the delays in completion.

EARLY SUPPORT OF LTRGS

n In August 2015, the Homeland Security Departments

inspector general recommended that in the future FEMA

should better, anticipate and prepare for future needs

by working to find and establish field offices as soon as a

storm is forecast instead of waiting for it to hit. Extreme

weather warnings are issued long before a storm. Thenonprofit community and local disaster response groups

could save valuable time and funds by organizing in

advance.

n Originally the HSNJRF only provided grant funding to

LTRGs in the nine impacted counties of New Jersey as

defined by FEMA. Through our attendance at Sandy

focused conferences, site visits and conversations with

individuals on the ground we learned that Sandys

destruction went beyond the nine highly impacted

counties, affecting residents of Cumberland, Gloucester

and Salem Counties. Individuals outside the FEMA

designated impacted counties were not eligible to apply

or receive state grants. The HSNJRF, and other funding

organizations, stepped in to meet the needs of these

counties and families via grants in support of the LTRGs.

n LTRGs have been essential to the recovery of New Jerseys

communities and residents. While some have been more

effective than others these organizations have been

invaluable partners to the HSNJRF. They know the local

officials, neighborhoods and challenges facing their clients

and are best positioned to build community trust, act as an

advocate for their county and

ADDRESSING RENTAL AND AFFORDABLE

HOUSING NEEDS

n Through a grant to New Jersey Community Capitals

(NJCC) ReStart the Shore Program the HSNJRF is

supporting the acquisition and redevelopment of vacant

homes in Sandy-impacted counties. The ReStart the Shore

Program launched in MONTH 2014 with NJCCs purchase

of 517 distressed mortgages and empty properties

in storm-affected counties. The program works with

homeowners who wish to remain in their homes to modify

their mortgage and turns abandoned homes into restored

affordable rental and for-sale housing units available to

displaced Sandy survivors.

EDUCATING HOMEOWNERS ON THE NFIP

n In partnership with our grantee United Policyholders an

NFIP Last Chance Webinar was hosted in March 2014. It

was the first webinar United Policyholders offered to the

general public and a recording of the workshop is available

online.

n Our educational program for Sandy was initially focused

on helping homeowners understand their insurance

policies and options get their properties fully inspected

and complete repair estimates so their claims could be

submitted in compliance with fairly short deadlines. We

created materials and a curriculum designed in anticipation

of people having to meet those deadlines then pursue

formal appeals, mediation and litigation avenues for

resolving disputes. In the end the NFIP granted a series of

extensions followed by the

EXPECT PROGRAMS TO CHANGE AND ADAPT

n $150,000 is not enough to rebuild a home in New Jersey

and basing housing recovery grants on the homes pre-

storm market value put damage estimates higher than the

home value leaving homeowners with significant funding

gaps.

n These large state-run grant programs for distributing

federal funding tend to be complex and slow to react tocircumstances.

n difficult to keep up with the most up-to-date

without a computer.

n Grant program launch and end dates need to

better coordinated. For example, New Jersey

rental assistance program closed down before

homeowners received their RREM grant to sta

This left thousands of homeowners battling to

n Homeowners impacted by Sandy were faced

expensive and big decisions that they cannot

to make on their own.

Rebuild, Replace or Relocate?

Do I have the resources to rebuild?

What is a realistic housing goal?

If I cant afford to rebuild, how do I respons

of my property?

What policies, clauses, amendments etc. sh

home insurance plan to protect my future h

Speaking with a housing counselor will help

better understand their options, make an in

decision based on their individual situation a plan to recovery. The HSNJRF recently ap

a proposal from the Affordable Housing Alli

(AHA) to start a Housing Recovery Resourc

(HRRC). The HRRC conducts outreach serv

expert led workshops and individual counse

foreclosure mediation, financial literacy trai

reconstruction, permitting, contract assista

more. The goal is to help homeowners mak

choice and avoid falling into further financia

HSNJRFLEARNINGS

ONESTRUM EXPERIO. XERFERRO VOLUTACCULLE SCILLAB IPSA VOLORI

SIMPERSPED ES ET FACEATU RITATQUIS

MAIOR EPUDAE QUAE NIS PRAE. ENDAM

CON RERSPER SPITENDI CONE PARUM

ETUR SINTIBUS NIT

6 http://www.state.nj.us/dca/announcements/pdf/CDBG

DisasterRecoveryActionPlan.pdf p.4-5

7 http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/08/fema_w

funds_on_hurricane_sandy_field.html


6/6

10

CONNECTING/COMMUNICATIONS

Setting up a digital footprint and marketing efforts

immediately after the storm to capture the outpouring of

support was pivotal to our fundraising goals. Generous in-

kind donations including website development, social media

presence and a PSA campaign were up and functional within x

weeks after the storm.

Chair of the HSNJRF, First Lady Mary Pat Christie has often

remarked that there is no how-to guide for starting a local

disaster recovery fund, so the HSNJRF sought guidance

from practiced disaster response groups and knowledgeable

individuals, including:

nRobin HoodnFL- Bush GroupnIBMnConsultants

Importance of transparency in granting,

Dissemination of accurate information

Using your megaphone as a funder with a recognizable leader

to promote programs and distribute important information.

OPERATIONS

Quunt erion cullupt atiumquatem rem es num, ut

illenis acipsum quatios et dolorup tatium es estium

mosamusam, undantum ea velent apeditam quis

voluptatur si natiorrum volut volest fuga. Licitia se

andit re con parum necto bearuptat voles volupta

estionsedita quam sum esed mostium eum faccu

Et occuptae odis minulli squiatusa pro eosseque s

dolorrum experi natum et hil inverae peruptam, to

et aut magnis et andis et quisqui id que num sequ

arit labor aliquatiust autem voloreiur rest, quunda

doloreptas ne nimodion et voluptati nes re nis dol

ea plaut venis dolorenient que cum quodige ndele

voluptatur. Evelici aeriae vitati bea volum archil ip

isque nonsequatem

Rerum sa et es sit et as aliqui to bea quias et utem

quo optaest, volendandem fuga. Pelent rehendis a

cusam quatem et volupta dolorepe ne doluptatur

volut et est volorit atecea sum aut aut fugit, quas

ad et, quissecatum aut fuga. Sedigent quodit acer

eius plandaesto bla vel moluptaquia vellabo. Ri ut

eaquis voluptat.

SHARING OURSTARTUPSTORY

Although disaster response is often seen as the fi rst actions taken after

a crisis, in reality it encompasses a continuum of services that may stretch

over months and even years

Providing Long-Term Services after Major Disasters

The Urban Institute, August 2007

1 ATitlefor thePhoto | 2 ATitlefor thePhoto

1

2

OUR MISSION

Raise and distribute funding

to established and effective

nonprofit organizations

capable of responding to the

unmet needs and long-term

recovery essentials of New

Jerseys impacted communities,

businesses and families.

hurricane sandy autobiography

Documents