Assembly Resolution No. 959
BY: M. of A. Pheffer Amato
COMMEMORATING the 10th Anniversary of Hurricane
Sandy, which made landfall in the State of New York
on October 29, 2012
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body recognizes the epic devastation
caused by Hurricane Sandy, and the far-reaching loss of life, property
damage and emotional trauma that was sustained by the victims of this
tragedy; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body, joining with the
people of the State of New York, to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of
Hurricane Sandy, which made landfall on October 29th, and lasted through
October 30, 2012; and
WHEREAS, Hurricane Sandy, informally referred to as Superstorm
Sandy, was the deadliest, most destructive, and strongest hurricane of
the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season, causing an untold level of damage;
in total, over 300 homes were destroyed and nearly 70,000 residential
units were damaged, including in one case where over 100 homes in Breezy
Point, Queens were destroyed by a fire; and
WHEREAS, While Hurricane Sandy horribly damaged the State as a
whole, it particularly decimated and caused grievous harm to the
neighborhoods on the East and South Shores of Staten Island, the
shorefront communities of South Queens, and Southern Brooklyn where
those communities were directly exposed to storm surge and destructive
waves along the shore; it is in those communities that over 90% of the
buildings were damaged and over 70% of the buildings were marked as
being seriously damaged or destroyed by the Department of Buildings; and
WHEREAS, Upon their lives being completely upended and after losing
everything, families were displaced and forced to live in hotels, with
relatives in different communities, shelters or other temporary housing
units; and
WHEREAS, The result of the storm inflicted over $32 billion in
damage throughout the State of New York, with $19 billion worth of
damage reported directly to New York City; it also caused the death of
53 individuals, with over 40 being from the New York City region, and
continues to this day to cause serious psychological trauma to
individuals; and
WHEREAS, The Great State of New York was determined to come back
from this disaster and through a united front with individuals, heroic
volunteers, government agencies and civic groups throughout the State,
the communities impacted were able to rebuild and bring in a new age for
their neighborhoods and the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, It is appropriate to pause in order to reflect on this
natural disaster one decade later to profoundly mourn the tragic loss of
life and livelihood, and to applaud all those individuals who
volunteered their time and efforts to the many years of cleaning up and
rebuilding in the wake of Hurricane Sandy; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 10th Anniversary of Hurricane Sandy; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York, any and all community groups and volunteers who assisted others
before, during and after Hurricane Sandy.
