STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A month after Hurricane Sandy slammed into Staten Island, the recovery phase is in full force, oftentimes overlapping with ongoing relief efforts.
Neighborhoods have been completely changed by the full force of water and wind. The visuals were compelling: Trees collapsing on building and power lines, cars and containers floating on streets temporarily transformed into rivers. Viewing video footage of last year’s tsunami in Japan, one can get a sense of what Sandy must have looked like when it came ashore.
As the recovery moves along and we inspect homes devastated by the super storm, often we hear homeowners remark that reality is setting in.
Recovery is composed of many facets. Relief efforts were the first phase and the job of first responders including police, firemen EMS workers, Armed Forces personnel and volunteers from every walk of life from all over the country. This help is ongoing, as many residents have yet to be able to return home.
Cleaning crews have operated non-stop. Power is being returned to damaged homes as quickly as safety procedures are implemented.
Rebuilding also is part of the recovery. This phase is the more challenging one, in that decisions are being made regarding how to build in a way that ultimately would have a better outcome the next time a violent storm hits the Island.
We are aware the seas are rising and all coastlines will lose land to the sea.This phenomenon is being handled in different ways around the globe.
In Holland, where most of the country lies at sea level, they have been building dams for water control. New Orleans uses gates to control waters from the river and the Gulf. Venetians learned early on to live on water as a defense against combative neighbors. Although our condition is not as severe as these places, we are compelled to analyze the hurricane, how it came through and how, step-by-step, it moved inland.
Analysis of how different street blocks held against the force and how each building measured against wind and water forces would be a study in itself.
Compiling such data is very important, not as an academic exercise, but because the patterns and commonality filtered from this information will aid in the decision-making process.
It is evident that old summer bungalows in Zone A suffered the worst. We no longer can build these types of homes because the current building code prohibits it. These types of dwellings have a habitable floor below the floodplain set by FEMA. As a result, entire plumbing and electrical systems were submerged almost entirely, in some cases leaving only the roof above the water line.
Solutions of all kinds will be explored to improve our chances next time. Coastline protections, as well as improving our tidal and wetlands systems will be considered as solution components, in addition to full compliance with current building codes.
Our democratic culture makes all of us participants in the decision process; indirectly, Hurricane Sandy has thrown another challenge to test this community. Rebuilding will take time and those seriously affected never will feel fully recovered.
The real challenge will test our patience and stamina in keeping this recovery in focus. To rebuild in a way that is more harmonious with nature and more resolved toward finding solutions that promise longterm benefits that will make this community victorious.
Architect’s Corner, written by members of the Staten Island Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), appears twice a month in Home. You can contact the organization at aiasiny.org.