Page 8 - The Long Road Home

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Photo: Pat Trotter, Two Giants Photos.
Based on these findings, certain measures should be implemented in order to ease the recovery process for families still struggling after Sandy. First, recoupment procedures must be humanized to forgive clawbacks when collection would be “against equity and good conscience” and legislation must be passed at the state level both formalizing an appeal process and allowing the state to consider ability to pay and income-based repayment plans. Second, the state needs to take measures to prevent contractor fraud by ensuring that contracts approved in the grant program meet basic legal requirements, thoroughly screening home improvement contractors participating in the grant programs, and easing the requirements for defrauded homeowners in need of additional grant funds.
To better prepare New Jersey, or any state dealing with disaster, the National Flood Insurance Program should be reformed to make flood maps accurate, insurance affordable, and mitigation and disaster prevention efforts a priority. It is equally critical to rein in abuses from the private insurance companies that administer the Write Your Own program so that policyholders can receive a fair pay-out.
New Jersey also needs a more coordinated approach to addressing rising seas and extreme weather. Other states led from the top after Sandy, with governors creating plans and programs or passing legislation. While local governments, groups of citizens, universities and nonprofitshaveworkedtoaddress these issues in New Jersey, without a strong centralized and
universally enforceable approach, these efforts will leave some New Jerseyans behind.
The survey results emphasize the importance of helping families immediately with rental assistance and foreclosure prevention and making these assistance programs consistent through the recovery process. Finally, the emotional and physical health impacts of a natural disaster last well into the fourth and fifth year of recovery, and likely longer. Communities need longer-term health assistance and programming, particularly mental health support.
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