News 12 Staff

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Oct 29, 2025, 7:27 PM

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Updated

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For many years after Superstorm Sandy hit New Jersey, homeowners struggled to get back into their homes.

Kane In Your Corner talked to many homeowners who had multiple recovery issues, including the government’s attempts to claw back grant money they had already spent.

On the 13th anniversary, one advocate says these families have finally reached a turning point. Amanda Devecka-Rinear, director of the New Jersey Organizing Project, says homeowners told her that in just the past few months, the clawbacks have been forgiven.

“Email after email come in from our members saying, 'Oh my gosh, it's amazing,” says Devecka-Rinear. “Finally, this day has come. My clawback has gone away. People have gone from $80,000 owed to zero.”

But 13 years after Sandy, New Jersey could face new challenges when the next severe storm hits. Due to severe cuts to federal disaster programs like FEMA, states will have to bear more responsibility.

“The reason FEMA exists is because states hit a limit where they can't handle it,” says Devecka-Rinear. “So, we see plenty of storms that are not federally declared disasters in the state. But when we hit a certain level, no way. We cannot do this by ourselves. And also, what a waste if you want to talk about swollen bureaucracy and waste. Why should every state have their own miniature version of FEMA?”

Homeowners in flood zones may also be more at risk due to the government shutdown. FEMA is not issuing or renewing flood insurance policies.

“Right now, people cannot renew,” says Devecka-Rinear. “And they can't get new policies unless they want to go to the private market.”

Devecka-Rinear says an NJOP member was dropped from her private carrier because she lives in a flood zone and could not get insured through the National Flood Insurance Program. “So, she's really stuck right now through no fault of her own.”

Thirteen years after Sandy, there’s one silver lining: New Jersey Organizing Project says since so many houses were elevated over the years, those homeowners should be safer when the next severe storm hits.