"2 Years After Sandy, U.S. Disaster Policy Is Still A Disaster"

"WASHINGTON –- Two years ago, Superstorm Sandy devastated the northeastern United States, killing more than 70 people, causing $60 billion in damage and exposing major gaps in federal disaster preparedness and response. But there has been little movement in Congress to change policies to prepare the country for future disasters.

One thing Congress did was approve billions in aid for storm-struck areas -- but not until nearly three months after Sandy, on Jan. 28, 2013. And that package has been criticized in some corners for being both too slow and for including too few directives on rebuilding to make communities more resilient in future storms.

'We seek to rush emergency aid that too often reinforces our vulnerabilities, wastes money, and undercuts sound principles,' said Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), a vocal critic of federal disaster planning, in a statement to The Huffington Post this week. 'We tolerate people moving into harm’s way, water down reforms, and focus on the immediate news cycle rather than the long term.'"

Kate Sheppard reports for the Huffington Post October 29, 2014.

SEE ALSO:

"The Red Cross’ Secret Disaster" (ProPublica and NPR)

"What New York City Can Learn From Its Relationship With The Sea" (Huffington Post)

"Superstorm Sandy, Two Years Later: There's Still Work To Be Done Before the Next Big Storm" (Weather Channel)

"5 Things That Are Still Broken 2 Years After Superstorm Sandy" (Mother Jones/Climate Desk)

"Building for the Next Big Storm" (New York Times)

"After The Waves, Staten Island Homeowner Takes Sandy Buyout" (NPR)

"New York Today: Learning From Hurricane Sandy" (New York Times)

"Christie to Sandy Heckler: 'Sit Down And Shut Up!'" (Newark Star-Ledger)

Opinion: "The Problem With Free-Market-Based Disaster Relief" (Aljazeera America)