Getting Back to Business: Addressing the Needs of Rockaway Businesses Impacted by Superstorm Sandy (1.5 CM | Pending)

On Monday, October 29, 2012, Superstorm Sandy struck New York City, the most populous region in the United States. Sandy was the biggest Atlantic storm in history, devastating homes and businesses across the Northeast, and causing over $19 billion in damages in New York City alone. In response to this disaster, the New York Metro Chapter of the APA undertook a six month effort to assess how Superstorm Sandy impacted businesses in Rockaway, Queens, a community uniquely situated on a narrow peninsula and one of the hardest-hit areas of New York City. A team of over 60 planners volunteered their services to assess needs, identify resources, and make recommendations for short- and long-term planning strategies that will help businesses recover and plan for the future. The APA team partnered with the Rockaway Development & Revitalization Corporation (RDRC), a community development corporation that provides business support in the Rockaways and has promoted economic development throughout the peninsula for over 30 years. When Sandy struck and displaced or damaged nearly 1,000 businesses, RDRC sprang into action. RDRC proved to be an invaluable partner and assisted the APA team visited approximately 300 businesses and conducted over 100 business interviews in 3 commercial corridors. The Chapter recently released a report documenting this process and lessons learned along the way in hopes that New York City’s experience can help other communities impacted by storms and other natural disasters. This webinar walks you through the process that the New York Metro Chapter team took to conduct its needs assessment and develop meaningful recommendations for strong planning.

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