Unnamed Expert on Bridge Safety

In 2012, Superstorm Sandy sent more than 12 feet of water over communities along the coast of New York and New Jersey. It was one of the worst flooding events in New York's history. Recently, we headed back to some of the neighborhoods we first visited in the aftermath of Sandy.

In 2012, Superstorm Sandy sent more than 12 feet of water over communities along the coast of New York and New Jersey. It was one of the worst flooding events in New York's history. Recently, we headed back to some of the neighborhoods we first visited in the aftermath of Sandy.

In 2012, Superstorm Sandy sent more than 12 feet of water over communities along the coast of New York and New Jersey. It was one of the worst flooding events in New York's history. Recently, we headed back to some of the neighborhoods we first visited in the aftermath of Sandy.

And even though 13 years had passed since the storm, it almost felt like they were trapped in time, midway through a recovery. Here on Staten Island's seacoast, the community used to be tight-knit, with families living in little bungalows. Now it feels desolate. After the storm, some residents used recovery money to elevate their homes really high. Others took a buyout from the federal government.

And even though 13 years had passed since the storm, it almost felt like they were trapped in time, midway through a recovery. Here on Staten Island's seacoast, the community used to be tight-knit, with families living in little bungalows. Now it feels desolate. After the storm, some residents used recovery money to elevate their homes really high. Others took a buyout from the federal government.

And even though 13 years had passed since the storm, it almost felt like they were trapped in time, midway through a recovery. Here on Staten Island's seacoast, the community used to be tight-knit, with families living in little bungalows. Now it feels desolate. After the storm, some residents used recovery money to elevate their homes really high. Others took a buyout from the federal government.

Their homes were leveled. And some did nothing. Their houses sit right as they were the night of the storm. It's kind of sad. Resident James Sinagra calls it the jack-o'-lantern effect. Imagine the teeth, jagged and irregularly spaced.

Their homes were leveled. And some did nothing. Their houses sit right as they were the night of the storm. It's kind of sad. Resident James Sinagra calls it the jack-o'-lantern effect. Imagine the teeth, jagged and irregularly spaced.

Their homes were leveled. And some did nothing. Their houses sit right as they were the night of the storm. It's kind of sad. Resident James Sinagra calls it the jack-o'-lantern effect. Imagine the teeth, jagged and irregularly spaced.

It was hard to find people who thought the recovery had turned out well, even people who decided not to rebuild at all, like Joe Tyrone. He's a local realtor known for organizing one of the nation's first large-scale home buyout programs in Staten Island's Oakwood Beach neighborhood.

It was hard to find people who thought the recovery had turned out well, even people who decided not to rebuild at all, like Joe Tyrone. He's a local realtor known for organizing one of the nation's first large-scale home buyout programs in Staten Island's Oakwood Beach neighborhood.

It was hard to find people who thought the recovery had turned out well, even people who decided not to rebuild at all, like Joe Tyrone. He's a local realtor known for organizing one of the nation's first large-scale home buyout programs in Staten Island's Oakwood Beach neighborhood.

He took me out to see the old neighborhood.

He took me out to see the old neighborhood.

He took me out to see the old neighborhood.

Along with the federal government, the state spent more than $200 million buying out more than 500 homes on Staten Island, intending to turn the area back over to nature. As we drive around, it seems in some ways it worked. Where hundreds of homes once stood, there are long stretches of empty lots punctuated by a few isolated homes. But these holdouts?

Along with the federal government, the state spent more than $200 million buying out more than 500 homes on Staten Island, intending to turn the area back over to nature. As we drive around, it seems in some ways it worked. Where hundreds of homes once stood, there are long stretches of empty lots punctuated by a few isolated homes. But these holdouts?

Along with the federal government, the state spent more than $200 million buying out more than 500 homes on Staten Island, intending to turn the area back over to nature. As we drive around, it seems in some ways it worked. Where hundreds of homes once stood, there are long stretches of empty lots punctuated by a few isolated homes. But these holdouts?

They mean the roads and the power lines have to stay. And as Tyrone pulls around the corner, he points to several empty lots with a chain-link fence around them. There have been rumors. So why does this have a fence?

They mean the roads and the power lines have to stay. And as Tyrone pulls around the corner, he points to several empty lots with a chain-link fence around them. There have been rumors. So why does this have a fence?