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Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) released the following statement in remembrance of the year of recovery efforts since Hurricane Sandy made landfall in the northeast. Hurricane Sandy took at least 286 lives and cost an estimated $68 billion.

“Hurricane Sandy was an immensely powerful storm with a destructive force levied up and down the East Coast, especially in the New York metropolitan region. Due to the overwhelming loss of life, the destruction of homes and small businesses, and lost economic opportunity, we continue to rebuild with our friends and neighbors in communities across the Capital Region, New York State, and the entire northeast.

“The aftermath of this event has brought us to very clear conclusions. Climate change should no longer be considered a simple threat, but a very real, clear, and present danger. We must take politics out of this debate and work to better protect ourselves, our most vulnerable citizens, our infrastructure, and our economy from future severe weather events.

“We can do this by making simple investments that might cost us in the short-term, but will surely save lives, money, and time in the long-term as we work to address the real challenges that face our nation.”

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