Hurricane Sandy’s Lasting Effects Leave Rockaway Vulnerable to Climate Change

 It’s been 13 years since Hurricane Sandy devastated the Rockaway peninsula, and the ever-resilient community is still fighting for environmental safety and security. Climate change has led to a rise in sea level and an increase in coastal flooding in New York City, with the Queens community significantly at risk.¹ Minority communities and those with a low socioeconomic status are disproportionately susceptible to adverse outcomes due to these conditions. 

State and federal funding have the potential to provide much-needed support and resources that are necessary to protect the peninsula from the threatening effects of climate change. Local political leaders should represent the best interests of the Rockaway community and enact positive change. 

As a community that lives on the water, Rockaway is one of the most flood-prone districts in NYC. Although we have built back much of the community in the years since Hurricane Sandy, there is still more work to be done to ensure the safety of all residents. 

The high racial and ethnic diversity across the peninsula contributes to our vulnerability to climate change-driven disasters. Low-income and minority communities are hit the hardest by environmental occurrences. Research has shown that inequities related to post-disaster infrastructure efforts are often linked to social injustice. 

After Hurricane Sandy struck, resources were limited. Restoration efforts were largely focused on the wealthier White communities on the West end of the peninsula, while Black neighborhoods on the East end faced delays and neglect. Decades of social and economic isolation have instilled systemic inequality within the Rockaways. 

In the years since Sandy, this neighborhood inequality can still be felt. During the COVID pandemic, Far Rockaway had the highest death rates from the virus across the peninsula at 927 deaths per 100,000 residents. In addition, Far Rockaway residents are still suffering from a lack of access to healthcare and essential services to improve their health and well-being. 

Organizations like the Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity (RISE) have been committed to restoring and enriching the neighborhood for the last 20 years. One recent initiative is the “Greater Rockaway” Coastal Resilience Plan. This project aims at restoring dunes along the East-end shoreline to defend against a rising sea level and increasingly aggressive storms that erode the coastline. The initiative would provide jobs for residents, particularly BIPOC from low-income neighborhoods, and the opportunity to learn about the environment while taking steps to protect it. 

In May of 2025, EPA funding for RISE’s coastal restoration initiative was cancelled. Only a small portion of the obligated $11.2 million was used before the grant was cut. 

I’ve lived in Rockaway for my entire life, and I’m so proud of the community that has been built here. With shared values of strength and resilience, we can achieve any goal we set our sights on! Standing up for the Rockaway community requires advocating for the parts that are most in need.

State and federal funding must be allocated to the disadvantaged communities of color within the peninsula. A focus should be placed on neighborhoods such as Edgemere, Hammels, and Far Rockaway. 

Local efforts to improve the community rely on understanding the health disparities that exist across the peninsula and having a concern for the racial and income-based inequities. We must call upon local leaders to acknowledge this injustice and allocate proper funding to sufficiently address it. 

This would involve restoring funding to RISE’s Coastal Resilience Plan in addition to investing in infrastructure enhancement within all Far Rockaway neighborhoods. Improving housing, access to healthcare, and educational opportunities are just some of the ways we can ensure better treatment across the peninsula. 

Rockaway needs to come together to not just defend itself against the threat of climate change, but to thrive in the face of adversity. 

References 

Coastal Surge Flooding. NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice. February 13, 2024. 

https://climate.cityofnewyork.us/challenges/coastal-surge-flooding/

Herreros-Cantis P, Olivotto V, Grabowski ZJ, McPhearson T. Shifting landscapes of coastal flood risk: Environmental (in)justice of urban change, sea level rise, and differential vulnerability in New York City. Urban Transformations. 2020;2(1). doi:10.1186/s42854-020-00014-w 

An Economic and Demographic Snapshot of the Rockaways. Office of The New York State Comptroller. September 2022. 

https://www.osc.ny.gov/files/reports/osdc/pdf/report-7-2023.pdf

Grant Summary. USAspending.gov. Accessed June 16, 2025. 

https://www.usaspending.gov/award/ASST_NON_96275425_6800/