RED HOOK, Brooklyn – A year after Hurricane Sandy[1] flooded the area – the water surged and overflowed Van Brunt Street, and went up twenty blocks to Holland Tunnel – local businesses are back. Although many business owners continue to struggle with federal storm assistance and debt, they have fond memories of neighbors, volunteers who pitched in to help.

It wasn’t only what we did. It’s what other people had done to help us accomplish what we had accomplished. — Sunny Balzano, Sunny’s Bar

The community was amazing. — Ben Schneider, Good Fork

I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my friends. — Carlos DeSantos, Brooklyn Motorworks

The community was strong, but we are closer now. — Susan Saunders, NYPG

They [volunteers] did in hours what would take us 4, 5 days, or weeks. — Steve Tarpin, Steve’s Authentic Key Lime Pie

We will celebrate what we did for each other. — Billy Durney, Hometown BBQ