Napolitano: 'No Option Is Off The Table' For Housing Displaced Long Islanders
BETHPAGE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - For Long Islanders displaced by superstorm Sandy, the road to recovery begins with figuring out new housing options.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was in Bethpage on Tuesday, along with Rep. Peter King and Rep. Steve Israel to discuss the temporary housing options for those who lost their homes in the storm.
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Many who still have homes remain without power as a Nor'Easter prepares to hit the Tri-State Area.
WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reports
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"The way it works is that the state and the localities identify long-term housing that they want. No option is off the table," Napolitano told reporters, including WCBS 880's Sophia Hall. "Some options are better than others, they meet the needs of a local community better than others. Not every community wants the same type of housing or has the same type of residency."
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Napolitano described some of the housing options under consideration.
"Looking at apartments, hotel rooms, pre-fab housing, manufactured housing that can be built very, very quickly. We've done this in some other areas," Napolitano said.
As for the so-called FEMA trailers that were delivered to residents in the Gulf Coast following 2005's Hurricane Katrina, Napolitano said those are an option but may not be the best way forward for Long Islanders.
"Trailers in a climate like this probably not the preferred option but we will bring every option to the table," Napolitano said.
Lawmakers in Suffolk County have added $5 million to the proposed budget for Sandy cleanup. A vote on the budget is scheduled for Wednesday.
