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Some Staten Island Sandy Victims Express Frustration With FEMA

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - FEMA is a lifeline for the victims of superstorm Sandy, but the experiences people are having with the government agency vary widely.

WCBS 880's Peter Haskell On The Story

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The folks on Staten Island want to get answers and they want to rebuild, but sometimes it's not that simple.

At a FEMA disaster recovery center, Mary Beth Fiani is among those who are frustrated.

"They're looking to review and check it out and, you know, they don't call you back. You know, you try to contact them and they have no answer," she told WCBS 880 reporter Peter Haskell. "The process has been long, because right now, I don't have any word from any insurance and the house is torn apart."

LINK: DisasterAssistance.gov

But Gene Lucarini gives the Federal Emergency Managament Agency high marks.

"They're pretty quick with the money and that helped defray the cost of replacing all of the furnace, hot water heater, electricity, that kind of stuff," he said.

"Everything is working fine them," said one woman. "They're expediting things as fast as they can."

Many say the help of complete strangers has been a godsend. They're all desperate for normalcy.

What has your experience been with FEMA? Share your story below.

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