>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS IS PROVIDED BY NJM INSURANCE GROUP , SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY , NEW JERSEY REALTORS, THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

AND BY ORSTED.

>> FROM NJ PBS , THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON THIS FRIDAY NIGHT, I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

10 YEARS AGO TOMORROW, SUPER STORM SANDY SLAMMED INTO THE JERSEY SHORE.

BARRELING THROUGH THE STATE AND UP THE EAST COAST, NEW JERSEY HIT BY PUNISHING 80 MILE-PER-HOUR WIND, A RECORD-BREAKING STORM SURGE AND A HIGH TIDE PUSHED 14 FOOT WAVES UP AND OVER THE COASTLINE.

CRIPPLING PUBLIC TRANSIT, SWEEPING HOMES OFF THEIR FOUNDATIONS , WASHING AWAY BRIDGES, TOSSING CARS AND BOATS ABOUT , PROPERTIES SPARED BY FLOODWATERS WERE TOPPLED WITH TREES AND SNAPPED POWERLINES, ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS HIDDEN BENEATH MASSIVE MOUNDS OF SAND.

IN ALL, IT COST MORE THAN $30 BILLION IN DAMAGE.

LANDMARKS ALONG THE JERSEY SHORE WRECKED, BOARDWALKS BUSTED APART, THE SKELETAL REMAINS OF THAT JUST OUR ROLLER COASTER SO MANY OF US REMEMBERED FROM SUMMERS SPENT IN SEASIDE HEIGHTS, RUINED IN THE WAVES OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.

SANDY DEFIED ALL WEATHER CATEGORIES, GETTING ITS OWN MONIKER, SUPER STORM.

A CLEAR SIGN THAT THIS WAS UNLIKE ANY OTHER EVENT TO HIT THE STATE.

IT WOULD BECOME THE LARGEST, DEADLIEST AND MOST COSTLY STORM IN NEW JERSEY HISTORY, CLAIMING 38 LIVES.

THERE ARE STILL REMINDERS OF SANDY EVERYWHERE , AS THE WORK TO MAKE THIS STATE MORE RESILIENT AGAINST THE WRATH OF SIMILAR STORMS CONTINUES WITH THE HELP OF BILLIONS IN FEDERAL DISASTER RELIEF AID.

GOVERNOR MURPHY THIS MORNING MARKED THE ANNIVERSARY OF SANDY WITH STATE FEDERAL AND LOCAL LEADERS IN MONMOUTH COUNTY , TOURING THE PORT MONMOUTH FLOOD PROTECTION PROJECT, A STORM DAMAGE REDUCTION PROJECT THAT USES A COMBINATION OF LEVEES, FLOOD WALLS, AND OTHER MITIGATION TACTICS ALONG THE RARITAN AND SANDY HOOK DAYS NEAR MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP .

THAT'S A PLAN THAT WAS 20 YEARS IN THE MAKING BEFORE SUPER STORM SANDY KICKED ITS URGENCY INTO HIGH GEAR .

TODAY, THE GOVERNOR HIGHLIGHTED THE WAYS IN WHICH NEW JERSEY HAS BEEN FOREVER CHANGED BY THIS STORM.

>> THROUGHOUT THE PAST 10 YEARS, WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY IN HEALING THE SCARS OF SANDY.

YET WE REMAIN MINDFUL THAT AT LEAST, THAT WE KNOW OF, 151 NEW JERSEY FAMILIES HAVE YET TO COMPLETE THE JOBS OF REBUILDING AND RETURNING TO THEIR HOMES , 10 YEARS LATER.

>> SANDY MAY HAVE HIT A DECADE AGO BUT RESIDENTS REMEMBER IT LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY, ABANDONED BUILDINGS AND PERMANENT WATERLINES ON HOMES AND BUSINESSES ACT AS THE GHOSTLY REMINDER , IN ALL, MORE THAN 346,000 HOMES WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED .

NEARLY 3 MILLION RESIDENTS LEFT WITHOUT POWER OR HEAT.

NEW JERSEYANS VOWED TO REBUILD BUT THAT PROMISE BECAME DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE FOR SOME , WHO RAN UP AGAINST BUREAUCRATIC ROADBLOCKS WITH INSURANCE PAYOUTS AND TO FIGHT FOR THEIR SHARE OF FEDERAL AID.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN RETURNED TO UNION BEACH, CONSIDERING GROUND ZERO FOR SANDY.

>> IT FEELS LIKE IT WAS A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

IT DOES NOT FEEL LIKE A LONG TIME AGO.

>> Reporter: WE FOUND HER CLEANING THE LOWER LEVEL OF HER ELEVATED HOME IN UNION BEACH 10 YEARS AFTER SUPER STORM SANDY MANGLED THE BEACHSIDE BOROUGH, FORCING HOMES OFF FOUNDATIONS, INUNDATING 80% OF THE AREA.

SHE RENOVATED HER HOME BUT RECORDS SHOW 700 FEWER FOLKS NOW LIVE IN UNION BEACH , A DECADE AFTER SANDY FLOODED AND FRACTURED CLOSE KNIT COMMUNITIES.

>> IT'S A LOT OF NEW PEOPLE, AND WHAT IS SAD IS THE PEOPLE THAT WERE OLDER AND LIVING HERE PLANNED ON RETIRING IN THEIR HOMES, AND THEY COULDN'T DO IT.

>> THE ONE THING THAT BOTHERS ME THAT YOU HAVE TO THINK OF, THERE WAS GENERATIONS AND GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED HERE, SOME OF THEM COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO COME BACK.

>> Reporter: SHE DID COME BACK AFTER OVERWHELMING LOSSES, SHE OWNS A POPULAR BAYFRONT RESTAURANT THAT SANDY UTTERLY WIPED OUT.

THE STORM SURGE BULLDOZED THE BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET AND INSURANCE COMPANIES PUSHED HER AROUND WHEN SHE TRIED TO GET MONEY TO REBUILD.

SHE TOLD US IN 2015.

>> I'M TIRED.

IT'S EXHAUSTING.

>> I FELT DEFEATED, IT DIDN'T MATTER WHAT I DID OR WHAT ROAD YOU WENT DOWN, WE KEPT HITTING ROADBLOCKS.

>> Reporter: 4 YEARS AFTER SANDY, SHE BORROWED SOME $800,000 FROM JERSEY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND MUCH LIKE UNION BEACH, SHE CHANGED.

THEY DIDN'T REBUILD , INSTEAD, THE TIKI BAR NOW OFFERS SEASONAL OUTDOOR DINING THAT THEY CAN PACK AWAY IN OCTOBER SAFE FROM STORM DAMAGE.

SHE TAKES OUT WINTER VACATION.

>> 10 YEARS LATER, I FEEL SANDY WAS A BLESSING.

AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO PIVOT, YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT, IN LIFE YOU ARE GOING TO HIT ROADBLOCKS.

YOU ARE GOING TO GET THINGS THAT YOU DON'T EXPECT.

YOU HAVE TO PIVOT.

>> IT MADE ME STRONG IN A LOT OF WAYS.

WHAT I'VE LOST, IF ANYTHING, IS TRUST.

>> Reporter: WE FIRST MET THEM THREE MONTHS AFTER SANDY WHEN THEY STILL LIVED IN A HOTEL, THE STORM DESTROYED THEIR HOME ON THIRD AVENUE, LIKE HUNDREDS OF UNION BEACH HOMES, IT TOOK THREE AGONIZING YEARS WHILE THE FAMILY FOUGHT FURIOUSLY FOR INSURANCE AND GRANT MONEY, LIVING IN A TRAILER WHILE WINTER WIND BLEW IN ACROSS THE BAY.

>> THE HOTEL WAS JUST A SAD SIGHT.

>> MAN, IT WAS COLD.

IT WAS COLD.

BUT WE DID IT.

WE DID IT.

>> Reporter: THERE ARE NO HOME SITS ELEVATED ABOVE ANY STORM SURGES, THEY HOPE.

>> I SAID, IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN, WE ARE OUT OF HERE.

I COULDN'T GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN.

IT'S A ROUGH TIME, YOU KNOW?

>> Reporter: YOU CAN STILL SEE THE SCARS AT UNION BEACH, EMPTY LOTS WHERE SANDY SCOURED HOMES OFF THEIR FOUNDATIONS AND THE STORM CHANGED THE TOWN'S FOOTPRINT.

>> YOU CAN SEE ON FRONT STREET, WHERE THEY JUST HAVEN'T COME BACK.

YOU WALK THROUGH AND IT'S JUST SAD.

>> IF YOU ARE WORKING POOR, OR WHAT I CALL THE WORKING CLASS WHO LIVED WEEK BY WEEK, YOU ARE PROBABLY GOING TO GET STRUGGLING TO GET HELP.

YOU CAN'T LIEN ON YOUR FLOOD INSURANCE.

>> THIS STATE GRANT SYSTEM WAS NOT ENOUGH FUNDING TO GET YOU HELP.

NEXT SOME EMPTY LOTS WILL STAY THAT WAY.

THE ICONIC YELLOW HOUSE THAT SANDY SHEARED IN HALF IS GONE , IT'S SLOT IS STILL VACANT.

BUT ON OTHERS, DEVELOPERS PROMISED NEW CONSTRUCTION AND NEW HOMES IN UNION BEACH ARE ELEVATED IN BOTH CLEARANCE AND PRICE.

>> THE HOUSES ARE HUGE NOW , THEY WERE MORE LIKE BUNGALOWS BEFORE.

AND STILL, A LOT OF THE SAME PEOPLE.

IT'S JUST, MOVE ON WITH THE TIMES.

>> THE BEACH WILL BE MUCH BETTER OFF AS IT MOVES FORWARD FROM SANDY.

>> Reporter: BUREAU PROPERTY WAS ASSESSED AT $473 MILLION BEFORE SANDY HIT, THE STORM KNOCKED THAT DOWN TO 403 MILLION, THIS YEAR IT IS BACK UP TO $800 MILLION.

HE ADMITS, SOME RESIDENTS HAVE MOVED AWAY.

>> DIFFERENT HOUSING IS BEING BUILT, BETTER HOUSING IS BEING BUILT.

LIKE I SAID, UNION BEACH IS LOOKING FORWARD.

WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO PUT SANDY BEHIND US.

IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO DO THAT.

>> Reporter: HE SHOWED US PLANS FOR PHASE 1 OF THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS 200 MILES AND DOLLARS PROJECT, DESIGNED TO PROTECT UNION BEACH FROM THE RAVAGES OF A SANDY REPEAT.

HOWARD BELIEVES THE PROJECT ORIGINALLY APPROVED IN THE 1990S COULD HAVE SAVED THE BOROUGH IF IT HAD BEEN FUNDED AND BUILT ON TIME.

THEY WILL BREAK GROUND IN SPRING.

MEANWHILE, SANDY SURVIVORS ARE LISTENING HARD TO THE WEATHER FORECASTS.

>> EVERY TIME WE HAVE A STORM, I WHITE KNUCKLE IT AND I SIT THERE AND I PRAY.

>> IT'S SOMETHING YOU WILL NEVER FORGET, BECAUSE YOU WILL ALWAYS BE WORRIED IF IT'LL HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> Reporter: IN UNION BEACH, I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> PERHAPS NO ONE GOT A BETTER BIRDSEYE VIEW OF THE DESTRUCTION LEFT IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE STORM THEN FORMER GOVERNOR HELL WHO BECAME THE FACE OF THE RECOVERY EFFORT IN NEW JERSEY AND THE REGION.

TOURING THE DAMAGE OF FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND SURVIVORS ALIKE, OWNING HIS ROLE AS CONSOLER IN CHIEF .

IN THE YEARS SINCE, HIS ADMINISTRATION RECEIVED BOTH PRAISE AND ADMONISHMENT FOR THE POLICIES IT PUT FORWARD IN THE REBUILD, GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE DRAWINGS DAVID CRUZ WHERE HE REFLECTED ON PREPARING FOR AND RESPONDING TO A NATURAL DISASTER WORSE THAN ANY OTHER IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU HAD GOTTEN SOME GOLF FROM FOLKS AS YOU TENDED TO DO SOMETIMES, ABOUT HOW YOU HAD REACTED TO A STORM 2 YEARS BEFORE THAT AND JUST ABOUT 11 MONTHS BEFORE WAS THE FAMOUS GET TO THE HELL OFF THE BEACH DURING IRENE.

DID ANY OF THAT PLAY A PART IN YOU WANTING , SAY, LOOK, WE ARE IN A SERIOUS SITUATION HERE, LET'S MAKE SURE WE GET THIS RIGHT.

>> SURE, I MEAN, IT'S A STORY , I GUESS ON A SATURDAY, BEFORE THE STORM , THE NOAA CAME IN WITH THE SPLASH MAPS, WHICH WERE THE MAPS THEY PUT UP TO SHOW YOU HOW FAR AND THE DEPTH THEY THINK THE FLOODING WOULD BE.

IT WAS INCREDIBLE, IT WAS DISASTROUS.

AND I FLEW OFF THE HANDLE AND I SAID TO THEM, LOOK, DON'T TRY TO SCARE ME INTO DOING THINGS YOU WANT ME TO DO.

I'VE BEEN DOWN THAT ROAD BEFORE, AND I WANT YOU TO COME BACK WITH THE REAL MAPS.

AND ABOUT AN HOUR LATER OR SO, MY CHIEF COUNSEL, CHARLIE McKENNA AND MY CHIEF OF STAFF CAME TO ME AND SAID LOOK, THE NOAA GUYS ARE SCARED TO DEATH TO COME BACK , BUT THOSE ARE THE REAL MAPS.

SO WE HAVE TO FOCUS AND LOOK AT THESE AND START TO ADJUST OUR PLANS ACCORDINGLY.

SO THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THOSE INCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED EARLIER DEFINITELY MAKE YOU ASK MORE QUESTIONS AND PUSH EVEN HARDER WHEN YOU ARE IN THE POSITION LIKE I WAS.

BUT IN THE END, THEY CONVINCED ME IT WAS GOING TO BE THAT BAD SO WE TOOK THE STEPS I THOUGHT WE NEEDED TO TAKE.

>> DID THE RAIN SURPRISE YOU?

WHEN WE WERE OUT COVERING IT, IT JUST WOULD NOT STOP RAINING.

>> IT WAS INCREDIBLE, THEY WERE TELLING US THAT , THE WIND WAS GOING TO BE ONE THING AND THE RAIN WAS GOING TO BE ANOTHER AND BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE STORM WAS CIRCULATING, THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE AWFUL IN TERMS OF TWO THINGS, NOT ONLY WHAT WAS COMING IN FROM THE BEACH, BUT ALSO THE BACK BAY, DOWN AT THE SHORE.

SO WE WERE GETTING HIT IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, SO IN THE RELENTLESSNESS OF THE RAIN , JUST ADDING TO THE HEIGHT OF THE FLOODWATERS.

>> DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST PLACE THAT YOU VISITED , SUNRISE THE NEXT DAY?

>> WELL, IT WAS THE SUNRISE THE NEXT DAY BECAUSE THE WIND WAS STILL INCREDIBLY STRONG, AND ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE MAJOR ROADS IN THE STATE WERE BLOCKED AND NOT PASSABLE.

SO, THEY WOULDN'T LET ME GO OUT UNTIL THE AFTERNOON OF THE 30th, THE FIRST TIME THEY FELT IT WAS SAFE ENOUGH FOR ME TO FLY IN THE HELICOPTER.

AND I REMEMBER VIVIDLY , I REMEMBER FLYING ACROSS THE STATE FROM TRENTON , AND GETTING TO THE COAST AND I COULD RECOGNIZE , BECAUSE I HAD FLOWN OVER IT ENOUGH, THAT WAS BELMAR BUT I SAID IN THE HEADSET TO THE TROOPER WHO WAS FLYING THE HELICOPTER, I SAID WHERE'S THE BOARDWALK?

AND HE SAID IT'S GONE, SIR.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT'S GONE?

HE SAID WELL, EITHER PARTS OF IT ARE IN THE OCEAN, PARTS ARE ON THE STREETS ADJACENT TO THE BEACH, AND PARTS ARE IN THE LAKE IN BELMAR.

IT WAS JUST UNBELIEVABLE, AND WHEN I LANDED, I SAW THE MAYOR AND MATT GREETED ME, THEN THERE WAS AN OLDER WOMAN, PROBABLY IN HER LATE 60s, WHO CAME RUNNING TOWARDS ME.

WITH SUCH AN INTENT, THE TROOPERS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

THEY STARTED TO STAND IN BETWEEN ME AND HER, AND SHE GRABBED ME AND STARTED TO HUG ME .

SO I HUGGED HER BACK , AND IN MY EAR, SHE WHISPERED, WE'VE LOST EVERYTHING .

THANK GOD YOU HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN US.

AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT THE NEXT WEEK TO 10 DAYS OF MY LIFE WAS LIKE.

>> NO CITY IN THE STATE WAS HARDER HIT BY SANDY THAN HOBOKEN WHERE A 14 FOOT STORM SURGE FLOODED THE MILE SQUARE CITY ON THE HUDSON RIVER CAUSING $100 MILLION IN DAMAGE .

THE CENTURY-OLD INFRASTRUCTURE TESTED BY HISTORIC SO-CALLED ONCE IN A CENTURY FLOODING.

IT WAS CONSIDERED A WAKE-UP CALL TO THE REALITIES OF CLIMATE CHANGE FUELED STORMS .

AND IN THE 10 YEARS SINCE, HOBOKEN HAS BECOME A MODEL FOR STORM RESILIENCY PLANNING.

JOANNA GAGIS TAKES A LOOK AT HOW THE RIVERFRONT CITY BUILT UP ITS DEFENSES TO PROTECT IT FROM THE INEVITABLE FLOODS OF THE FUTURE.

>> IT WAS A CATASTROPHIC EVENT , IN EVERY SHAPE OF THE WORD.

>> FLOODWATERS POURED IN FROM THE HUDSON RIVER, AT ABOUT THIS LOCATION, JUST SHY OF SIX FEET TALL, THE FLOODWATERS WERE ABOUT THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

410 YEARS AFTER SUPER STORM SANDY, RESIDENTS CLEARLY REMEMBER THE IMPACT IT HAD ON THEM, LIKE DON ZIMMER WHO WAS MAYOR AT THE TIME.

>> WE BECAME ONE WITH THE HUDSON RIVER , IT LITERALLY FILLED UP LIKE A BATHTUB.

>> THANK GOD I WAS IN MY APARTMENT, BUT WE HAD A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.

>> HOBOKEN QUICKLY GOT TO WORK TO SHORE UP THE INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS.

>> WE WORKED WITH THE DUTCH FIRM TO CREATE A DESIGN THAT WAS SPONSORED BY THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.

>> THAT CONTEST WAS A PART OF THE RESPONSE TO SANDY, LOOKING FOR INNOVATIVE DESIGNS THAT INCLUDED COMMUNITY INPUT TO REDUCE STORM IMPACT.

HOBOKEN ALONG WITH JERSEY CITY AND WEEHAWKEN WON FOR THEIR DESIGN AND AWARDED $230 MILLION TOTAL.

AND THE STATE CONTRIBUTE IT IN ADDITION OF $100 MILLION FOR THE REBUILD DESIGN PRODUCT .

>> WE WANTED TO ADDRESS THE COASTAL SURGE AS WELL AS THE FLOODING YOU SEE ON A DAILY BASIS.

>> Reporter: THE SAYING GOES, IF TWO PEOPLE CRY IN HOBOKEN, THE STREETS FLOOD.

SO THEY MEANT TO CAPTURE EXCESS RAIN AND FLOODWATERS.

>> ESSENTIALLY EXPANDING THE CAPACITY OF THE SEWER SYSTEM .

IN THE BLOCK BEHIND US, IT'S BASICALLY THE SIZE OF THE CITY BLOCK WITH MASSIVE UNDERGROUND STORAGE WHICH IS THE PUMP STATIONS, SO ALLOWING THE WATER TO COLLECT UNDERGROUND IN THE CISTERN AND BEING PUMPED OUT TO THE HUDSON RIVER.

>> Reporter: THE DESIGN BORROWED FROM HURRICANE KATRINA AND WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN THE NETHERLANDS.

>> WE ARE TRYING TO REPLICATE NATURAL WATER CONVEYANCE, THERE WOULD BE STREAMS OR MARSHES OR A FLOODPLAIN FOR WATER TO BASICALLY FLOW TO, SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WOULD BE BELOWGROUND.

AND ON THE SURFACE, IT'S NOT ASPHALT, IT'S A PERMEABLE SURFACE, GREEN GARDENS, GRASS, ANYTHING THAT HAS A BENEFIT.

>> ONE OF THESE PARTS IS COMPLETE, ONE IS IN THE WORKS AND SEVERAL MORE ARE BEING PLANNED.

IT ALREADY REDUCED STREET FLOODING DURING HURRICANE IDA BUT THAT IS JUST ONE OF THE MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES THAT SANDY REVEALED.

HOBOKEN IS HOME TO A ROBUST TRANSIT SYSTEM THAT WAS DECIMATED IN THE WAKE OF THE STORM.

>> THE PATH WAS DISABLED ENTIRELY FOR ABOUT SEVEN DAYS AND DIDN'T RETURN TO SERVICE UNTIL 119 DAYS AFTER THE STORM SO WE OPERATED WITH HAND SIGNALS, FLASHLIGHTS.

>> Reporter: THE PORT AUTHORITY OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY HAS MADE ITS SHARE OF THE INVESTMENTS TO PREVENT WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT FATEFUL DAY.

>> HERE AT HOBOKEN WE HAVE INVESTED SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS IN FLOOD PROTECTION ACROSS THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THIS IS NOT A CONDUIT OF FLOODWATERS, ONTO THE PLATFORM AND INTO THE TUBES.

THAT INCLUDES FLOOD PROOFING THIS.

THIS IS AQUARIUM GLASS AND IT IS FLOOD PROOF.

>> Reporter: THAT IS JUST ONE OF THE PROTOCOLS.

>> THEY HAVE ALSO INSTALLED FLOOD PROOF PLANKS ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP HERE.

>> Reporter: THOSE SAME PLANKS WOULD BE INSTALLED HERE AT THE SITE WHERE THE STORM SURGE WILL GO STRAIGHT DOWN TO THE PLATFORM.

AND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS -- >> VERY ROBUST, THESE ARE THE STORM DOORS THAT WOULD SEAL OFF THE LOCATION.

WE COULD HAVE CUSTOMERS IN THE STATION LONGER AND WHEN THE STORM HAS PASSED, WE COULD HAVE CUSTOMERS BACK IN THE STATION SOONER.

>> Reporter: A MAJOR DIFFERENCE FROM THE PREP TIME BEFORE SANDY WHERE EMPLOYEES WERE PILING SANDBAGS FOR HOURS , TRYING TO PREVENT THE FLOODING THAT HAPPENED ANYWAY.

FOR THE CUSTOMERS THAT WERE STRANDED AFTER THE STORM, POWER OUTAGES LASTED FOR DAYS, THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN REMEDIED.

>> THEY HAVE THE SUBSTATIONS ALREADY ELEVATED SO THEY ARE MUCH MORE ENERGY RESILIENT.

>> Reporter: PSEG WORKED WITH THE CITY .

>> THE CAVEAT IS, WE ARE NOT REPLACING WHAT EXISTED.

WE ARE REBUILDING IT IN A WAY THAT WILL BREAK THE CYCLE OF REPAIR AND RECOVERY.

>> Reporter: OF EACH STORM, IT IS ITS OWN UNIQUE EVENT, BUT THESE STRUCTURES AND INVESTMENTS TAKE A LESSON LEARNED FROM ALL THE STORMS TO HOPEFULLY PREVENT HOBOKEN FROM BEING COMPLETELY SUBMERGED THE WAY IT WAS AFTER SANDY.

I'M JOANNA GAGIS, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> THE STATES COASTLINE REMAINS PERMANENTLY CHANGED AND WHILE A LOT OF WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO ELEVATE HOMES AND POTENTIAL FLOOD ZONES AND HARD IN THE SHORT, THE THREAT OF EXTREME WEATHER PERSISTS.

DRIVEN BY CLIMATE CHANGE CAUSING SEA LEVELS TO RISE ALONG WITH MORE FREQUENT AND INTENSE STORMS, MOST RECENTLY, HURRICANE IDA.

ACCORDING TO A RUTGERS UNIVERSITY STUDY, THE JERSEY SHORE EXPERIENCE SEA LEVEL RISE AT MORE THAN DOUBLE THE GLOBAL AVERAGE WITH PLENTY TO DO TO PREPARE THE STATE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE RELATED HAZARDS.

WE ASKED BOB KOPP, PROFESSOR AND CLIMATE SCIENTIST AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY WHAT'S AHEAD.

PROFESSOR , THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS 10th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL.

I THINK THE QUESTION ON MOST PEOPLE'S MINDS IS , ARE THE POLICIES AND REFORMS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS ENOUGH TO PROTECT US FROM SEEING A REPEAT SHOULD ANOTHER SUPER STORM SANDY HIT?

>> WELL, THAT'S A COMPLICATED QUESTION.

THERE'S TWO THINGS WE NEED TO DO TO LIMIT THE DAMAGE WE ARE FACING FROM COASTAL SEA LEVEL RISE.

ONE, SLOW THE PACE OF COASTAL SEA LEVEL RISE, THAT IS POLICIES TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, THE SECOND IS ADAPT TO THE CHANGES THAT ARE ALREADY SET FOR US EVEN IF WE DO MANAGE TO HIT AMBITIOUS CLIMATE STABILIZATION TARGETS.

>> I'M WONDERING IF THESE STRATEGIES ARE BEING DIRECTED AT THE COMMUNITIES HARDEST HIT, AND ALSO COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE RESOURCES AT HAND.

>> YEAH , IT VARIES.

RIGHT NOW, I WOULD SAY FUNDING IS SOMEWHAT SPORADIC .

THERE ARE FUNDING POLLS AVAILABLE TO COMMUNITIES TO POSITION THEMSELVES , SOME HAVE BEEN LESS SUCCESSFUL.

ONE BIG CHALLENGE WE FACE IS THIS IS A LONG-TERM, COMPLICATED PROBLEM.

AND IT REQUIRES NOT JUST ONE TIME INFUSION OF MONEY BUT REALLY INVESTING IN THE WORKFORCE THAT CAN HELP COMMUNITIES ADAPT TO THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> IF WE WERE TO TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT FLOODING, WHERE ARE THE RISKS COMING FROM NOW?

>> SO, IT'S A COMBINATION.

SANDY REMINDED US OF THE IMPACTS OF COASTAL FLOODING .

AND HURRICANE IDA MOST RECENTLY REMINDED US OF THE FACT OF RAIN DRIVEN FLOODING.

AND BOTH OF THESE ARE INCREASING.

COASTAL FLOODING IS INCREASING BECAUSE SEA LEVEL RISE IS INCREASING AS A RESULT , IN LARGE PART OF HUMAN ACTIVITY AND RAIN DRIVEN FLOODING IS INCREASING BECAUSE THE RAINFALL IS MORE INTENSE, AND THE INTERSECTION OF THOSE TWO IS ALSO A CONCERN.

SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THEM ALL, WE ARE REFLECTING TODAY BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT IT'S NOT ALL SANDY STYLE COASTAL FLOODING THAT WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT.

>> VERY QUICKLY, BOB , WHAT ARE YOU MOST CONCERNED ABOUT IN THIS NEXT DECADE ?

AND WHERE DO YOU FEEL LIKE WE MAYBE MISSED THE MARK IN OUR RECOVERY SINCE THE STORM HIT?

>> WELL, IT'S A SCATTERED APPROACH RIGHT NOW AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE MORE STRATEGIC.

FOR EXAMPLE, NEW JERSEY HAS SORT OF A NATIONAL CLASS PROGRAM TO HELP BUYOUT HOMES THAT ARE IN EXPOSED AREAS , THE BLUE ACRES PROGRAM.

BUT, IF YOU LOOK AT NEW CONSTRUCTION IN THE FUTURE FLOODPLAIN, CLIMATE CENTRAL DID A STUDY OF THIS A FEW YEARS AGO, ABOUT A HALF A DECADE AFTER SANDY, IT WAS ABOUT 10 TIMES AS MUCH NEW CONSTRUCTION IN THE AREA WITH FLOODING ANNUALLY BY THE MIDDLE OF THE CENTURY.

WE NEED TO BE DOING THIS PLANNING NOW BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO LOCK IN BAD CHOICES AND WE NEED TO HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE WHO ARE TRAINED TO DO IT WELL SO THIS ISN'T JUST CHASING WHATEVER CONSULTANT IS AVAILABLE TO DO THIS, BUT SO THAT IT IS STRATEGIC.

AND MEANWHILE FOR THE NEXT DECADE, IT'S ALSO A CRITICAL TIME FOR US TO BE GETTING OUR EMISSIONS ON INTRODUCTORY THAT CAN STABILIZE GLOBAL TEMPERATURE AND SLOW THE RATE OF SEA LEVEL RISE.

>> THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF WORK TO DO.

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR, BOB KOPP, WE APPRECIATE YOUR INSIGHT.

THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT, BUT OUR COVERAGE OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF SUPER STORM SANDY CONTINUES THIS WEEKEND ON CHAT BOX WITH SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, DAVID CRUZ , HE GOES ONE-ON-ONE WITH FORMER GOVERNOR, CHRIS CHRISTIE AS HE REFLECTS ON THE TRAGIC AFTERMATH OF THE STORM AND THE STATES RESILIENCY TO REBUILD.

THAT'S SATURDAY AT 6:30 P.M. AND SUNDAY AT 10:00 A.M. ON NJ PBS, THEN CHECK OUT REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE, KICKING OFF THE SHOW WITH THE FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ABOUT THE 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF SUPER STORM SANDY AND THE FACTORS THAT WENT INTO DECISIONS MADE FOR THE STATE.

WATCH SATURDAY AT 6:00 P.M. AND SUNDAY AT 10:00 A.M. ON NJ PBS.

FROM THE ENTIRE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

ENJOY THIS HALLOWEEN WEEKEND.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE ON MONDAY.

>> THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJBARNABAS HEALTH , LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER, AND ORSTED, COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE, CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>>> OUR FUTURE RELIES ON MORE THAN CLEAN ENERGY.

OUR FUTURE RELIES ON EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES, TO HELP THE SAFETY OF OUR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS, OF OUR SCHOOLS AND STREETS, THE PSEG FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY, EQUITY AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT .

INVESTING IN PARTNERS, HELPING TOWNS GO GREEN.

SUPPORTING CIVIC CENTERS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THAT STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY.