Poll: NJ Residents Aren't 'Back to Normal' a Year After Sandy

Most New Jersey residents said they still feel the impact from Hurricane Sandy and they believe it will be several years before a sense of normalcy returns to the state, according to the Rutgers-Eagleton poll released on Thursday.

Two-thirds of registered voters said the state is not yet back to normal about a year after Sandy wreaked havoc on New Jersey. In April, 78 percent of those surveyed said they believed the state was not yet “back to normal.”

Many think it will be some time before they feel a sense of normalcy, with 61 percent saying it might take up to five years, and 13 percent saying it might take up to a decade. Just 12 percent of respondents who believe things are not back to normal are optimistic the state can return to pre-Sandy conditions within the next year. Another 3 percent think it will take over a decade and 6 percent are uncertain.

Respondents give the overall recovery process for the state an average rating of 6.1 on a scale from 1-10, with 1 being “not at all recovered” and 10 being “fully recovered.”

Specifically, recovery along the Jersey Shore is given a rating of 4.7. Recovery for homeowners who suffered significant damage is scored at 4.8.

In June, respondents rated Jersey Shore recovery at 6.2 and the overall recovery at 6.9.

“Since the summer, we have seen the Seaside Park boardwalk fire and an increase in media attention to those who have not yet recovered from the storm,” David Redlawsk, director of the Rutgers-Eagleton Poll and professor of political science at Rutgers University, said in a prepared statement. “Moreover, there were reports of disappointing summer tourism. It is not surprising people feel less positive about the recovery.”

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points. The poll of 804 registered voters was conducted statewide using cell phones and landlines from Oct. 28-Nov. 2.

Respondents who were directly impacted by the storm give recovery efforts at the Shore a 4.5 rating. Those who weren’t impacted give the recovery a 4.9 rating.

About half the respondents said they were directly impacted by Sandy.

Those who live in Shore communities give the recovery a 4.8 rating, while urban residents give it a 4.6 rating; suburban residents give it a 4.4 rating and exurbanites give it a 4.5.

Voters who supported Gov. Chris Christie are more positive about the recovery than those who supported Barbara Buono. Christie supporters give the statewide recovery a 6.4 rating, while Buono supporters rate the statewide recovery at 5.7.  
Republicans give the recovery for the Jersey Shore a 5.0 rating, while Democrats give it a 4.7 and independents give it a 4.6.

Voters give tourism recovery a 5.7 and business recovery in general a 5.9. Those living in Shore communities specifically rate tourism recovery at 5.8, and business recovery at 5.6.