It was the 1980s, and my business was going through growing pains. I was forever frustrated with employees who were often too lackadaisical – they just didn’t share my view of the importance of tasks and the need to get things done promptly. On one occasion when I was especially frustrated, I turned to a friend to vent. I chose this friend because she was of similar mind and temperament – someone who was very driven, efficient, and strove to get things done right and quickly. She could cut to the chase in any matter and was very intolerant of those who did not share her worldview. I was struggling for the right words when, understanding my sentiments, she interjected and articulated my feelings exactly, using the phrase that I had been searching for in vain. “They have no sense of urgency,” she said. Ahh, that was it. A phrase I would never forget and use often – no sense of urgency.

In the time of crisis, adrenaline flows and people rise to the occasion. Support is everywhere to be found as many of those unscathed empathize with the plight of victims. Unfortunately, crisis does not change people, and the sense of urgency, largely driven by extreme circumstances, soon fades as people lose steam over time. With those further removed, such as government agencies, concern seems to take the form of rhetoric, news bites, posturing, and paperwork, as evidenced by the anger of victims in any of these events at the slowness and ineffectiveness of government response. In the days and weeks immediately after Hurricane Sandy, I experienced a broad range of responses by neighbors, sanitation, fire and police departments, city agencies, insurance companies, adjusters, contractors, and volunteer groups.

The NYC Rapid Repairs program has been far from rapid. The group only visited my friend’s home in Staten Island one month after the hurricane. Paperwork was filed on site, and we were assured that work would be completed by “the holidays.” We only received a call letting us know that the crews would be in my friend’s neighborhood on January 13th to discuss the beginning of work. Needless to say, most Staten Island and Brooklyn residents have taken repairs into their own hands, rather than suffer the torture of delays and broken promises. This is why, ultimately, my friend whose house I have assisted in rebuilding has resorted to volunteer groups such as All Hands, who was the only group (other than private contractors) that responded in a timely manner and was willing to take on a large cleanup.

Yesterday, I drove through one of the worst hit areas on Staten Island, New Dorp Beach, which still looks and feels like a war zone. Police vehicles are everywhere, patrolling the neighborhood. Many homes remain unoccupied, with red, green, and yellow placards taped to their home by the Department of Buildings, identifying their occupancy status. Some homes appear to have been largely renovated while others still await repairs. And there are those which are beyond repair.

It has been over eight weeks since the hurricane, yet I saw people still shoveling debris. The work of rebuilding is far from over. There is however, a general malaise and despondency hanging in the air. Spirits have been beaten down. Volunteer groups and aid vehicles have largely left the area. Understandably, as time passes, the attention of outsiders is directed elsewhere as the entire disaster is largely seen as “over.” However, things are far from over, and rebuilding will go on for some time to come. The damage wrought by Hurricane Sandy is still at hand, along with the same need for verve and work. But sadly, there is No Sense of Urgency …