Large Turnout for Post-Sandy Forum in Seaford

More than 300 people packed into the Seaford Knights of Columbus Hall Monday evening for a post-Sandy forum that featured representatives from more than 30 agencies available to assist area residents still trying to rebound from the late October superstorm.

The event was hosted by the Wantagh-Seaford Homeowners’ Association and the organization’s president Ella Stevens said she was happy with the turnout and hopes it helped give people negatively impacted by Superstorm Sandy south of Merrick Road some help to get back on their feet.

“The turnout is only as good as the people who got helped,” Stevens said.

One resident who found Monday’s forum to be helpful was Thomas Gallagher of Wantagh, whose home in the southern area of Wantagh suffered flooding from Sandy. Gallagher, 77, has since been able to move back into his house but took the opportunity at Monday’s event to meet with representatives from the Town of Hempstead about building permits still needed to properly repair the home.

“They did a great job organizing this,” said Gallagher, who has lived in Wantagh for 46 years. “I hope they more of these [forums] in other areas with this same format.”

One of the organizations with a table at Monday’s forum in Seaford was Long Island Cares-The Harry Chapin Food Bank, which thanks to a large donation was able to hand out 45 $50 American Express gift cards to Sandy victims. Long Island Cares volunteer Pat Kreinbihl, who handed out the gift cards, said people who received them “were very, very grateful.”