First Lady of NYC tours home repaired after Superstorm Sandy thanks to Mayor's Fund

FAR ROCKAWAY, N.Y. (WABC) -- One of the houses damaged in Superstorm Sandy is now repaired. That house and 500 others benefited from private funds after they did not qualify for federal money.

"There were holes in my walls," said Mattie Eddy, a Far Rockaway resident.

Eddy described to New York City's First Lady all there was to deal with.

When Superstorm Sandy overtook their homes nearly three years ago, homes were gutted, and there was no heat, no hot water, and no help.

"We had people looting and they were taking my stuff," Eddy said.

Ms. Eddy also had no flood insurance, so like many around there she didn't qualify for the "Build-it-Back" program.

But she and 500 others did benefit from private money.

There was more than $19 million of it thanks to the Red Cross, the Robin Hood Foundation, JP Morgan Chase, and the Mayor's Fund.

"I appreciate the doors that have been open to me, they didn't have to be," Eddy said.

"We have a lot of happy people; this is a good story," said Chirlane McCray, First Lady of NYC.

But this particular funding program has reached its end now.

Next door to Ms. Eddy, Lillyette Rogers happily waters her front yard, but the memories of the flood waters remain when she looks at all the vacant lots in her neighborhood.

"I know like, maybe 12 people not in their homes, off the beach, I know so many people not in their homes right now," Rogers said.

"We were able to help 500 families and every family is different, and for those who want to return, because sometimes that's not a great idea, for those who want to return we're going to do our best to help them," McCray said.

"If you go through the storm, there is light at the end of the tunnel and I found the light, thank you," Eddy said.