WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released the following statement on the one year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy making landfall in Connecticut:

It’s hard to believe it has been a full year since Hurricane Sandy touched down in Connecticut. The devastation of that day is still shocking to consider, with over 23,000 people forced out of their homes into temporary shelters, and loss of power for more than 8.5 million people throughout the damaged area. The physical and mental toll of the storm has been exhausting for all those who had to cope with the incredible effects of this natural disaster. Lives were lost, homes were destroyed, meaningful possessions swept away or damaged forever.

Recovery from a storm of Hurricane Sandy’s magnitude has not been easy, but our state’s strength and resolve has carried us forward. My colleagues in the Connecticut delegation and I have worked hard to bring more than $500 million in federal funding to help communities rebuild and recover in the aftermath of this storm. This funding has helped residents, small businesses, towns, and schools repair the significant damage caused by the storm. It has also helped communities to prepare for the next one – a seemingly inevitable event given the tangible effects climate change is having on the Northeast. This preparation is key to preventing the scale of damage we experienced last year, and I’m committed to continue working with my colleagues on legislation that will strengthen Connecticut’s infrastructure, and slow the pace of global warming.