Staten Island Man Who Lost House In Sandy Struggles To Recover
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - A Staten Island man whose home has been condemned by the city said he does not know where to begin to get his life back in order.
Michael Gatti's house in Midland Beach has been marked with a red sticker by the city's buildings department, declaring it unsafe.
WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reports
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"Our whole family, we're 32 years in one home. Christmases, birthdays, parties, barbecues " he told WCBS 880's Peter Haskell. "Everything's destroyed inside."
Gatti has put up a tent on his property, refusing to leave.
"The city's coming to knock down houses, so I wasn't going to let that happen," Gatti told Haskell.
Gatti said he is struggling to recover, one month after superstorm Sandy cost him his home.
"Been a month of being cold and depressed, nightmares like you can't imagine," Gatti said. "It's a terrible shock and I don't wish it on anybody."
Insurance will not help Gatti rebuilt, he said.
"Full replacement value that we had on the house only covers the house if it burns down. We don't read the small print, but I guess shame on us," Gatti told Haskell.
Gatti said he hopes he will be bought out - but is having a hard time getting definitive answers from officials.
"Give us some direction... not 'call us back next Friday,'" he told Haskell.
