While her regular United Nations office is located in Geneva, Switzerland, Margareta Wahlström’s “corporate office” is located in lower Manhattan. Although she frequently finds herself visiting areas devastated by natural disasters around the world, this time her visit was to the backyard of her corporate offices. Wahlström visited Hoboken and Union Beach in New Jersey and the borough of Staten Island in New York. She met with mayors, community leaders, and emergency management teams to discuss and survey the damage and to “learn of their vision for the rebuilding that lies ahead.”

Among the issues that were discussed with Ms. Wahlström were many that are familiar to those who have been impacted by natural disasters the world over. Issues such as the amount of paperwork that was required to be filled in before federal funds were forthcoming; the often confusing processes that insurance companies operate, but still have to be navigated to begin the recovery process; the challenge of responding to a disaster without access to technology; the cost of debris management; and the mental trauma inflicted on populations as the result of a natural disaster.