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Key findings of AP poll on Sandy resilience

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research study on community resiliency surveyed residents in 12 neighborhoods in New York and New Jersey that were damaged when Superstorm Sandy struck the region in 2012.

The survey found that residents in tight-knit communities feel that their neighborhoods were prepared for and could withstand disasters more so than those living in areas that are not as connected.

Other key findings:

–Nearly two years later, 72 percent of respondents said their neighborhood is mostly or completely recovered, compared with 22 percent who said their area is only partially back to what it once was and 5 percent who said it has barely recovered or not at all.

–Forty-six percent of those surveyed said they were extremely or very affected by Sandy, while 27 percent said the impact was moderate and another 27 percent said they were minimally personally affected.

–Of those who said they have partially recovered, 27 percent say it is because of personal finances, insurance or government assistance. An additional 26 percent said it was because property repairs are still ongoing or needed.

–Ninety percent of respondents said basic services such as utilities, clean water and sewers in their neighborhood are mostly or completely repaired. Seventy-eight percent said infrastructure is totally or mostly repaired and 76 percent said businesses in their neighborhood are mostly recovered.

–The storm took its toll on financial and personal well-being, with 28 percent saying they delayed a vacation, 23 percent put off saving for retirement or a child’s education and another 23 percent put off making a big purchase like a major appliance, car or house. Smaller numbers reported delaying college, retirement or getting married, starting a family or expanding their family.

–Twenty percent of those surveyed said they received federal assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the Small Business Administration to aid their recovery, 9 percent received rental assistance, 8 percent got transitional assistance to cover hotel or motel stays, 6 percent were given money for medical or transportation needs, 5 percent were given money or loans to help repair homes, another 5 percent got money or loans to replace personal property and 1 percent were given temporary housing, like a home or trailer.

The AP-NORC Center survey was conducted July 14 through September 9 among 1,009 residents of the 12 selected communities. It is designed to be representative of residents of those 12 communities and not the full area affected by Superstorm Sandy. Results have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points.

___

Emily C. Dooley, a Newsday reporter on leave, is studying community resilience issues, the ability of communities to bounce back from various shocks, as part of a nine-month fellowship at the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, which joins NORC’s independent research and AP journalism. The fellowship is funded by the Rockefeller Foundation.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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