Two Years After the Storm: American Standard a Familiar Sight in Hurricane Sandy Victims' New Homes

UNION BEACH, N.J., Oct. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Imagine completing a major home remodeling project only to see it completely destroyed a few days later. For Jadwiga Parzych of Union Beach N.J., this nightmare scenario became a reality when her family's home was uprooted during Hurricane Sandy.

On October 28, 2012, Jadwiga was still enjoying her newly imported bathtub, a result of a high-end bathroom renovation project she had just completed two weeks prior. Little did she know that the following day it would be completely gone.

As the category two Hurricane Sandy tore through the Northeast on October 29, 2012, it hit some areas harder than others. Parzych's town of Union Beach, where 300 homes had to be demolished due to flooding from up to 12 feet of water, was one of the disaster's epicenters. Roughly eight of every 10 homes in the borough had at least two feet of standing water in their first floor.

The closely knit community came together in the storm's wake, as residents, volunteers and borough officials collaborated to rebuild despite countless challenges — namely, getting the funding needed to reconstruct in a durable, resilient and eco-friendly way.

Small-town ties were the impetus behind one particular alliance that helped make rebuilding a bit easier and less costly. Rebuilding Union Beach, an organization established to provide relief to that devastated town, teamed up with plumbing manufacturer American Standard Brands (headquartered 20 miles away in Piscataway, NJ) to address the crisis.

A New Start in Union Beach, N.J.

Rebuilding Union Beach is being funded through a $1.67 million grant from the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund and a $770,000 grant from the Robin Hood Foundation, among other donations.

American Standard was one of 75 organizations, companies and individuals that donated products and services to rebuild the homes. Scott Lauer, a consultant on the project, said that American Standard's well-known, reliable name on toilets, sinks, faucets and tubs gave an extra degree of security to the Union Beach residents.

"It's very helpful to be able to offer the homeowners products that are familiar [to them]," he said. "There's a comfort level and confidence in using trusted, recognizable brands."

Coming home to a familiar name

Among the donations' recipients was Jadwiga Parzych, who had so prematurely been deprived of her new bathroom. While watching her dream renovation go down the drain was hard, she was pleased and comforted to hear that American Standard products would be installed in her newly rebuilt house. Her reconstructed bathroom now boasts a durable, fiberglass-reinforced AcryLUX bathtub and shower wall surround with by-pass bath doors made from tempered glass in a rain privacy pattern.

Naturally, Parzych was not the hurricane's only victim. Catherine Baird's home, though it had survived many storms since its construction in the 1920s, finally succumbed to Sandy. What's worse, Baird, who suffers from a disability, needed special products to accommodate her needs.

Fortunately, American Standard was able to donate a walk-in bathtub for Baird. "It makes it easier for me because I have a problem getting in and out of the tub," Baird said. Her new bathtub is made from fiberglass-reinforced gelcoat and has a large walk-in door, built-in chair-height seat for comfort, and textured floor for added safety. Along with her husband, she was pleased with the upgrade that allows for a safe and relaxing bathing experience in their new home.

The Bairds were relieved to hear that their new fixtures would be American Standard products. Residents had limited options when it came to designing and furnishing their new homes, so hearing the name of a dependable brand was welcome news.

Diana Hoffman, yet another Sandy victim, also benefited from American Standard's donations. Like Parzych and Baird, her previous bathroom fixtures were from American Standard, so she was happy to hear that she could enjoy the same high quality features.

Both of her home's bathrooms now feature the American Standard AcryLUX bathtub and shower wall surrounded with its easy-to-clean walls and beautiful high-gloss shine. Plus, the new Cadet PRO toilets in the Hoffmans' home provide optimum performance.

'Happy to be home'
"The donation made a huge difference," said project consultant Lauer of the American Standard products. As for the residents in town, they will soon mark the two-year anniversary of this natural disaster, Hurricane Sandy.

While much was lost, families like the Parzychs, Bairds and Hoffmans have been able to gain something back and move forward with their lives. Indeed, the combined efforts of many dedicated individuals and organizations managed to compensate for the tragedy and devastation wrought by the storm. "They're so happy to be home," Lauer said.

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SOURCE American Standard