By Philip Caulfield / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Jersey Shore marina owner who appeared in iconic Superstorm Sandy picture with Obama says President broke his promise to help her rebuild:
Donna Vanzant, who appeared in a Oct. 31 photo hugging the President, says she has been left to wrangle with her insurance company for money to rebuild her business. After her heartfelt moment with Obama, she received a form letter from the President and nothing else, she says.
United States President Barack Obama hugs Donna Vanzant, the owner of North Point Marina, as he tours damage from Hurricane Sandy in Brigantine, New Jersey Hurricane Sandy, New Jersey, America - 31 Oct 2012
Rex Features via AP Images
In one of the most notable images from the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, President Obama hugged Donna Vanzant, the owner of North Point Marina, as he toured damage from the storm in Brigantine, N.J. Vanzant told Philadelphia Magazine Obama didn't send the help he promised.
A New Jersey woman who became the face of post-Superstorm Sandy anguish when she appeared in a photo hugging President Obama among the ruins of her destroyed marina now says the President broke his promise to help her rebuild.
Donna Vanzant, who hugged and chatted with the President when he visited her devastated North Point Marina in Brigantine on Oct. 31, told The Philly Post blog that she got the brush-off from Obama when she emailed him about relief efforts days after the photo op.
"It was disturbing," she told the blog, which is edited by Philadelphia Magazine.
"It had nothing to do with what I was asking him. It was a form letter," she said. "It thanked me for supporting the troops. He made a promise to rebuild on national television, and I can’t even get this money. It’s heartbreaking, really."
In news footage of the tender moment posted to the blog, Obama vows to help Vanzant begin rebuilding "immediately."
Obama introduces her to FEMA Director Craig Fugate, who promises that a small business relief team will contact her about getting the money she needs to get back in business fast.
But since then, Vanzant said, she's received nothing, other than the run-around from her insurance company.
"I’ve heard of people that have gotten money from FEMA, but of course FEMA doesn’t help businesses. I’m waiting on my flood policy to come through and help rebuild....They don't even return calls," she told the blog.
She estimated her losses at around a half a million dollars, and said she doesn't think she'll be able to open again until March.
"We’ve been paying these insurance premiums forever. If I didn’t pay, they would certainly cancel my policy, but now that I need the money, where are they?"
Vanzant, who said her son is a U.S. Navy Diver, said she didn't want charity. She wanted the President to keep his word.
"When you get a hug from the President of the United States, you feel like there’s something there. A promise was made," she told the blog.
"I’ve never been a person to expect free handouts, but the President gave me hope," she added. "But now, I just don’t know."
