Saturday marks four years since Hurricane Sandy made landfall in the city and a new report says residents of the Red Hook Houses in Brooklyn are suffering with long-term health problems caused by storm-related damage.
The Red Hook Initiative says Sandy made an already-existing mold problem at the public housing complex worse.
A recent survey shows 81 residents were found to have mold in their apartments, compared with just 51 prior to the storm.
The report blames the mold for a higher rate of asthma among residents at the complex compared with private homes in the same area.
The group also says the city Housing Authority has been slow to respond to mold complaints, with just 59 percent saying they got a reply, and only 16 percent saying they got a positive result.
It recommends housing officials immediately improve the process for mold repairs, and create a system for residents to track the progress of their complaints.
In response to the study, the Housing Authority issued a statement saying it is working closely with experts to identify mold, respond to it and prevent it.
The agency goes on to say, "While the Authority is making considerable progress, we remain committed to further improving our methods in identifying and addressing the root causes of mold, drastically reducing reoccurrence rates."