Following Hurricane Sandy, and other floods in Oakwood Beach, residents did not know where to turn. Joe Tirone organized and led the Oakwood Beach Buyout Committee that would petition New York’s government to buy neighborhoods, as well as incentivize families to relocate far from flood risk areas. Joe Tirone, former owner of a property in Fox beach, was interested in offering homeowners the opportunity to sell their homes, pre-storm value, to the government. Joe wanted to make sure that the area would be renounced to nature, and ensure the land was not going to be redeveloped, to prevent other residents from being at risk.