
What was meant to be a fun-filled Halloween season for New Yorkers in 2012 turned into a nightmare when Superstorm Sandy hit the Tristate area - causing massive flooding and more than $19billion in damage.

The storm was the most destructive and deadliest for the Atlantic hurricane season that year, as it also affected Puerto Rico, Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republica before making its way up the eastern seaboard. But the storm also revealed the New York metropolitan area’s vulnerability to massive flooding that hadn’t been seen in decades, and it prompted lawmakers to take action to transform the most susceptible neighborhoods into uninhabited buffer zones.

Now, a new short documentary tilted Managed Retreat, by filmmaker and photographer Nathan Kensinger, explores how three New York neighborhoods on Staten Island are being demolished and returned back to nature in the city’s first managed retreat from the rising sea levels.

Kensinger, who has been documenting New York’s changing waterfront for the past decade, explained to DailyMail.com that his film focuses on Oakwood Beach, Ocean Breeze and the Graham Beach communities, where residents spent tens of thousands of dollars rebuilding after the storm to eventually take the buyout deal the state offered.

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Superstorm Sandy caused more than $19billion in damage after hitting New York in October 2012. Now, six years later a new documentary titled 'Managed Retreat' by Nathan Kensinger explores how three Staten Island are being demolished so the area can be returned back to nature. Pictured above is a scene from his film showing a home being destroyed

Kensinger, who has been documenting New York’s changing waterfront for the past decade, explained to DailyMail.com that his film focuses on Oakwood Beach, Ocean Breeze and the Graham Beach communities where residents spent tens of thousands of dollars rebuilding after the storm. Pictured above is a scene from Kensinger's film showing a home being destroyed

Hundreds of those residents who rebuilt on Staten Island accepted a buyout deal from New York state. Lawmakers decided to destroy the neighborhoods and let the land return back to nature, creating a buffer zone for potential future flooding that could occur since the sea levels are rising. Pictured above is a scene from Kensinger's film showing a home being destroyed

Much of the momentum for the home buyout program came from the expectation that storms like Sandy would become more common. Pictured above is a scene from Kinsinger's film showing an empty road that once had houses lined alongside of it on Staten Island

Kensinger’s short documentary film set in Oakwood Beach, Graham Beach and Ocean Breeze on Staten Island is set to premier August 25 for the Rooftop Films Summer Series in New York City

Superstorm Sandy, which killed at least 159 people in New York, New Jersey and other parts of the East Coast on October 29, 2012 and the days following, damaged or destroyed more than 650,000 homes.

Much of the momentum for the home buyout program came from the expectation that storms like Sandy would become more common.

According to a Rutgers University study published last year, rising sea levels will increase the average number of storms that flood New York City with surges of more than seven feet to once every five years by 2030, from once every 500 years before 1800.

Kensinger noted that many residents of the specific communities his film follows actually sought the government out for the buyout program once they realized spending thousands of dollars repairing their homes would be a waste of money; the area is prone to flooding and would likely be destroyed again if another powerful hurricane hit.

‘That was part of the reason why I wanted to make the film - because the process was unfolding and people were not really able to see it or watch it,’ he said.

According to a Rutgers University study published last year, rising sea levels will increase the average number of storms that flood New York City with surges of more than seven feet to once every five years by 2030 from once every 500 years before 1800. Pictured above is a scene from Kensinger's film showing a home being destroyed

Kensinger noted that many residents of those specific communities his film follows actually sought the government out to do the buyout program once they realized spending thousands of dollars repairing their homes would be a waste of money since the area is prone to flooding and would likely be destroyed again if another powerful hurricane hit. Pictured above is a scene from Kensinger's film showing a home being destroyed

He said: ‘That was part of the reason why I wanted to make the film because the process was unfolding and people were not really able to see it or watch it.' Pictured above is a scene from Kensinger's film showing another abandoned property that's in the demolition process

He added: ‘I think it’s an important process that’s happening in New York City and I wanted to bring people there to look at it and see what it really means to give up on a neighborhood in New York and return it to nature.’ Pictured above is a scene from Kensinger's film showing a home being destroyed

New York has spent an estimated $255million to buyout 654 properties mostly in Staten Island, according to the Office of Storm Recovery. Pictured above is a scene from Kensinger's film showing the date the storm destroyed the area

‘I think it’s an important process that’s happening in New York City, and I wanted to bring people there to look at it and see what it really means to give up on a neighborhood in New York and return it to nature.’

New York has spent an estimated $255million to buy out 654 properties mostly in Staten Island, according to the Office of Storm Recovery. There are an estimated 142 properties that residents did not want to give up to the state for the buyout program on Staten Island.

But for those who did, Kensinger was on hand filming as homes were being swiftly demolished by construction workers in a matter of minutes.

‘It was difficult at times to encounter residents who became emotional while watching their home be completely demolished,’ he shared.

‘I interviewed quite a few local residents there, when they were moving out of their homes, when their homes were being destroyed, and that’s a very emotional process.

But for those who did, Kensinger was on hand filming as homes were being swiftly demolished by construction workers in a matter of minutes. ‘It was difficult at times to encounter residents who became emotional while watching their home be completely demolished,’ he shared. Pictured above is a scene from Kensinger's film showing a few dolls left behind

Kensinger’s film was shot over the course of a year and a half beginning in fall 2015 and documented the changing seasons and transforming landscape of wetlands. Pictured above is a scene from his film that shows an abandoned car

He explained that his film is ‘meant to immerse viewers in this process so that they can feel like they are in it.’ Pictured above is a scene from his film showing the wetlands area with two remaining houses in the distance

‘It’s people’s homes, it’s people’s memories that are being demolished. You could tell it was extremely emotional for them.’

Kensinger’s film was shot over the course of a year and a half, beginning in fall 2015 - and documented the changing seasons and transforming landscape of wetlands.

‘The documentary is really meant to follow the changing seasons, so I organized it to start in fall 2015 and then it moves to winter, to spring and through summer,’ he said.

‘Seeing wildlife was a surprise, because it was shocking to me to see how quickly the wildlife moved back into the neighborhoods. Even as the homes were being demolished, you would see deer and turkeys wander into the empty lots.

‘And it was a shock. You’re in New York City, but you’re seeing wild animals wandering around on the streets in broad daylight. I think that was one of the most surprising things during this process, to see how quickly they returned to nature.’

Kensinger added that rising levels will dramatically impact more than 100 coastal neighborhoods and reshape the 520-mile coastline in New York by the end of the century. Pictured above is a scene from the film showing a levee built to protect the area

He explained that his film is ‘meant to immerse viewers in this process so that they can feel like they are in it.’

Kensinger added that rising levels will dramatically impact more than 100 coastal neighborhoods and reshape the 520-mile coastline in New York by the end of the century.

‘I think the process of managed retreat is one of the most forward-thinking processes in New York City, in terms of addressing sea level rise and climate change,’ he said.

‘And I think we are going to see this process unfolding in other parts of the city in years to come as we decide that we can’t live in neighborhoods on the waterfront here. With these three communities, it’s a sad story of what happened during Sandy, and it’s a difficult process to watch to see them demolished.

‘But it’s also somewhat positive to see that the land is being returned to nature and will become a protector or buffer zone for other communities that are nearby.

‘So you’re seeing these communities torn down and these neighborhoods disappear, but at the same time you’re seeing it returned to nature and hopefully it will be healed. Hopefully the coastline will become somewhat safer.’

Kensinger’s short documentary film is set to premier August 25 for the Rooftop Films Summer Series in New York City.