A dominant issue once the waters retreat is mold. Sandy survivors said to expect scores of mold treatment companies to flock to the area. Some will be disreputable and you need to be scrupulous in vetting them.

Many people suggested getting in touch quickly with your employer and exploring options. One woman lost her job of seven years because she took too much time off to deal with her issues. Employers are compassionate, she learned, but they have their limits.

Joelle Morrison was moving to a different home in Staten Island and virtually all of her belongings were in a storage place that was flooded. She lost keepsakes and things dear to her like almost 1,000 books. The stress led to a minor stroke.

“It’s hard to tell people in shelters to take care of yourself,” she said. “But I would say try to establish a routine and match it to your routine at home. Sleep the same hours. Make up your cot when you get up.”

Laughter and humor, she said, got her through the worst, as did finding delight in small things. “I’d look outside the window and see a squirrel popping along and I would smile at it, see his joy,” she said.

Sandy survivors spoke of nightmarish dealings with insurance companies while stooped in exhaustion. One family said that 90 percent of their claim was denied because of a cracked foundation. One woman said she still has five large tote bags full of the paperwork she gathered. She collected $90,000 on her $250,000 flood insurance policy. Everyone said take pictures, keep receipts, keep track of who you speak to.