2 Years After Superstorm Sandy, Rebuilding Continues In Tuckerton
By Diana Rocco
TUCKERTON, N.J., (CBS) -- Two years ago, Sandy was making her approach and evacuation plans were in effect, but no one knew the devastation they'd be coming home to.
"It was a war zone. It was something I never want to see again. Looking at people's properties gone," said Mayor of Tuckerton George Evans.
Tuckerton beach took one of the biggest hits. On any given street homes are still abandoned, while others are in the process of rebuilding.
"The water was about this level," Evans said. "There was debris all over, floating docks all over, I lost my floating dock. But you can see, you know, the tremendous damage."
It took Mayor George Evans 17 months to move home.
"The roof had buckled. It was just a first floor rancher. The living room area had dropped seven inches," he said.
He had to demolish his ranch and start over. His new home is mortgaged, much bigger and now on pilings.
"Many people have just walked away from the homes, they've left them to the banks," Evans said.
"Some people had insurance, other people didn't," said marina owner Eric Hansen.
Eric Hansen's Maritime Marina is up and running with only half of the business and a whole new problem.
He's been left with 30 abandoned boats.
(Reporter:) "So what do you do with all these boats?"
"I pay to get rid of them. I take them to the dump. I do what I have to do. I take them, get rid of the fuel, get rid of the oil," Hansen said.
(Reporter:) "How much does that cost?"
"Probably about $700 a boat," he said.
This was the Tuckerton Police Department. While the building still stands, it has been condemned due to water damage and needs to be torn down. It's located in what was one of the hardest hit areas of Tuckerton beach. Police have been working out of a different location since the night before the storm.
"That is a picture of what was a house."
The pictures show just how far they've come, but there is still a long road ahead.
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