Seaside Heights: Now and then

Lifeguards keep watch on beach-goers enjoying Atlantic Ocean, in Seaside Heights, N.J., Aug. 10, 2010. Te amusement area in the background of this photo no longer exists, having been dispatche d into the ocean by Superstorm Sandy

Rescue workers help stranded people out of their flooded homes in Seaside Heights, N.J., following the arrival of superstorm Sandy, Oct. 30, 2012. Sandy, the storm that made landfall Monday, destroyed the Seaside Heights boardwalk and sent amusement rides careening into the ocean.

MTV VJ Carson Daly during taping for the opening of the MTV Beach House in Seaside Heights, N.J. on May 20, 2002.

AP898372316396.jpg_af.jpg — Master Sgt. Mark Olsen

This Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012, photo provided by the U.S. Air Force shows an aerial view of the roller coaster from the Seaside Heights amusement park on the New Jersey shore submerged in surf, taken during a search and rescue mission by 1-150 Assault Helicopter Battalion, New Jersey Army National Guard.

Sean "P. Diddy" Combs performs during taping for the opening of the MTV Beach House in Seaside Heights, N.J. 9on May 20,2002. Overhead amusement riders are seen in upper left.

The view of storm damage over the Atlantic Coast in Seaside Heights, N.J., Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012, from a helicopter traveling behind the helicopter carrying President Obama and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, as they viewed storm damage from superstorm Sandy.

Sean "P. Diddy" Combs enjoys an ice cream cone on the boardwalk after his performance during taping for the opening of the MTV Beach House in Seaside Heights, N.J.on May 20, 2002.

New Jersey National Guard Spc. Wilfredo Rodriguez, top, helps a woman off a boat and into a high clearing vehicle as rescue workers help stranded people out of their flooded homes in Seaside Heights, N.J. on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012. after superstorm Sandy made landfall in New Jersey Monday evening.

Sean "P. Diddy" Combs performs during taping for the opening of the MTV Beach House in Seaside Heights, N.J. on May 20,2002.

With nightfall approaching, Rodrigo Vargas, 25, of Seaside Heights, N.J., ponders treading through floodwaters to check on his second floor apartment a day after superstorm Sandy rolled through the barrier island community, Oct. 30, 2012. Sandy, the superstorm that made landfall Monday, caused multiple fatalities, halted mass transit and cut power to more than 6 million homes and businesses.

Will Smith during a special taping of "TRL Presents: Will Smith Back in Black" at the MTV Beach House in Seaside Heights, N.J. on June 20,2002.

Downed power lines and a battered road is what superstorm Sandy left behind as people walk off the flooded Seaside Heights island, Oct. 30, 2012. Sandy, the storm that made landfall Monday, caused multiple fatalities, halted mass transit and cut power to more than 6 million homes and businesses.

The MTV Beach House in Seaside Heights, New Jersey.

The view of storm damage over the Atlantic Coast in Seaside Heights, N.J., Oct. 31, 2012, from a helicopter traveling behind the helicopter carrying President Obama and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, as they viewed storm damage from superstorm Sandy.

Carson Daly during MTV All Access Week on TRL at the MTV Beach House in Seaside Heights, N.J., on July 15, 2002.

The view of storm damage over the Atlantic Coast in Seaside Heights, N.J., Oct. 31, 2012, from a helicopter traveling behind the helicopter carrying President Obama and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, as they viewed storm damage from superstorm Sandy.

Carson Daly hosts MTV All Access Week on “TRL” at the MTV Beach House in Seaside Heights, N.J. on July 15, 2002.

The view of storm damage over the Atlantic Coast in Seaside Heights, N.J., Oct. 31, 2012, from a helicopter traveling behind the helicopter carrying President Obama and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, as they viewed storm damage from superstorm Sandy.

Eve's shoes during MTV All Access Week on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, N.J. on July 16, 2002.

The view of storm damage over the Atlantic Coast in Seaside Heights, N.J., Oct. 31, 2012, from a helicopter traveling behind the helicopter carrying President Obama and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, as they viewed storm damage from superstorm Sandy.

Kylie Minogue and Carson Daly during MTV All Access Week on TRL at the MTV Beach House in Seaside Heights, N.J., on July 17, 2002.

A general view of the beach on July 7, 2007, at Seaside Heights Beach in New Jersey.

A general view of the sand courts taken during the AVP Seaside Heights Open at Seaside Heights Beach July 7, 2007, in New Jersey.

Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi is helped back to the boardwalk by Jenni "JWoww" Farley and Deena Nicole Cortese on July 30, 2010, in Seaside Heights, N.J.

The Star Jet roller coaster sits idle on the Casino Pier at the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, N.J., July 14, 2008, after being shut down when a ride operator was seriously injured retrieving a hat for a child who had dropped it during a ride.