Jersey Shore residents return to damaged homes

U.S. Army National Guard Sgt. Martin McGhee walks past a home ravaged by superstorm Sandy on November 5, 2012 in Long Beach Township, N.J. / Mario Tama/Getty Images

TRENTON, N.J. Residents on New Jersey's Long Beach Island are finally able to see the damage caused by Superstorm Sandy.

State officials began allowing nearly all homeowners back on the barrier island at 6 a.m. Saturday. Residents had been ordered to evacuate before the storm made landfall Oct. 29.

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Thousands of Sandy victims still struggling

Steve Kramer told WCAU-TV in Philadelphia that his home in Beach Haven had flooded with about four feet of water, destroying rugs, couches and beds.

The Press of Atlantic City reports that resident Dave Reynolds wore a wet suit while raking mud, sand and dune grass from in front of his Beach Haven home.

Not all island residents were allowed back home on Saturday.

The island community of Holgate remains closed due to extensive storm damage and impassable roads.

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Heavy equipment pushes sand to restore a barrier dune along the Atlantic Ocean in Harvey Cedars on Long Beach Island, N.J., Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, after the region was pounded by superstorm Sandy the previous week.
/ AP Photo/Mel Evans

[globalcloud]

AFTER Sandy. Your insurance company won't what my CLAIM?
Now what?
http://www.pplonlinetools.com/video.php?uid=sukcqmc6ssse86ci
Do you know 3 people that need help NOW you would refer to me?
USAF VET

[carolhill814]

I think I would simply faint because it looks like everything is lost.

MAY GOD GIVE ALL OF THE PEOPLE THE STRENGTH TO GO THROUGH THIS REALLY TOUGH TIME NOW AND FOR ALL TIME AS I AM CERTAIN HE WILL!!!