Couple Who Both Lost Homes To Superstorm Sandy Win CT Lottery

NEW MILFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- Two strangers who found love after Superstorm Sandy left them both with nothing are buying a new home after winning the lottery.

Dennis Klaus lost his home in Brooklyn and Maryann Daino lost her home in Staten Island to the Oct. 29, 2012, storm.

Both relocated to Connecticut with help from the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. They were living in separate mobile homes on the grounds of the Faith Church in New Milford when they met and fell in love.

Now they've hit the jackpot.

On Monday, they claimed a CT Lottery prize worth $255,555.

"Unreal, we're still pinching ourselves," Klaus said.

Daino bought the winning 5 Card Cash ticket in the Oct. 12, 2014, drawing at a gas station.

"Our last few dollars and I just took $2, I got a Quick Pick," Daino said.

Klaus said they plan on buying a small colonial home in New Milford.

"It is a foreclosure and it will require a lot of work on both our parts, but it will be the house of our dreams," Klaus said. "We both lost everything, and this is a chance where we can start our life together in a town that has taken us in. It's just phenomenal."

"This house is going to really complete our healing from what we went through with Hurricane Sandy," Daino said.

Their bid on the house has been accepted and they hope to move in by the summer.