As Gov. Chris Christie delivered his State of the State Address Tuesday afternoon, New Jersey residents who are trying to rebuild after Hurricane Sandy talked to FOX 29 about what they still need.
Fortescue is a tiny beach town facing the Delaware Bay in Cumberland County. "This is paradise here, this is really paradise," insisted longtime resident Al Munger. But a big piece of paradise has been lost.
Munger took FOX 29 on a walk along Fortescue Beach, to show the damage from the hurricane. "He just built the front out, a 14-foot deck, it's not there no more," Munger said, pointing to a home that sustained major damage.
Munger has lived in Fortescue for more than 30 years. He still sees far more damage than renovation long after Sandy left town. "He was going to sell his house and now it's pretty well destroyed, the front of it," Munger said. The homeowner is not selling it now. "Yeah, not without a lot of repairs," Munger added.
Some repairs are under way in Fortescue, but the going is slow. While the state and the nation focus on the devastation down the Jersey shore, Fortescue spends a lot of time waiting its turn. The mayor of Fortescue calls his town "the other Jersey shore." He estimates Fortescue lost between 30 to 40 homes. He's not exactly sure, because like so many others here, he's waiting to find out whether some homes might be salvageable."
But many contractors are busy rebuilding elsewhere, and not quite available yet. Homeowners here say insurance companies are still holding off making full payments. And as Governor Christie has complained, Congress is dragging its feet with federal aid, so too many residents are in a holding pattern.
Munger hopes financial help arrives soon. "These people are good, good, good people. And that's why I'd like to see them getting a lot more help than they're getting. There could be a lot more help," Munger insisted.
Until that help arrives, paradise remains somewhere off in the distant future.
Friday, May 17 2013 6:08 PM EDT2013-05-17 22:08:49 GMT
A man in Montgomery County is determined to shock and disgust unsuspecting women, even if they're with their young children.If you were lucky enough to get outside Friday, to a place like the Perkiomen
A man in Montgomery County is determined to shock and disgust unsuspecting women, even if they're with their young children.
Tuesday, May 14 2013 5:49 PM EDT2013-05-14 21:49:13 GMT
A Hollywood A-lister takes the world by surprise by opening up about a very private matter. Angelina Jolie revealed Tuesday she chose to have a double mastectomy to lower her risk of getting cancer.
A Hollywood A-lister takes the world by surprise by opening up about a very private matter. Angelina Jolie revealed Tuesday she chose to have a double mastectomy to lower her risk of getting cancer. Jolie's not the first woman to do it, but she may be the most high profile. Her decision is touching off a serious conversation about the preventive measure.
Friday, May 24 2013 10:26 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:26:18 GMT
Philadelphia Police are looking for a man that sexually assaulted a teenage girl in Germantown.Police say the incident happened just before 11P.M. on May 19th on the 6000 block of Wister Street.The suspect
Philadelphia Police are looking for a man that sexually assaulted a teenage girl in Germantown.
Friday, May 24 2013 10:01 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:01:49 GMT
Kasey's bark may be worse than her bite. But Hamilton Township Police say the crook who tried to rob Draper Ellis late Thursday afternoon at his "May's Landing Auto Parts Store" didn't stick around
A South New Jersey business owner comes face to face with a suspected robber threatening him with a knife. Thanks to his 7-year-old family pet, the crook ran off.
Friday, May 24 2013 7:08 PM EDT2013-05-24 23:08:04 GMT
Busy planning your cook-out or trip down the shore this Memorial Day Weekend? Don't forget about the men and women for whom the holiday is observed.
Busy planning your cook-out or trip down the shore this Memorial Day Weekend? Don't forget about the men and women for whom the holiday is observed. FOX 29's Bruce Gordon spent a day with folks preparing a veterans' cemetery for its day in the spotlight.
Friday, May 24 2013 5:48 PM EDT2013-05-24 21:48:26 GMT
Surveillance video you'll see only on FOX shows chaos just after a police officer opened fire on a man who witnesses say had his hands up to surrender. Police deny that claim.
Surveillance video you'll see only on FOX shows chaos just after a police officer opened fire on a man who witnesses say had his hands up to surrender. Police deny that claim.
Friday, May 24 2013 5:30 PM EDT2013-05-24 21:30:28 GMT
Ocean City is a fabulous family-friendly, shore town that is ready for a fabulous Summer season. From the relaxing beaches to the famous boardwalk, Ocean City is safe, clean and has some of the best food
Ocean City is a fabulous family-friendly, shore town that is ready for a spectacular Summer season.
Friday, May 24 2013 4:40 PM EDT2013-05-24 20:40:06 GMT
Not the prettiest Friday, but we're ready for a great weekend. Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms throughout the day. After an early high in the upper sixties, temperatures fall & winds pick up out of the chillier northwest. Right now the Memorial Day Weekend looks sunny and cool with highs in the low to mid 60s on Saturday, in the 70s Sunday & Monday. Cooler temps at the shore.
The windows of a home are still boarded up more than two months after Sandy made its way through the area.
