I think FEMA did a commendable job for thousands of Ocean County victims of the superstorm.-- and continues to do so. It has come a long way since the Katrina fiasco under Bush. (Perhaps you're sore because your million-dollar Mantoloking vacation home didn't qualify.)

The nastiness is so uncalled for. Don't begrudge someone because they have a million dollar beach house. It is their home and something they most likely worked hard for....and it is gone. So sad.

If you build your house on the sand and ocean than you take a chance, you can't expect everyone else to pay for it. FEMA is for those with primary residents, they have guidelines, maximum payouts of what is given and covered. People need to start reading the guidelines that are and have been in place. If you don't have flood by the water than that is your own fault. Read all your policies thoroughly before you start to complain. No one takes the real time to ask questions or understand both their homeowners and or flood. Another suggestion, those who can't handle this or realize this can and will happen again should really not rebuild if you don't have the stomach or the love of water.

Has the town of Little Egg Harbor and Tuckerton beach received mch press. Mystic Island was hit very hard. 100's of those homes declared inhabitable to live in. Many families have been displaced.

It's definitely political. Politicians had to show up where and who they get the most money from.

Barney, you're confused. Rick Santorium is the one who hates educated people. Remember when he called Obama an elitist snob for saying he wants every student to graduate “college and career ready" from High School.

Well said, Jennifer. A home is a home whether it's a one-room studio or a million dollar mansion. There's enough back-biting and nastiness in the world! Count yourself lucky and blessed if you still have a warm place to live.

"green", how fitting of a name for a money mooching LIBBY.

The 99% vote for Obama from Asbury... education you say?

I agree with Jennifer. Everyone who lost something in this disaster most likely worked very hard for what they had. To see that taken away is absolutely devastating. I lost my summer home and my family is heartbroken. I feel awful for everyone that lost something. This is not a political article. Take a moment and think about everything that these people lost.

Some people can no afford a first home and we are supposed to feel bad for people who lost their second home? A lot of people work very hard, but still can not afford to buy their own home, especially in this state.

I'm sorry but you have a house, on a beach, facing the ocean! Why wouldn't you protect it?

Oh my goodness...I am a bit sadden by the "wealthy" comments here. Who cares if someone had a million dollar home and lost it! It was still their home. I say God bless them if they could afford a mansion. Stop the jealousy.

Those on the beach front don't care about you....they don't even want you on the beaches behind them. So why should anyone care about them?

Those on the beach front don't care about you...they don't even want you on the beaches behind them. So why should anyone care about them.

This article was well written. Those homes did seem immune to the "sands of time?!" Did they not? But don't lose any sleep about those people on the beach there. After all if anyone has been paying attention one can see a difference in the landscape and the architecture over the course of time. Many of the homes are not the original ones. Many have been torn down and another has been rebuilt there over the years, I'd never paid much attention to the weathered clapboard houses except to know these people had cottages not shantys. But about 10 years ago all of a sudden one of my favorites was gone! I mean gone! No storm no nothing It had simply been replaced with some lesser inhabitant. But that's life. Not static.

BN, I could be wrong. I think craig's point was all the money the state receives from the tourist who go to all the business establishments that collect all the taxes and sends it to the state. The politicians are all over that money. They don't want or can afford to lose all that money. So the politicians will say and do anything in their power. Don't you think?

Shack or mansion, main residence or summer place......it's still someone's home. How would you all feel? Stop being nasty and negative.

I am truly saddened to see the devastation that resulted in Mantoloking, along with photos of the devastation caused throughout the area as result of Sandy. This was the worst storm to hit New Jersey, in the history of New Jersey. The water came in higher than it ever did before. How can you prepare for what you don't know or can expect? For those who lack the ability to commensurate with those who suffered losses in Mantoloking, ask yourself how you would feel if you knew that you're property might've been damaged but were even denied the right to see the damage for yourself. That was what happened in areas like Mantoloking, Ortley Beach and other Jersey Shore areas...the towns were deemed unsafe for the people to return for a period of time after the storm. Some of these homes may have been second homes, but others were primary residences. All of these homes held memories for someone, and now those homes are gone. Imagine what it must feel like to own a property worth $1 million one day, and then virtually nothing the next. For those who suffered as result of Sandy, know that there are those who support you.

I can feel bad for folks who lost their vacation homes. But, I still don't think that federal flood insurance (my tax dollars) should be used for them to rebuild those houses.

Why is this my problem to pay for some hedge fund managers summer vacation. They bought homes that were not insurable for way more money thanthey were worth.

Yea they were getting millions for these homes, but if a storm comes and wipes it away and you get nothing or only 250k, then you paid too much.

Merge mantoloking with Brick or Bay Head, enough all ready, I am not ready to do this again in 3 years for the next 500 year storm.

The tourist season supports the entire state and a lot of the homes are rented by the same families each summer and are as impacted as the "owners". When we "only rented" the house felt like ours and we loved being part of the wonderful shore community each summer. This tragedy goes beyond who is listed on the deed to a house.

Stop it, You know want you people sound like , give people a break. everybody lost something, Because they make more money then us, big deal.get a life, try being nice, it really works. , tough times have a heart please...

thank you

If you people used 1/2 the energy helping that you do criticizing and passing judgement, we would be in a better place. It shouldn't matter if it was Mantoloking or Union Beach or Seaside. It's my HOME STATE. I'm heartbroken for all and wish I could do more. If you don't have anything nice to say....BE QUIET.