6 Months After Sandy: Stunning Photos Of NJ Before & After

Walking through NYC's South Street Seaport today, you can't help but ask yourself: "Wait a second, is this place seasonal?" And though the answer is no, you can hardly blame even a seasoned New Yorker for wondering. The emptiness is strange, scary, and jarring. Even now, six months later, a banner hangs over one of the main streets reminding us all of the damage inflicted by this past fall's hurricane, and many of the storefronts remain closed.

But, there is good news, too. While many areas are still in the early stages of recovery and probably will be for the foreseeable future, other communities have been able to rebuild pretty impressively. New Jersey has had particular success, as you can see from these stunning images of heartbreaking damage and subsequent repairs released by the governor's office. The state has also received nearly $2 million in federal aid to further the work.

Progress has been made here in New York as well, including both repairs and long-term preventive measures — like building a wall to protect subway tracks from storm surges in Jamaica Bay. Still, though, many people are living with limited power and working around ruined infrastructure — parts of Breezy Point and Coney Island are two of the hardest-hit areas that present some of the toughest challenges right now.

Six months feels like a long time for many of us, and it's great to see how much has changed in some of the most ravaged areas of the coast. But it's important that we not forget about those less fortunate places, where people are still relying on the aid of others for even the most basic necessities. Here are some ways you can help out volunteer both time and money, depending on what you're most able to give. (Gothamist)