Trip to Mantoloking NJ [PHOTOS]

Today we got a chance to go on a tour of the devastated barrier island of Mantoloking, NJ.

A group of various media boarded a bus escorted by Brick Chief of police Nells Burquist, Brick Mayor Steve Acropolis, and Colonel Brian Griefer from the National Guard.

We headed over the Mantoloking bridge, and the first thing we noticed was the Army Corp of Engineers has built a steel wall where a breech of the Atlantic Ocean occurred.

We drove south on Route 35. What once was a one way highway, has been turned into two way to to various sink holes in places.

We stopped at different check points to exit the bus and take some photos. At various points we noticed the National Guard checking credentials and making sure the proper people belonged there. Security is extremely TIGHT. Safety and looting are the two biggest issues. It's unsafe to walk in so many areas due to the destruction of the area.

We got to the Brick/Toms River border. Headed East towards the beach and got to witness first hand the ruins of the once beautiful homes.

After spending some time there, we boarded the buses, and heading back north, and then back to the mainland.

The amount of devastation is mind blowing. We only got to see a small piece of the aftermath from Superstorm Sandy. My heart breaks for the people that have lost so much. If not EVERYTHING.

Talking to the officials on scene, they say this is worse in some instances the Hurricane Katrina that devastated the Gulf. They kept on reiterating, this is going to take a long time to rebuild. They can't even begin to put a timetable on it.

I could imagine what Mantoloking looked like 2 weeks ago. My hat goes off to the workers who have been there around the clock. The amount of work that has been done is amazing. Thank you to everybody involved in the relief effort.

Restoretheshore.com

Here are pictures from today's tour of Mantoloking, NJ

To see photos from Seaside Heights click here