Christie tours Jersey Shore devastation

Governor Christie took a four-and-a-half hour helicopter tour of the storm ravaged Jersey Shore looking at homes surrounded by water, some blocks ending in the bay.

Now weve got a big task ahead of us that we have to do together, Christie said, according to pool reports. This is the kind of thing New Jerseyans are built fore were plenty tough and now we have a little more reason to be angry after this. Just what we need in New Jersey, a chance to be a little more angry.

He stopped in Belmar to meet with residents and local officials.

I was just here walking this place this summer and the fact that most of it is gone in just incredible, he told Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty while he surveyed the damage on Ocean Avenue.

One resident cried in his arms and Walter Patrickis, 42, told him, Governor, I lost everything.

The boardwalk south of 10th Avenue washed away in the storm. A seaside trailer was knocked of its foundation and the continued high winds were preventing power crews from starting repairs.

Christie said it would probably be at least seven to 10 days before the power is restored statewide.

Gazebos were submerged underwater, sand drifts made roads impassable and there were a few smoldering fires where foundations used to be. Boats were piled on top of one another like toys.

From the air, the hardest-hit area appeared to be where Sandy made landfall, from Seaside to Belmar.

Doherty, the Belmar mayor, said pre-storm conference calls with the governors office and local mayors helped towns be as prepared as they could.

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Christie tours Jersey Shore devastation