Shore Marina Owners Say They Need Help To Rebuild From Sandy

At the Great Bay Marina in Little Egg Harbor, the devastation and destruction from Hurricane Sandy are still on display. Two months after the superstorm blew in, there's still a lot of questions about how and if this will all get rebuilt.

"Nobody's helping us or doing anything for us," says Doug Adams who works at the marina.

"We'll just have to see what we can afford and what we can rebuild," says marina owner Tom Paxton.

Paxton and his family have run the 140-slip marina for forty years. He says Sandy dealt a cruel blow here, most of the docks were destroyed. His refueling station was torn up. His restaurant and bait shop got clobbered, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. A good part of it is not covered by insurance or eligible for any form of federal or state funding.

"They say basically go borrow the money and do it yourself," Paxton told FOX 29. "I'd like to see some grants for marinas because I don't know of any of them that have insurance on docks."

Paxton and fellow marina owners here in Ocean County held a press conference Monday demanding some answers from state and federal officials. They say they have nowhere to turn for financial help and the only way to rebuild some of their destroyed property is pay for it themselves.

"Did you put a ballpark figure on this damage yet," was asked. "I couldn't even imagine it, it's just staggering,: Paxton said

Paxton's son in law Doug Adams says the cleanup work is never ending. Rebuilding will be a huge struggle. He says someone needs to step up any offer assistance or the marinas will struggle to survive and boating season could be in jeopardy.

"Bills are piling up. Can't pay nothing cause we got no income," he said.

"We depend a lot on the other boaters in the area, the local people and they aren't going to be here," Paxton added.

Paxton says he plans to be up and running in some capacity this year, not 100 percent, but close. He doesn't know how, but he's determined to get it done.