New Jersey - Area Code 609

As more news comes out of the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and the flooding across the state, one word of caution is in order: "Don't give up hope." Hurricane Hazel's flooding devastated the area last week, but that is far from the only storm to strike the area. In fact, most areas of the New Jersey coastline have been devastated by two or more storms in the past several years. While there are no guarantees that the state will recover from the damage of these storms, it does mean that you should try and rebuild your life. Here's how you can get started on the road to recovery.

After the arrests of several dozen New Jersey citizens on Sunday for what local authorities said was looting and rioting following an unruly protest, Atlantic City issued an overnight curfew which remains in place until further notice. Of those arrested, six are residents of Jersey City, and the others hail from Atlantic County, where many areas of the city were hit by Hurricane Sandy. All six have been charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, assault, criminal mischief and obstruction of governmental administration.

In the East Jersey section of New Jersey, a number of businesses were destroyed during Hurricane Sandy and many residents are left without power. The damage in East Jersey includes at least five commercial buildings destroyed, one apartment complex that may never be able to house tenants again, and several homes that were damaged or completely destroyed. Most East Jersey residents are experiencing power outages of up to 10 hours and have not been able to return home.

Trenton and Atlantic City are still experiencing some of the worst flooding ever experienced. In Trenton, about nine inches of water have flooded the downtown core. In Atlantic City, some residents had to flee their homes due to the level of flooding. Many residents in the area have said that even though they are not experiencing flood damage, the water that has seeped into the area since the storm has affected their homes and lives negatively.

While many residents and businesses in the New Jersey region will be dealing with a long road ahead to recovering, one thing is certain: there is plenty of room for optimism. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has already assured that the state will be back on track within a month. Whether that means Atlantic City and Trenton will be rebuilt fully, or whether New Jersey's largest city, Jersey City, which suffered more than ten feet of water, will ever fully recover, remains to be seen.

There are a number of reasons to be optimistic about the condition of New Jersey. A storm that devastated much of the coastline left thousands of homes in ruins but has left many businesses operating in business mode. As residents and business owners work their way out of the flooded areas of New Jersey, it is important to note that many of those who stayed behind, and those who lost homes, have set up a fund in order to provide needed funds to rebuild.