One week ago today, Hurricane Sandy crashed onto the East coast, leveling entire communities and leaving millions of victims in its wake. From the Rockaways, to the Jersey Shore to Staten Island, once busy neighborhood streets are now lined by shells of homes that have been gutted by floods or fire. There are a lot of people who have to start over, but even the ones who lost so much know they’re lucky to be alive. The Dresch family knows that feeling all too well.

“One day at a time. That’s how we’re dealing.” -Jo Ann Moyer

As Hurricane Sandy began to hammer down on Staten Island, Betsy Harasym and her 21-year-old son, Greg, went to move the family cars to higher ground. They had to drive just two blocks away to do that, but as they did, the flood water rose so quickly they couldn’t get back to their house where Betsy’s 17-year-old son, Joe, was stranded alone.

“Words can’t describe what I felt.” -Betsy Harasym

Jon Bon Jovi cut his European tour short when he heard the news about Hurricane Sandy’s devastating impact. The New Jersey native rushed back to his home state and rolled up his sleeves to help those who needed it most.

“Like many other people I didn’t listen to the warnings.” -Jon Bon Jovi

A Jersey boy at heart, Jon Bon Jovi spent his summers on the beaches of the Jersey Shore, an area hit hard by Sandy. The rocker talks to Katie about the destruction there and what it will take to rebuild.

“We’re a real tough bunch. We will rebuild it.”-Jon Bon Jovi

You may know Steve Buscemi from his roles in Fargo, The Big Lebowski and Boardwalk Empire, but before he was an award-winning actor, he was a New York City firefighter. After 9/11, he volunteered with his old unit. This past weekend, he headed out to the Rockaways and the hardest hit area, Breezy Point, where so many of his FDNY brothers and sisters live, and had once again lost so much.

“I’ve never seen devastation like this.” -Steve Buscemi

Belle Harbor, another community on the Rockaway peninsula, has also endured more than its share of heartache through the years. The community lost dozens of first responders on 9/11, and just weeks later when an American Airlines plane crashed there killing 265 people. Now, the neighborhood has been hit once again, this time by Sandy. Katie walked around the community with retired firefighter Keith Green, meeting a lot of everyday people who have become heroes.

“When things like this do happen, everybody comes together.” -Keith Green