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Crowdfunding is a simple way for anyone to ask for money online from friends, family and even strangers. One woman raised $10,000 to help her neighbors affected by Hurricane Sandy. She's been hand-delivering checks to owners of damaged businesses and people who just need the extra lift.

Hurricane Sandy wrecked hundreds of thousands of cars along the New York and New Jersey shorelines, and could cost auto insurers around $800 million. That's not the companies' only problem, though; disposing of these water-damaged vehicles isn't so simple.

A month after Hurricane Sandy pounded the New Jersey Shore, Atlantic City is back in business. Even though most of the casinos, restaurants and the famous boardwalk sustained very little damage in the storm, they're now suffering from a lack of visitors.

The Obama administration is expected to ask for $50 billion to $60 billion. Top administrators told Congress Wednesday that they want at least some of that money to go toward preventing the kind of devastation caused by Sandy and other recent storms.

Residents of Summit, N.J., waited weeks for the power to return after Superstorm Sandy. That's in stark contrast to the nearby town of Madison, where the lights were on in just a few days. Madison owns its own utility company — and after its shining performance, Summit is weighing the idea, too.

Many in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic couldn't get to stores and were out of work for at least a short time because of the destruction Sandy wrought. That dampened spending and cut into incomes.

A couple of bright moments in a city still recovering from a dark storm: On Staten Island, people were startled by the dreamlike spectacle of two men chasing an escaped zebra and pony down the street — with lassos. And in Manhattan, Rockefeller Center lit up with 45,000 lights — on an 80-foot Christmas tree.

Not everyone affected by Superstorm Sandy has found relief in the government programs and charities helping to rebuild lives. Many immigrants, both legal and undocumented, face higher hurdles than most in the wake of a natural disaster.

In a period of just nine days following Superstorm Sandy, $740 million was donated for relief efforts. It was an unprecedented level of giving. But in past disasters like Hurricane Katrina, the money dried up after the early donations. The key may be planning for the long haul.

After Superstorm Sandy, Kathleen Chaney found a bundle of letters along the New Jersey shore. Tied with a pink ribbon and thoroughly soaked, the letters tell the story of a wartime romance.