Work Crews Begin Demolishing Storm-Wrecked Homes in Mantoloking, N.J.

Work crews are beginning to demolish storm-damaged homes in the Jersey shore town that was hit hardest by Superstorm Sandy.

Minor debris removal has already started in Mantoloking, and the first of 50 storm-wrecked houses were expected to be demolished by Tuesday.

The first home to be torn down sits near the Mantoloking Bridge, where the surge from the Oct. 29 storm cut a new channel from the ocean to the Barnegat Bay, necessitating a massive emergency repair project to fill it in.

Every one of Mantoloking’s 521 homes was either damaged or destroyed by the storm.

The Ocean County borough will be one of the Jersey shore spots visited next week by Britain’s Prince Harry as part of his tour of America.