Janet Babin

Toms River, N.J. —

Up and down the New Jersey coast, municipalities from Sea Bright to Ortley Beach are reporting increased incidences of flooding, even in places that don’t normally flood. But officials don’t agree on why it’s happening or how to stop it.

Residents in many New Jersey coastal communities battered by Sandy watched with dread this week as wind swirled and flood waters spilled onto highways and door steps as the latest Nor'easter unfurled up the east coast.

A potential Nor'easter has New Jersey towns from Long Beach Island to Seabright, preparing for possible beach erosion, rain, snow, high winds and moderate to severe flooding. Some may...

Thousands of Sandy victims have complained since soon after the storm struck that their insurance companies were failing to help them in a timely manner.  Now, New York State’s Department of Financial Services has vindicated those complaints – at least somewhat.

Bob Dennis, parish manager for St. Margaret Mary Roman Catholic Church in Midland Beach talks about how the parish is recovering from Sandy and what the community needs to keep going. Also, Christine Mignone-Morena, owner of Bedazzle Dance Studio on Midland Ave., talks about reopening her business and how the students in her classes are responding to the damage in the community and Tracy Lotz, homeowners and member of the board of the Midland Beach Alliance, talks about her experience as a homeowner, and what new flood zone maps might mean for Midland Beach residents.

Also, Janet Babin, WNYC reporter, checks in from Freeport, New York on her road trip from Cape May to Montauk.

WNYC’s Janet Babin and Amy Pearl continue their post-Sandy #CoastCheck by talking with residents in Broad Channel, the sliver of Queens sandwiched between Howard Beach and the Rockaways. People there are still struggling to make their homes habitable.

Reporter Janet Babin made another stop along the Jersey Shore before heading to Staten Island Tuesday. She said Highlands, New Jersey still resembles a disaster area, but before the community can move forward, residents have to decide how to rebuild.

Janet Babin checks in from the next stop on her road trip from Cape May to Montauk. Also, WNYC's Robert Lewis discusses his reporting on what companies have gotten lucrative contracts post-Sandy -- and the economics of a disaster.

Three months after Sandy,  some New Jersey shore communities remain uninhabitable, without utilities and other amenities. There’s a rush to rebuild, but some geologists endorse what they call "strategic retreat" from the ocean front, especially on barrier islands.

Janet Babin, WNYC Reporter, discusses her story on the question of whether to rebuild after Sandy--and talks about her road trip along the coast from Cape May all the way to Montauk.

As communities struggle with the question of whether to rebuild or retreat after Sandy, WNYC reporter Janet Babin and videographer Amy Pearl are touring coastal towns.

Child advocates interviewed the nation’s children about what they want out of President Obama’s second term. The groups have compiled a video of the responses, and want President Obama to watch it.

Seaside Heights became the second New Jersey town to award contracts to rebuild its boardwalk this week. WNYC examines the perils of rebuilding along the Jersey shore and some mitiga...

Even after Sandy destroyed the boardwalk and flooded dozens of local businesses, the borough of Seaside Heights, NJ is determined to open its summer season by May 10.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released its proposal to clean up the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn.

Some local gun enthusiasts are vigorously supporting the NRA's proposal to place armed guards in schools.  

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie held his first town hall meeting since Sandy caused major damage to the state. He told the town hall audience in Belmar that the state still has "big problems and big challenges" to deal with seven weeks after the storm.

Despite ample evidence that big sand dunes protected some of New Jersey's coastal towns from Sandy's storm surge, the idea faces opposition from many local residents who don't want to give up their land or view.

The Lightstone Group is moving ahead with plans to build a 700-unit apartment complex near the Gowanus Canal, even though the site flooded during Sandy.