Two years ago today Superstorm Sandy hit the shores of the EastCoast, changing residents' lives and making a big impact on theinsurance industry. The storm surge that resulted from Sandydestroyed homes along the Jersey Shore and Long Island; floodedlower Manhattan and major transportation hub Hoboken, disruptingpublic transportation for months; knocked out power for days formost residents across the area; and erroded beaches along theentire coast, as far down south as South Carolina.

Superstorm Sandy caused $18.75 billion in property losses across15 states and Washington D.C., excluding flood insurance claimscovered by FEMA, according to the Insurance Information Institute(I.I.I.) and ISO’s Property Claim Services (PCS). New Jersey andNew York suffered the largest losses, with $9.65 billion and 6.3billion accrued respectively. So far, Sandy is the third mostcostly hurricane in U.S. history by insured losses.

As of July 2014, FEMA has paid $7.72 billion in claims andcontinues to accept claims from New Jersey residents after grantingGov. Chris Christie's request for a third claim deadlineextension. Many residents are still struggling to get the aid theyneed to rebuild their homes as FEMAinvestigates fraudulent aid distribution.

Here's a look at how areas affected by Superstorm Sandycontinued to recover in the past year.

Jan. 18, 2014 | Trenton, N.J.

Dusty Hinz of Philadelphia protests outside the Statehouse inTrenton, N.J. Hinz and a small group of protesters were upset withhow the state was distributing relief funding for Superstorm Sandyvictims.

(AP Photo/MelEvans)

Feb. 24, 2014 | Keansburg, N.J.

Debris left from a house that was demolished after it wasdamaged by Superstorm Sandy sits in Keansburg, N.J.

A settlement reached on May 30, 2014 between the state of NewJersey and three civil rights and housing groups requires the stateto direct more storm recovery aid to low-income homeowners andrenters, and to re-evaluate every rejected application to thestate's main housing recovery program.

One of three storm water drainage pipes in Keansburg, N.J. thatwere damaged during Superstorm Sandy. Work to repair the pipes andrestore Keansburg's beach to its pre-Sandy condition was set tobegin the following week, accoding to federal officials.

(AP Photos/WayneParry)

March 2, 2014 | Toms River, N.J.

A section of Route 35 in Toms River N.J. that has been closedfor months for reconstruction. Work to repair the heavily traveledhighway, which was badly damaged in Superstorm Sandy, causedtraffic delays and disruptions to daily life for many Ocean Countyshore towns.

(AP Photo/WayneParry)

April 25, 2014 | Seaside Heights,N.J.

A construction worker labors on the rebuilding of the SeasidePark boardwalk in Seaside Heights, N.J. following last September's massive fire that burned down the Seaside Parkside of the boardwalk. Previously, the boardwalk had been rebuiltfollowing Superstorm Sandy. Investigators determined the firestarted in wiring under the boardwalk in Seaside Park that had beendamaged by exposure to storm water from Sandy.

In April, N.J. Gov. Chris Christie asked FEMA to grant N.J. residents andbusinesses that suffered property damage or destruction inSuperstorm Sandy an additional six-month extension to file a proofof loss claim in connection with the storm. The deadline wasextended from Apr. 28 to Oct. 30, 2014.

(AP Photo/JulioCortez)

May 12, 2014 | Ortley Beach, N.J.

A house across from the ocean in the Ortley Beach section ofToms River, N.J., in much the same condition as it was the dayafter Superstorm Sandy destroyed it. As the second summer afterSandy arrived, getting back to normal was still a long way off someat the Jersey shore.

Mantoloking, N.J.

A house on the Mantoloking, N.J. beachfront being elevated toprotect against future storms like Superstorm Sandy.

Later that month, FEMA announced plans to distribute $2.5 billion to New York,New Jersey, and cities affected by Superstorm Sandy in the thirdand final round of a flexible grant program. Nearly $882 millionwas been earmarked for N.J.; $606 million for New York state; and$994 million for New York City. Connecticut and Rhode Island alsoreceived more aid.

In the first two rounds of funding, the federal governmentallocated nearly $3.3 billion for New Jersey and more than $7billion for New York and New York City. New Jersey officials saidnearly $18 billion in unmet needs for housing, economicdevelopment, and infrastructure will remain after the second roundof funding is spent.

(AP Photos/WayneParry)

June 2, 2014 | Ocean Grove, N.J.

Rebuilding the boardwalk in Ocean Grove, N.J. was delayedbecause of a funding dispute with the federal government. By thebeginning of June 2014, the project was underway and was expectedto be completed by the end of the month.

June 4, 2014 | Sayreville, N.J.

A heavy equipment operator tears down a house in Sayreville,N.J. that was damaged in Superstorm Sandy.The work is part of a$300 million program in which New Jersey is buying homes inflood-prone areas and tearing them down to create natural buffersagainst future storms, and to avoid costly and repetitive repairsto homes that are likely to flood again.

(AP Photos/WayneParry)

June 23, 2014 | Brigantine, N.J.

Two buildings are under construction on the edge of a waterwayin Brigantine, N.J. In its first major rewrite of coastalprotection rules since Superstorm Sandy, New Jersey is proposingchanges that would make it easier for some new or expandeddevelopment along the Jersey shore and the state's urbanwaterways.

(AP Photo/WayneParry)

July 1, 2014 | Folly Beach, S.C.

Equipment used to rebuild the beach at Folly Beach, S.C., isseen on the beach.

A spokeswoman with the federal Bureau of Ocean and EnergyManagement said on Aug. 14, 2014 that the states along the EastCoast will be getting money from funds Congress approved for therecovery from Superstorm Sandy to evaluate sand deposits in federalwaters three miles or more offshore that could be used to rebuildbeaches and the coastline in the wake of another severe storm. Atotal of $400,000 is coming to the two Carolinas.

(AP Photo/BruceSmith)

Breezy Point, Queens, N.Y. | July 4, 2014

The foundation of a house ruined by fire stands in theoceanfront community of Breezy Point in the Queens borough of NewYork. A religious statue once stood in front of the home, one of130 lost during the storm. New homes in the background reflect therebuilding spirit of the community.

(AP Photo/MarkLennihan)

Sept. 5, 2014 | Lindenhurst, N.Y.

Gary Silberman stands in his parent's home that was destroyed bySuperstorm Sandy in Lindenhurst, N.Y. After Silberman receivednearly $17,000 in assistance from FEMA, the agency is demanding areturn on the funds.

Accordingto the Associated Press and Pekin Times, FEMA is looking into4,500 households it suspects received improper payments afterSandy. As of September, FEMA had asked nearly 850 of thosehouseholds to return a collective $5.8 million.

(AP Photo/JohnMinchillo)

Oct. 9, 2014 | Mantoloking, N.J.

Workers labor on the new seawall construction project to protectMantoloking, N.J. from the Atlantic Ocean. As the secondanniversary of Superstorm Sandy approaches, New Jersey says it hasacquired 80% of the easements it needs to do shore protection workalong the coast.

The town is gearing itself for future storms after most of theproperties in the barrier island community were damaged bySandy.

(AP Photo/JulioCortez)

Oct. 21, 2014 | Mantoloking, N.J.

Homes that have been restored after Superstorm Sandy are seennear long steel sheets that will be driven by heavy equipment intothe dunes to make a protective barrier near the ocean inMantoloking. The project to install a 4-mile-long steel wall is anexpensive effort that the state says is needed to protect thecommunities but that some residents and environmentalistsoppose.

(AP Photo/MelEvans)