>> i feel like i'm back in vietnam. >> but 14 miles away in brooklyn vietnam veteran danny smith walked to a gas line to wait for an hour for national guardsman to give him five free gallons. >> without the gas for this generator, you would be in trouble. >> i wouldn't be able to charge a cell phone. and the cell phone is your life line to the insurance companies and to other families who are trying to find out are you okay. >> and a cold night you wouldn't have heat. >> no heat. >> reporter: in brooklyn's working class gerrittsen beach community all the streets were flooded by sandy's storm surge. almost two weeks later no one here has power. >> tough? >> very tough, it is scary it is dark here at night with no lights. >> reporter: 1700 of the 2400 homes were damaged or destroyed. and residents complained they have been forgotten in the city's recovery. smith showed us the neighborhood. >> he got wiped out. she got wiped out. they got wiped out. >> reporter: his cousin's house is wet and cold. >> bathroom used to be over here. >> reporter: insurance inspectors is have yet to survey the damage caused by seven feet