22 years. >> when i left everything was intact, and when i came back yesterday morning to this... this... >> reporter: most of the water has recede. now the cleanup begins. >> get my mother's picture. >> reporter: her family helped pick through the mess left behind. >> i'm going out of this property in a box. i assure you of that. i am not leaving. >> reporter: ernst wants to rebuild. her daughter mary says that will be very difficult. >> everything she has is right here and it's practically gone. it's all gone. she doesn't have anything. >> reporter: scott, officials caution they are still a long way from deciding who can move back. the more immediate concern is getting the power back. 60,000 remain without it in atlantic county. >> pelley: jeff, thank you. after the flood came the flames. a house fire erupted in a town underwater. sandy brought an early start to ski season. and they climbed 72 floors to