Five years after Superstorm Sandy rocked the region, Gerritsen Beach is still rebuilding.

Construction is underway lifting and repairing homes through the Build it Back program. About 81 percent of the area's homes are complete so far.

Ralph Granata says he fumed over the slow pace of repairs -- but when his house was finally ready, he became the program's borough field coordinator and says it opened his eyes.

"I was on the other side thinking nothing was happening," he says. "Now I see there's some seriously dedicated individuals making this happen."