600 displaced families will move to former military base in N.J.

As New Jersey slowly begins to get back to normal, Gov. Chris Christie gave residents a progress report in the aftermath of the massive storm Sandy that struck the state two weeks ago.

Power is back on for most New Jersey households; 98 percent of schools are open again; and odd-even gas distribution in North Jersey will end Tuesday morning, Christie said during a stop in Middletown.

He says it’s now time to focus on rebuilding.

The governor says rebuilding from Sandy will be expensive and complicated. In some instances, he said, it could take years.

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Christie said he’s focused on moving displaced residents out of shelters. The former military base at Fort Monmouth should be ready by the end of the week to provide temporary housing for up to 600 families, he said.

“We’re working this week to get the utilities turned on there again, the water and heat and electricity,” Christie said. “And we’ll be able, in what is really nice housing, to put people there temporarily as they work towards what their permanent solution is for the home that was destroyed or debilitated. “

Christie says the state will work with the Army Corps of Engineers to rebuild New Jersey’s beaches.

He expects to have an estimate on the amount of damage Sandy caused in New Jersey.

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