Lower Manhattan's South Street Seaport Still Far From Back To Normal

The typically busy tourist mecca looks more like a ghost town. Stores and restaurants are shuttered. Signs that read Do Not Enter are plastered all over the windows of now empty establishments.

For many business owners it'll be a while before business booms again, "even if we were to open tomorrow... it's a very depressed neighborhood. A lot of people have moved out" said Adam Weprin, owner of the Bridge Cafe.

Sherry Delamarter owns the Cow Girl Seahorse restaurant. Since Superstorm Sandy Delamarter says she has lost nearly $35,000 dollars in business a week.

"We don't have a credit card machine, we don't have a phone, you now have nothing, but it's been great for the neighbors to come and sit and really tell their flood stories. It's been a nightmare."

On Tuesday a group of elected officials visited the tourist hot spot and talked with business owners affected by the storm.

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer said the area needs a lot of help.

"We're going to need grants and loans.  We're going to need a strategic finanacial plan for a lot of these small businesses.  We're going to need to make sure we give individual attention to all the people who have lost so much."

In addition to impacting businesses, Sandy has forced many local residents to leave their powerless homes.