"I've been to sandy places such as Tunisia and the Sahara and seen those endless dunes, but the dunes here were the most intense shade of red I've ever seen in my life, " said Day.

CNN: Swimsuits on seven continents

It was not good news in portions of New York and New Jersey, where homes destroyed by Superstorm Sandy in places such as Staten Island and Far Rockaway, Queens, lacked basic utilities needed to restore heat.

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In lower Manhattan, where I live, the situation is probably made worse by last-minute reassignments of voter to new polling places after Hurricane Sandy.

FORBES: New York's New Voting System Is a Disaster

One piece of advice: New York residents in counties declared disaster zones after Hurricane Sandy can go to polling places outside their districts to vote by affidavit.

FORBES: New York's New Voting System Is a Disaster

The worries were especially pronounced in places slammed by Sandy.

CNN: February 9, 2013 -- Updated 0314 GMT (1114 HKT)

On the plus side, Becker said Alaska and Southwest had limited exposure to Sandy and may be good places to invest, given their strong balance sheets and historic results.

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But Sandy showed that some of these places may be uneconomic to protect and service.

FORBES: No, Let's Not Rebuild Parts of New York Area

In October 2012, Superstorm Sandy demolished miles of beach along the US Eastern seaboard and left thousands of residents without homes or places of employment.

BBC: Jersey Shore reopens post Superstorm Sandy