(MCT) — BEACH HAVEN, N.J. — Sandy’s departure from the Northeast Tuesday brought no hint of relief, revealing instead a tableau of splintered trees, severed beaches, shuttered businesses, and the harsh reality that the storm will test even the most hardened resolve in weeks to come.

The U.S. death toll rose to 50, including three children, and estimates of the property damage soared to $20 billion, which would make Sandy among the nation’s costliest natural disasters. More than 8 million homes and businesses in 17 states were without power, half of them in New York and New Jersey. Some outages could stretch into next week.