SEASIDE HEIGHTS, New Jersey (AP) — The shore town that Snooki and gang made famous and synonymous with their show "Jersey Shore" took a heavy hit from superstorm Sandy, with homes splintered and buried in sand, roofs flattened, the boardwalk buckled and amusement rides dumped in the ocean.

Its famous summer residents sent their prayers to those affected.

"Sandy destroyed Seaside — our second home," Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi told MTV News in a statement. "It's devastating to see our boardwalk and favourite spots ruined. My prayers go out to everyone affected by the storm."

Huge piles of sand choked the streets blocks from the beach on the narrow barrier island as construction vehicles entered the ghost town Wednesday.

Police Chief Thomas Boyd described the island scene as one of "total devastation."

A police officer on duty Wednesday night said the house used to film "Jersey Shore" survived the storm but didn't say if it had been damaged.

Appearing Tuesday on "The Tonight Show," Jenni "JWoww" Farley was asked by host Jay Leno about the house she owns with her fiance, Roger, in neighboring Toms River.

"Fixable, I want to say. It's really, it like hurts the heart a lot. It's really kind of devastating," she said. "But as long as like my dogs, Roger's safe, my friends are safe, we're just all without power."

Vinny Guadagnino told MTV that Seaside Heights had become his second home, while Paul "Pauly D" DelVecchio sent thanks to the "heroes" who were working to help. Sammi Giancola called the impact "devastating."

Guadagnino tweeted that the New York City borough of Staten Island, where he lives, "looks like war zone" and posted a picture of a downed tree.

He, Farley and DelVecchio asked their Twitter followers to donate US$10 to the American Red Cross by texting REDCROSS to 90999. Polizzi also said she would donate but was more true to form: "Ugh trying to change my son's diaper while holding a flash light is not easy," she wrote from East Hanover, using the hashtag "nopower."