The US National Guard has released aerial footage of the New Jersey coastline in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

US PRESIDENT Barack Obama inspected the devastation from Sandy, flying high over flooded neighbourhoods, sand-strewn streets and a burning fire that charred homes along the New Jersey coastline.

Just six days before America goes to the polls, Mr Obama came to survey the damage in neighbouring New Jersey, where tens of thousands of homes are under water and millions of families without power.

His visit came as storm-battered New York got slowly back on its feet with Wall Street and the city's airports getting up and running after a powerful storm that left more than 50 Americans dead.

With election day less than a week away, Mr Obama's visit to view the aftermath of the rare autumn storm was layered with political implications. His tour guide was New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican and top supporter of presidential nominee Mitt Romney. Mr Christie joined Mr Obama on a Marine One helicopter ride over the region.

After the aerial tour, Mr Obama traveled to a community centre in Brigantine, northeast of Atlantic City, where about 50 people had taken shelter and other residents were visiting for food, a hot shower or to power up their cellphones. After both men doles out hugs and handshakes at the shelter, Mr Christie said it's "really important to have the president of the United States" in New Jersey. To the chagrin of some Republicans, Mr Christie has lavished praise on Mr Obama for his efforts in helping states deal with the storm.

Mr Obama was equally effusive about Mr Christie, telling residents that "your governor is working overtime" to repair the damage from the storm. "The entire country has been watching what's been happening. Everybody knows how hard Jersey has been hit," Mr Obama said. Even though politics infuse every moment in the final week before Election Day, the White House sought to focus attention on the storm, an event that has given Mr Obama an opportunity to project presidential leadership in the final days of the tightly contested White House race.