Whether they live in a house, on the ground floor of a building, or a dozen stories up, the six weeks since Sandy hit has been tough for New Yorkers who live in the Rockaways. NY1's Michael Herzenberg filed the following report.

More than five feet of water flooded the Mahadeos' Rockaways home during Hurricane Sandy. They spent $50,000 on new floors, walls and electricity waiting for flood insurance to pay out.

"You never think it's going to happen to you," said Seeta Mahadeo.

"I borrowed the money to fix my home, I love my home, I love 43rd Street," said Deosaran Mahadeo.

But outside the home it's a different world. Piles of household debris line beach 43rd Street. Neighbors complain sanitation workers haven't picked up in the area lately.

"We keep on calling sanitation and they're not returning our call," said Seeta Mahadeo.

But the Department of Sanitation -- which has gotten great reviews from other storm victims -- returned NY1's call and promises to clean the street Monday.

The Mahadeos say they're still staying with friends and want to come home to a clean street next week.

Meantime, Delia Burks says she's stuck in her 13th floor apartment and her daughter has respiratory infections. She blames mold she says has grown since Sandy hit.

"Only the strong survive but I don't think we can be strong right now," Burks said.

She also worries her daughter's illness could be from mice she says have invaded her public housing apartment.

"We've been finding a lot of cases of upper respiratory infections," said Nastaran Mohit of Occupy Sandy.

Mohit coordinates the medical response in the Rockaways for Occupy Sandy, bringing the Burks a prescription she says she finds that disaster-related confusion can compound health problems.

"We're finding residents that can't access basic health care and are having issues finding their primary care physician," Mohit said.

The New York City Housing Authority says it will look into the complaints at the Beach 41st Street houses and will follow up with NY1.