NEW YORK (AP) - Several homes in New York's Staten Island that were damaged beyond repair by Superstorm Sandy are being demolished.
    
Some homeowners called in bulldozers on their own to remove shattered homes in the 11 weeks since the storm. But the first city-facilitated demolitions started today.
    
So far, the city is not tearing down houses in the Rockaways section of Queens or in Brooklyn.
    
In the days after the storm, city Buildings Department inspectors visited the impacted neighborhoods and identified homes considered unsafe.
    
Homeowners have the chance to come up with a repair plan. They must sign written consents before the city will start demolition.
    
The city doesn't charge property owners for storm-related demolitions.

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