As Sandy fades after days of inflicting misery, the extent of the superstorm's tragedy is becoming clearer.

Dozens of families are making funeral arrangements, with Sandy's death toll standing at 88 in the United States and at least 157 overall, including in the Caribbean and Canada.

Now that floodwaters have begun to recede, those in the hardest-hit areas are sifting through enormous physical wreckage and, in many cases, are facing a steep emotional toll as they try to cope with personal and community loss.

In countless cases, storm victims are relying on help from authorities, neighbors and strangers. Many are leaning on faith to deal with Sandy's overwhelming impact.

A running CNN tally reflects a steady restoration of power, but a little more than 4.8 million customers remained without electricity on Thursday morning in 15 states and the District of Columbia.

Here's a look at how Sandy has affected the United States:

CONNECTICUT

-- The state is taking steps to speed up repairs to the state's seawalls by allowing people to begin them and later "follow-up with us for necessary paperwork," Gov. Dannel Malloy announced.

"This process will help people move quickly to secure and protect their property, while ensuring that important environmental protections remain in place," Malloy said in a statement.

-- As in several other states, Connecticut homeowners will save thousands in insurance costs after Malloy declared that Sandy did not make landfall as a hurricane, exempting them from insurers' hurricane deductibles.

-- Some residents did not evacuate in Hartford/New Haven because they had never experienced flooding in their neighborhoods and had to call on rescuers to help them out of their homes, CNN affiliate WFSB-TV reported.

-- Malloy visited shoreline communities hit hardest Wednesday, beginning his tour with a stop at a church.

-- On his YouTube channel, he released aerial video of storm damage. He also announced free rail service for Thursday and Friday to Grand Central station.

-- President Barack Obama signed a disaster declaration for the state, freeing up federal funds.

-- The death toll stands at four, according to Scott DeVico, a Connecticut emergency management official. The victims -- one of them an Easton firefighter -- were killed by falling trees.

DELAWARE

-- Gov. Jack Markell has ended the state of emergency for Superstorm Sandy, and officials have reopened all previously evacuated areas.

-- Attorney General Beau Biden, son of Vice President Joe Biden, warned residents to keep an eye out for scammers "attempting to defraud homeowners" with phony home repair offers.

-- Delmarva Power predicted power will be fully restored by 6 p.m. Friday.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA