Devon Everett / Staff Writer
How do you know when Mother Nature is pissed? It’s hard to say, but whenever she unleashes her wrath, tens of thousands of people lose their homes, possessions or sometimes even loved ones.
Enter Hurricane Sandy. This execution of nature’s wrath killed nearly 100 people, left over 277,000 people homeless, raised the burglary rate by 6 percent, and left millions of people without power.
The storm was so devastating that Southern California Edison sent crews to New York to assist in the relief efforts. Sixteen work crews, eight trouble man crews and numerous contractors; 207 people in all, were flown into New York to aid in relief for Sandy victims.
Hopefully they can get the power running, so people can get back to their normal lives.
The crew members that were sent over to New York missed out on voting as a result.
I feel bad for them, because this election will have a significant impact on us for the next four years and they weren’t able to put their two cents in.
Several small businesses had to close and millions of people are either homeless or without power.
Pennsylvania, Virginia and North Carolina were all in the path of the storm, and these states were states that President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney were trying to take.
Their ideals and responses to the hurricane were most likely the thing that decided which candidate they voted for.
According to CBS news, “Sandy was almost as devastating and comparable in kinetic energy, a measure of sheer power, to Hurricane Katrina, although the death count was far less.”
Katrina killed nearly two thousand people, and left millions homeless.
Hurricane Katrina had a horrible relief effort, mainly because the government didn’t step in. Sandy seems to be different.
The relief efforts for Hurricane Sandy seem to being address by contractors and private businesses along with the federal government, whom is reacting with prudence.
I’m sure the government doesn’t want the same reaction from the public eye as what happened with Katrina’s relief efforts.
Aside from the American Red Cross and Southern California Edison, Barbara Walters donated $250,000 to assist in the relief efforts. Save the Children, among other private businesses, collected donations to contribute and the Marines and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are working around the clock to offer support.
The workers all have to deal with flooded areas, destroyed buildings and mountains of sand.
It is estimated that the damage done will cost roughly $50 billion to fix. Not exactly what America wants to hear amidst an economic crisis.
The subway system in New York, which millions of people relied on, has been totally crippled, forcing several people to cram into buses and fight over taxis.
With all these troubles, the low food supply, the power outage, the transportation folly, it makes me wonder how long before New York returns to its lively bustling self.
The relief may be going well, but until things are back to normal, it is going to be difficult for New York victims to adapt.
This is a good reason to stop and reflect on the things you have, because you never really know what you have until it’s gone.
And these Hurricane victims have lost one of the most precious resources: their peace of mind.
