Sandy hit the northeast coast on Oct 29th and has left over $50 billion in damages to the New York area alone. The storm has proven to be one of the most costliest storms after Katrina which hit the Atlantic region in 2005.
Not only is the cost hitting locals hard but the loss of loved ones and friends who can't be replaced. The death toll is now over 100 deaths, 43 of which are from the New York area. Over a 160,000 are without power in 10 states, gas is hard to come by, not to mention the lack of food and water for some.
Life is definitely not easy for those on the east coast and they are needing as much help as they can get. It's hard to fathom such a tragedy when you aren't going through such an ordeal. What movie are you going to see this weekend? What new electronic are you going to buy? These are not questions Hurricane Sandy victims are asking, instead they are focusing on bigger issues such as provding food and water for their families, or trying to find a power source to connect with their families to let them know they are ok.
There are tons of local gatherings that are happening to help the victims, but if you aren't local you can still pitch in. Organizations such as Samaritan's Purse and the American Red Cross are making it easy to donate with their online efforts. If you are able to donate please do so, a little bit can really go a long way.