Hurricane Sandy Help

The pictures posted online about the aftermath of Hurricane/Super Storm Sandy are horrible and heartbreaking, but at the same time, they're just pictures and stories.  None of it really seemed to hit home for me.  My brother, cousins, and other friends and family up in New York and New Jersey had to deal with downed branches and trees, lack of power, and cold weather, but eventually they all got back up and running and back to (mostly) normal and they're all fine.  Sure my cousin posted pictures of huge 40ft pine trees uprooted, and another cousin posted a link to the huge transit issues that have arisen in NYC, but once again, it didn't seem dire.  Yesterday a friend of mine from college posted a letter about her recent trip to the Rockaways to help with clean up there and all of a sudden, it hit me.  Read her letter.  And look into helping whether it be her recommendation of Occupy Sandy or other sources mentioned here. 

(top image from here)