1.  List major damage along the East Coast caused by Hurricane Sandy described in the article. (NOTE: This article gives an general overall picture of the results of the storm in the New York area.  Several other states were affected as well.  There is so much coverage in the media - do your own research for how Sandy affected specific states/areas.)

2.  What areas were hardest hit by the storm?

3.  How long do officials think recovery will take?

4.  Why did thousands of people in Atlantic City, NJ, need to be rescued by emergency responders?

5.  What were some of the reactions of residents to the storm as described in the article? (What did they think about the storm before/after?)

6.  Many forecasters predicted for days that Hurricane Sandy would be the storm of the century, a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon - "Frankenstorm."  Many East Coast residents did not believe the dire warnings, and many in flood-prone areas did not heed mandatory evacuation orders.  A Brooklyn resident was quoted as saying: "We should have been smarter." Officials "should've really got us out of here, though."

When does government have the responsibility to look out for citizens' welfare and at what point do you think residents should take responsibility for themselves, watch the weather reports and make their own decisions on their safety?