(For the week of October 29 - November 4, 2012)

Like millions of New Yorkers, I spent a sleepless Monday night listening to howling winds and rattling windows as Hurricane Sandy hit our state.

While I was among those without power, I was fortunate to have escaped damage to my home, unlike many of my Long Island neighbors and residents throughout the boroughs and suburbs of New York City, who felt the storm’s devastating impact.

This historic natural disaster brought unprecedented damage to countless New York communities. Our hearts go out to the families who lost loved ones, and to those most affected by this storm.

Against the harrowing images of damage and loss, we have also witnessed the heart and strength, determination and human concern of our great state. As the storm raged, our brave first responders risked their lives, selflessly running into harm’s way to save their fellow New Yorkers. And as we have begun to clean up, we are seeing the people of New York coming together.

As I visited the Emergency Management Center and an Emergency Shelter in my community, I was struck by the resilience and compassion of New Yorkers in the midst of this calamity. From a helping hand and a warm embrace to food, supplies and shelter – the care offered, neighbor to neighbor, has been truly inspiring.

These acts of good will, through gestures large and small, are further proof of what we already know: when New Yorkers face adversity, we run towards one another, not away. During the most trying times, we step up for our neighbors and communities. Day by day, we are recovering. I have no doubt that New York will not only rebuild what we have lost, but become stronger.