The East Coast is no stranger to inclement weather, though it may very well have been unprepared for recent events. Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on the East Coast earlier this week, leaving such areas as Atlantic City, New York City and Long Island destroyed in its wake.

The issue is not one of poor alert. Meteorologists predicted Hurricane Sandy’s landfall as early as Wednesday, October 24th, four days before it made impact. Though its exact path might not have been entirely clear—after all, its trajectory did shift a hundred miles as it made landfall on Monday, October 29th—everybody knew that Hurricane Sandy was going to hit, and, in turn, the question must be asked: Could we have done more?

Here in the Capital Region, the threat was not taken lightly, especially in light of last year’s Hurricane Irene. People gathered necessary rations, and businesses and schools operated accordingly. Fortunately, bar some wind and rain, the Capital Region was spared. Even still, school districts such as our own received flak for acting preemptively—as if any other choice could have been made.

The hundred-mile trajectory change made all the difference. Had Hurricane Sandy’s path remained constant, there’s no telling the damage it could have brought to the Capital Region, especially to areas founded on water such as Schoharie and the stockade section of Schenectady. It’s for that reason Mayor Jennings had to declare a state of emergency in Albany on Monday afternoon and Superintendent Marguerite Vanden Wyngaard, Ph.D, closed Albany city schools on Monday and Tuesday. The decision may seem rash in hindsight, but given the possibilities the storm could have brought, it was certainly the right one.

As of Thursday, November 1st, the total death toll from the storm is 88, with 40 stemming from New York City alone; both numbers will likely go up as the cleanup effort continues. Surely many more have been injured in some capacity by the storm. And structural damage isn’t even a question; the Atlantic City boardwalk is no more, and much of New York City remains underwater. Suffice it to say, Hurricane Sandy has left an impact that won’t soon be forgotten.

As the storm fizzles out, two questions must be asked. First, how do we undo the damage? Surely it will be a team effort, not only of those directly affected but also of those on the periphery. Witty banter regarding the storm’s nature isn’t helpful in any way; however, any sort of effort, be it tangible or simply a matter of concern and prayer, goes a long way. Such a mindset will help us put Hurricane Sandy in the rearview mirror as quickly as possible.

The remaining question is how to take future preventive measures. For each person in New York City and Atlantic City who heeded the warnings, there was likely another who defied evacuation notices and challenged the forces of nature. Such rashness cannot be taken lightly, especially when rescue personnel use all available resources to ensure the safety of these people—putting themselves, and other victims, at risk. Storms of this nature have to be taken seriously, regardless of how inconvenient or foolish it may seem to any given person.

The damage Hurricane Sandy has brought to the East Coast is immeasurable, but not irreversible. We in the Capital Region know this from experience: it may have taken us a year, but regions like Schoharie have once again found their footing after Hurricane Irene. Ultimately, the solution is a combination of awareness and unity. Our ability to join together as a common people shall help us put Hurricane Sandy behind us, and our willingness to acknowledge forthcoming threats shall help us prevent future disasters.