Hurricane Sandy caused widespread damage along the East Coast of the United States in late October 2012. Before the storm, preparations were made like selling generators in Baltimore and placing sandbags in New York City. During the storm, flooding occurred in places like Haiti, Jamaica, Massachusetts and Atlantic City. The aftermath was devastating - Breezy Point, Queens burned to the ground, flooding reached terrifying levels in New Jersey, and a crane was left dangling in New York City. Power outages and transportation shutdowns caused major disruption for New Yorkers. Moving forward, recovery efforts and the response of politicians will be closely watched.

1. Sandy
and the aftermath
by Daniel Friedman

2. Satellite view of Hurricane Sandy as it progresses up the eastern coast of the United States.
(Photo credit: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

3. The Preparation

4. Baltimore, MD - Fred Jogerit, right, said Home Depot sold over 50 generators they had in stock.
(Photo credit: Kenneth K. Lam/The Baltimore Sun)

5. New York, NY - Con Edison workers use sandbags to cover up power vaults due to the possibility of flooding.
(Photo credit: REUTERS/Carlo Allegri)

6. Dover, DE - Air Force cadets lay sandbags at the Dover Air Force Base to stave off flooding.
(Photo credit: U.S. Air Force/Roland Balik)

7. Philadelphia, PA - Red Cross workers set up cots for those who may become displaced from the coming storm.
(Photo credit: Philly.com)

8. Westhampton Beach, NY - The Air National Guard ready their rescue helicopters for possible action.
(Photo credit:US Air Force)

9. The Storm

10. Port-au-Prince, Haiti - The waters break over the banks of the Croix de Mission river threatening homes.
(Photo credit: Reuters/Swoan Parker)

11. Port-au-Prince, Haiti - The waters break over the banks of the Croix de Mission river threatening homes.
(Photo credit: Reuters/Swoan Parker)

12. Kingston, Jamaica - Waves crash onto the sides of a house in eastern Jamaica.
(Photo credit: AP Photo/Collin Reid)

13. Marblehead, MA - Hurricane Sandy smashes into the coast of Massachusetts causing flooding.

14. New York, NY - Seawater floods into constructions sites in lower Manhattan as Sandy barrels through.
(Photo credit: AP/John Minchillo)

15. Atlantic City, NJ - Roadways in Atlantic City became fully submerged during the storm.
(Photo credit: theatlantic.com)

16. The Aftermath

17. Queens, NY - Hurricane Sandy transforms what we knew as Breezy Point to the look of a war zone.
(Photo credit: AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

18. Queens, NY - Countless houses in Breezy Point burn to the ground in fires caused by the hurricane’s wrath.
(Photo credit: Boston.com)

19. Seaside Heights, NJ - Flooding in the jersey shore rose to terrifying levels, leaving utter devastation.
(Photo credit: Boston.com)

20. New York, NY - A crane is blown off its equilibrium by the winds of Sandy, leaving it dangling in the air.
(Photo credit: djc.com)

21. New York, NY - Flood waters push cars on top of each other on South Williams Street in New York City.
(Photo credit: Forbes.com)

22. New York, NY - A parking lot filled with yellow cabs in Manhattan is flooded.
(Photo credit: AP Images)

23. New York, NY - Power outages in lower Manhattan create a breathtaking state of darkness.
(Photo credit: Allison Joyce/Getty Images)

24. Astoria, NY - Gas stations throughout the tristate area have become gas-less in the wake of the hurricane.
(Photo credit: Michele Buchholz)

25. Astoria, NY - As the storm hits, and for days after, public transportation was halted to a stand still.
(Photo credit: Michele Buchholz)

26. New York, NY - The lines for public transportation became unthinkable in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.
(Photo credit: Unknown)

27. Brooklyn, NY - With public transportation shuttered, residents used walkways to cross bridges.
(Photo credit: Unknown)

28. What’s next?

30. With the election right around the corner, all eyes are on the politicians. Special attention will be paid to the next
steps in the recovery and how well it’s executed.