Superstorm Sandy inflicted havoc and heartache throughout the Northeast, hitting the Big Apple and its surrounding coastal towns hard.

They went into stores to get food to stay alive. Looting isn't the right word. I call it survival.

During the aftermath of Katrina, National Guard troops were positioned on every block to establish a sense of safety and source of help for the people in need. They did not leave communities until people were safe and sound.

America needs to get over it. We can't control everything. We can't control the storms.

You know, we lose more homes every year to flooding than we do any other event in America.

If I'm a leader, I have a mission.

Before Katrina, it was a longstanding tradition in our country for political officials to wait until the last minute to warn, to take action, to evacuate. No more. With Irene, you had mass evacuations - mandatory ones - issued days ahead of time. That was the right thing to do.