The days - and weeks - after the storm ...

It's heart-breaking to see the damage that Sandy has caused.
Loss of life.
Flooded subways.
Streets underwater.

This photo provided by the U.S. Air Force shows the roller coaster from the Seaside Heights amusement park submerged in surf,  (AP Photo/U.S. Air Force, Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen)

Homes damaged and destroyed and also underwater.
Businesses destroyed.
The famed boardwalks of the Shore left in splinters; there's even a roller coaster in the ocean.
Let's not forget the unbelievable blizzard in West Virginia and elsewhere in that area.
Now it's time for the residents to begin the hard part - starting over.
The federal government, in the form of FEMA, will give a hand.
The Red Cross and Salvation Army, along with churches and other organizations, will help provide food, clothing and comfort to the victims.
Insurance will help rebuild.
Maybe.
Yes, maybe.
Unfortunately, much of the damage can be classified as water or flood damage and most insurance policies don't include flood damage. That has to be a separate policy.
Homeowners' and business owners' policies cover fire and wind damage, as well as hail and tornado - speaking from experience.
But most don't include flood.
And that's where the residents will be hurt. And most of them won't realize they were not covered until their requests are denied.
Maybe it's time for the insurance companies include flood coverage in their homeowners' policies. It's like going to the hospital and finding out your insurance won't cover your broken leg.
The insurance companies ought to offer catastrophic insurance as a regular part of homeowners' and business insurance. It could cover "acts of God" - which would include floods, hurricanes and tornadoes - as well as fire and if the occasional driver parks his car in your bedroom.
In the meantime, let's offer our prayers, hopes, hearts and whatever else we can to the people as they rebuild their homes, their businesses, their communities.
And their lives.