Mother Nature doesn't always have the last say!

Hurricane #Sandy is Mother Nature’s attempt to balance the natural universe, but its destruction is something we could never expect. The northeast has been able to withstand tornadoes, hurricanes, nor’easters, floods, fires and events of devastating consequences, but it’s still hard to believe this. When we see images of the NYC subway system flooded out, entire neighborhoods burning to the ground, hospitals being evacuated via the stairwell or hear of children swept from their mother’s arms and left to drown, we wonder what we ever did wrong.

Change is inevitable, this we know. Existence has always depended on ebb and flow, and the only thing we can ever expect or hope for is change. But some types of change can lead to further change. Without realizing the effects of modern progress, we have transformed our environment through oil-drilling, coal mining, over-fishing, “fracking,” and more. Whether these practices are good or bad is not the question. The question is, how will the natural environment restore itself? Mother Nature has sent a message that we are in the process of change, and in balancing her world, she has devastated ours.

There is little to be done with Mother Nature, but this is the time for us to support one another, and be wary of signs of stress in others and in ourselves. #Hurricane #Sandy was a traumatic event for most who suffered through it, especially those who lost everything or witnessed its devastation up close and personal. Post-Traumatic-Stress Disorder is a natural result of such traumatic events, and PTSD can lead to depression or even suicide. We are "a village" and we need each other at a time like this.

Emotional effects of trauma are often invisible, so if someone experienced its effects, they'll need to express their emotions. If you sense a change in someone you know, ask the right questions. Know the symptoms of PTSD and depression and be aware. “If you see something, say something,” and whenever you can, do something. Our history depends of us hanging in there, one nation indivisible. It took “a village” yesterday, and it takes a village today. Sometimes, the help we offer can be a matter of life or death.

People are without electricity and many are homeless. If you want to help victims of #Sandy, you can find ways to do so in your local community. You can also donate to the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, and a hunger relief charity (recommended on NBC TODAY), Feeding America. How well we recover from this disaster is up to us. Then we can focus on strengthening our infrastructure or preparing for future storms.

Life is change and Mother Nature doesn’t always have the last say. We can protect ourselves against lasting damage by supporting one another and rebuilding our communities. This includes protecting against the long-range effects of emotional trauma. We need strong communities in every sense of the word.