After days of non-stop television images, WNYC radio reports, Twitter, Facebook, and other media stories, the scales have truly fallen from my eyes as I take in the full magnitude of what’s been done to our city by Sandy.

To quote Bruce Springsteen: “My city’s in ruins.” The song, The Rising, was included on Springsteen’s same-named 9/11-themed album, but it was actually about Asbury Park. But now, sadly, it’s apt, profoundly apt, for New York City post-Superstorm Sandy.

The devastation in our city is heartbreaking. The suffering of our fellow citizens is painful. The discomfort, the difficulties, the pain…

A friend who lives in downtown Manhattan just got her power back. She writes: “Lower NYC is devastated, trees fell, awnings ripped off, it looked like a bomb hit, I started crying, like a child at all the scenes of damage, especially around Gramercy and Union Square.”

Another friend, Mike Sorgatz, described Red Hook on Facebook Saturday morning: “It’s a mess out there. Flooding hit the 4-5 foot mark. Fairway’s parking lot is filled with trash. Streets are lined with waterlogged furniture and plastic bags. The only thing more spectacular is the number of people volunteering to help.”

Another friend, Lorie Honor in Staten Island, wrote yesterday: “Much is yet to be revealed here on Staten Island…new definition of the “forgotten borough” as we suffered greatest loss of life and still have had limited news coverage and just now are getting Red Cross distribution and some aid to the displaced.”

Staten Island is now getting the help—and news coverage—it deserves. But the suffering, the destruction and the heroism of the local helpers is mighty

All night I thought about the people in NYC public housing without water and electricity. I felt grateful that a good friend of mine who used to live in public housing on Coney Island moved a year ago to South Carolina. I was grateful that she did not have to endure the many days without power and the related discomfort and frustration. But many of her relatives and friends are suffering.

So many are suffering in our city. The Marathon has been cancelled. The clean up to come is beyond all imagining. But as Mike Sorgatz said, ” The only thing more spectacular is the number of people volunteering to help.”

Indeed. The photographs that Tom Martinez sent yesterday (including the one above) of volunteers at the Park Slope Armory transporting food and dry goods to the Red Hook Initiative were also encouraging. The level of volunteerism of all kinds has been incredible.

That’s what give me hope and what makes this bearable. Because of our communities, our modes of communication (Facebook, Twitter, radio) and our determination (and faith) not to let our fellow citizens suffer, I have  hope that we will overcome. Take it, Bruce…

My city’s in ruins 
My city’s in ruins 

Now with these hands 
I pray Lord 
with these hands 
for the strength Lord 
with these hands 
for the faith Lord 
with these hands 
I pray Lord 
with these hands 
for the strength Lord 
with these hands 
for the faith Lord 
with these hands