On October 29, 2012, Superstorm Sandy made landfall in coastal New York after its devastating run through the Caribbean in the days before. Also known as “Frankenstorm” because of its unique characteristics and pre-Halloween timing, Sandy is estimated to cost $50 billion in damages and lost business and is the second costliest Atlantic hurricane in US history following Hurricane Katrina.Reference Craft1 The storm affected 24 states, with particularly damaging effects in New York and New Jersey. In New York City, preparations began in the days before landfall. On October 28 Mayor Michael Bloomberg ordered evacuation for 375 000 people, and on October 29 he began closing schools.Reference Saul2 More than 72 evacuation shelters were opened around the city.

The cover photo depicts one of the main Occupy Sandy relief sites at the Church of St Luke and St Matthew in Brooklyn, New York. Occupy Sandy, a grassroots relief effort developed by the original members of Occupy Wall Street, used the church as a hub for organizing donations and volunteers. Guided by the principles of mutual aid and horizontal leadership, Occupy Sandy organizers used communication networks built in the Occupy Wall Street protest camp in Manhatttan's Zuccotti Park to bring relief to hard-hit communities shortly after Sandy made landfall. The photo was taken on November 15, 2012, as response and recovery efforts were fully under way.