NYC Schools Cut Winter Break to Make Up for Sandy

Students everywhere cry

New York City public schools are cutting winter break short to make up for the unexpected closings they faced because of Hurricane Sandy. City officials announced Monday that the last three days of winter break week, February 20-22, will be full school days instead of vacation days. Additionally, a half-day scheduled in June will now be a full class day as well. Eighteen schools still remain closed because of the storm. The city has about 1.1 million students in 1,750 public schools. (NBC News)

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Obama Vows to Assist Sandy Victims Until "Rebuilding is Complete"

Took three-hour tour of devastated areas

President Obama vowed Thursday to continue assisting those still affected by Superstorm Sandy "until the rebuilding is complete." On a three-hour tour, Obama visited the damaged neighborhoods, and spoke to those waiting in line for food, those still without heat and electricity. He also met with the parents of the two toddler boys that were fatally swept away in the storm. Obama delivered a message on a Staten Island street: "During difficult times like this, we're reminded that we're bound together and we have to look out for each other. And a lot of the things that seem important, the petty differences, melt away. That spirit and sense of togetherness and looking out for one another, that's what's going to carry us through this tragedy." Obama announced that Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan will be his point person to oversee long-term redevelopment in the region. (Yahoo!)

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Red Cross Fires Back at Critics of Hurricane Sandy Response

Reps call response 'near perfect'

After taking criticism for a less-than-stellar response to Hurricane Sandy, the American Red Cross is pushing back against critics. In fact, the organization's CEO says its relief effort has been “near flawless."

Gail McGovern, chief executive officer and president of the Red Cross, told NBC News late last week that the response has been timely and well-organized.

“I think that we are near flawless so far in this operation,” McGovern said.

[ALSO READ: Public Housing Residents in NYC Stuck Without Power Since Hurricane Sandy]

Laura Howe, a spokeswoman for the organization, concurred. She said that the dense population of New York City and nearby affected areas, as well as the cold-weather hurricane, created unique and significant challenges to the response.

We are “putting our resources where the need is greatest,” Howe said.

[ALSO READ:Nor'Easter Forces Mass Evacuations, Flight Cancelations in N.Y., N.J.]

She also noted that this was the largest domestic disaster the Red Cross has dealt with since Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf coast and that the organization is deploying its entire fleet of more than 320 feeding trucks and sending nearly 6,000 relief workers to the devastated areas, mainly in New Jersey and New York.

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