Let's take another minute to think about, and thank, the first-responders who saved lives during Hurricane Sandy and all the workers who will be helping get life back to normal in its aftermath.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo:



The Hudson River was pouring into the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel like a river at high velocity. The response of the first responders was as courageous as anything I’ve seen. They were running right into the face of danger. If it wasn’t for their heroism, things would have been much worse.

"If you and I were trying to walk in waist-deep water, it’s difficult — now picture doing that to fight a fire. It’s incredibly difficult," said Frank Dwyer, a spokesman for the city’s Fire Department. "Very high winds were creating blow-torch effects on the blocks, spreading the fire around."

"I want to offer my deepest gratitude to all of the dedicated emergency responders who continue to work protecting residents throughout New Jersey,” Oliver said in a statement. “This has been a difficult storm, but their bravery and devotion helped ease our worries and continues to do so. Their courage never ceases to amaze.

But while acts of immediate valor in the moment of the storm are most likely to be recognized, there are weeks of unheralded, grinding work ahead for construction workers, garbage collectors, cleaners, engineers, transit workers, utility workers, and so many others.

A fair day's wage