This week the 10 Most Useful Learnist Boards will take a bit of a turn into educating about the impact of Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast. These boards serve two purposes–they can be used to educate about global climate change, disaster relief, preparing for emergencies, or the politics of natural disasters, but they also give us a moment to appreciate the rallying of the American people to help others in times of great need.  

This election week, whether your candidate wins or not, we can all reflect upon the values of compassion, generosity, and resilience that makes makes this nation great.

Obama and Christie
Amanda Delgado dedicates this board to looking at the ways President Obama and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie–generally diametrically opposed on most topics–put aside political differences to begin to get the job of rebuilding done. This is exactly what we should demand from politicians on both sides of the aisle this election season.

Hurricane Sandy and Climate Change
Geopolitical expert Jesse Parent examines Sandy through the lens of weather patterns and climate change.  What caused this large a storm so late in the season? Should we be concerned about global climate change?

Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts and More
Shana Larson’s board on relief efforts shows the ways that the American people are pulling together to help victims of Hurricane Sandy. Even though the relief concert has passed, there are still many ways to get involved and support efforts to rebuild the areas devastated by this storm.

NY Leadership: Hurricane Sandy Aftermath
It’s difficult to watch these videos and read these captions.  This storm has devastated so many residents of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Amanda Delgado created this board to remind us of the importance of good leadership in times of crisis, when we need our leaders most.  Specifically, it follows New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and their response to Hurricane Sandy.

Hurricane Sandy: The Aftermath 2
This board by Jesse Parent continues to chronicle the rebuilding of the parts of the Eastern Seaboard hardest hit by the storm. It looks at damage, gas shortages, power outages, and the condition of citizens as a second storm and cold snap threaten the Northeast.

2012: Natural Disasters and Politics
This board by retired newspaper editor Dave Stancliff shows the impact of the storm on the election and how partisanship has played into disaster relief in other emergencies in the United States.

Discover Long Beach
Dr. Iris Mohr assembled this touching board about Long Beach, New Jersey, before and after hurricane Sandy. It is a very useful board when learning about or teaching the impact of nature on man, but more importantly, it shows us why it is important to support our citizens on the New Jersey shore in their greatest hour of need.

Emergency Prep: Hurricanes
There are a ton of shows about prepping on television–many of them seem extreme.  However, when disaster hits, it’s important to be ready. This board on hurricane preparations is basic knowledge that will help you be prepared ahead of time.

Self-Reliance or Armageddon? How Prepared Should We Be
This board asks the question of whether we are prepared for emergencies and disasters.  It’s possible to take a few simple steps to be as ready as possible in most national emergencies. We can’t prepare for everything, but education, awareness and planning makes a big difference.

Understanding Homeowner’s Insurance
Many people sustained serious property damage or total loss of their homes during Hurricane Sandy. This board is one we hope never to have to use, but is critical to being fully educated about storm readiness. Insurance can seem confusing, but taking the time to research and select the correct policy for your needs could be a lifesaver down the road.