MNN - Mother Nature Network

Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on Monday, causing flooding and destruction up and down the Eastern Seaboard. Many who were hit by the storm are still without power; most are picking up the pieces of their homes and lives. In light of this tragedy and destruction, parents around the country are wondering, should Halloween be canceled?

 

Certainly, in the hardest hit areas of New Jersey and New York, the idea of normalcy is a long way off.  

 

Participating in a simple activity such as trick-or-treating is the furthest thing from everyone's minds. And it may not even be safe in neighborhoods with downed power lines, flooded streets and roads covered in storm debris.  Julia Smillie of Millford, Conn., is concerned about kids who may try to go trick-or-treating tonight in her community where conditions are still hazardous.  

 

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie addressed these concerns Monday night with this tweet: "If conditions are not safe on Wednesday for Trick or Treating, I will sign an Executive Order rescheduling #Halloween." 

 

Lauren Mangano of Islip, N.Y., also lives in an area heavily affected by the storm, but she hopes the kids get a chance to have their fun. "I don't think it's disrespectful, but we should teach our kids that if a home says no to them that they should be respectful about it, and say thank you, and that they hope that they weren't hit by the storm too badly. I think that's a good way to make your kids aware of others needs, as well as let them keep the holiday," she commented.

 

Trick-or-treating may even help some kids move forward, as Cheryl Santini of Hazleton, Pa., noted, "[w]e've always been told in the education field that keeping a state of routine for kids is the best thing. And today, Halloween is routine."  

 

Kids are more resilient than we give them credit for. Case in point: this little young lady who is certainly optimistic about her chances of trick-or-treating tonight!

 

I don't live in an area that was heavily hit by the storm, but I have dozens of friends and family members who do. And the common consensus among those families seems to be that if it is possible to let the kids get out and have their fun tonight, then we should let them do it.

 

And I think Kira Newman of Luray, Va., had an excellent point when she commented, "Tragedies happen every day in this world, even if we don't always hear about them, and we still go on with our lives. We can always take a moment to send prayers or love to those dealing with tragedy and be grateful for all that we have."

 

Here are more ways we can help the victims of Hurricane Sandy. 

 

How is your community handling trick-or-treating tonight?