How focused is the rest of the country on Hurricane Sandy?

[BlueStateBlue]

I'm viewing it from inside the bubble in NJ. (Came through it fine, only lost power for 27 hours).

How does it compare to Katrina on a national interest level?

[tbennett76]

1. Pretty High

the national networks broke into programming to cover the joint press conference, would not have done that unless they felt it was getting attention.

[SheilaT]

2. If you live nearly two thousand miles away

as I do in New Mexico, and especially if you don't have a TV, not very much.

The front page of today's Santa Fe New Mexican did have a picture of people waiting at a gas station in New Jersey to fill gas containers (I only wish it had explained why none of them were in their cars) above an article from the AP about the recovery. The other stories on the front page were: a local story about a murder, one about former governor Gary Johnson's campaign, a follow-up on a story about Gene Hackman's recent altercation with a homeless man, and a teaser for an inside story about someone suing a dog breeder in another state.

While the hurricane and its aftermath are affecting a huge portion of this country, it is still only a portion. I'd say more than half of the country is simply not affected in any meaningful way.