OK, I know the New York City transit strike is devastating. Thousands -- millions? -- of commuters and school children are stranded without bus or subway service this morning, forced to walk, carpool or pay for a cab -- if they're lucky enough to catch one. Casey will be walking the two dozen blocks from Port Authority to her office, a distance of a little more than a mile.

But the Red Cross? Is there really a parallel between New York commuters and people uprooted and displaced by a hurricane or tsunami? I mean, this isn't an act of God. We knew, at least for a week, that this could happen and these are people with hats, gloves, coats and money.

I think New Yorkers' toughness rating just took a slight hit.