cost effective. >> at least 48 deaths have been confirmed. damage estimates have now ballooned to $50 billion. the ships and their crew will assist in rescue and recovery efforts. >> hurricane sandy destroyed so many homes and so many lives. storm victims are hoping the long wait for federal assistance is over. >> sounds pretty familiar, doesn't it? the people devastated by colorado's floods deserve government aid, no doubt. and fast. what they don't deserve are lawmakers this disgraceful. if the colorado four thinks it's going to be able to go unnoticed with their hypocrisy, they can just keep on pretending. when we made our commitment to the gulf, bp had two big goals: