..this was just another hurricane, like other tens of them that are happening every year.. In 2012, over 10 hurricanes have happened before Sandy. The difference is that Sandy was much stronger and wider, thereofre noticable.. and who said, it happened first time in the earth history?
Recently I've come accross 10-episods video about Tzunami, which struck the coasts of the Indian Ocean in 2004. And guess what, there are evidences of at least three previous major tsunamis of similar strength in the preceding 2,800 years, the most recent from about 550 to 700 years ago..
Creation of such devastating nature disaster is a combination of many factors. The more factors/random events and details come together, the more devastating the disaster.. Hopefully the hurricane of such enormous strength and width won't occure in another 550-700 years..