Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has directed that flags on state government buildings—including those at UB—be flown at half-mast on Oct. 29 in honor of the 61 men and women who lost their lives to Superstorm Sandy in New York.

Cuomo also has asked for a moment of silence at 8 p.m. to mark the approximate time when the storm surge in New York City first began.

“Superstorm Sandy was one of the worst natural disasters to hit our state in decades, causing widespread damage and ultimately taking the lives of 61 people in New York,” Cuomo says. “As we approach the one-year anniversary of this terrible storm, our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those who perished, as well as the countless others whose lives were impacted in the days that followed.”