Learning from Katrina to Aid Sandy

The three days at the Jersey shore were really filled with unexpected surprises. From walking into backyards that had their own sand dunes to seeing houses shifted off of their foundations, it was shocking to see the destruction that only resided about an hour from home. But in contrast to what I’m seeing in New Orleans, the response to all the damage has been phenomenal. AmeriCorps, FEMA, and many other organizations around the country are continuing to send massive amounts of resources and manpower into towns that require the aid. The real question will be how long will this assistance last? Because if I’ve learned anything from this trip to NOLA, it is that after some time people start forgetting about the devastation of a storm, resources start dwindling, and the affected areas are left in need of help for a very long period of time (i.e. New Orleans is still in the process of rebuilding 7 years later). Hopefully, the country has learned from Katrina and will continue to support the efforts for Sandy Relief because the towns along the Jersey Shore and even up in New York will require the aid for some time to come.