Was Katrina just a disaster or a blessing in disguise? Sure, it was a horrible disaster, but it did bring America closer together. When the hurricane struck in 2005, New Orleans had little hope of coming out of this. Homes were lost. People were killed. Buildings were torn down. The entire area was in ruins. The only thing not in ruins was the hope in the hearts of the people affected by this incredible disaster. Communities were brought closer together. People worked together to come out of this devastation with heads held high and hearts full of joy.
When I was in the 10th grade, my youth group traveled to New Orleans to help clean up. It had been a few years after the disaster, but there were still plenty of things that needed to be fixed. One day we were walking along the beach. As we marched silently through the sand, our eyes were transfixed on all the things buried within the white sand. Beaded necklaces, jewelry boxes, nails, and buttons were just a few of the things we noticed. Our leader today us how the waters were still considered contaminated. We had to avoid the waters at all costs in order to keep our health. Bodies were still being found lost out in the middle of the ocean. Structures were still torn down.
However, when we walked past a small neighborhood on the banks of the ocean, we noticed a message painted on the side of a house. “We are ok. We love you all. God bless.” Hope was still here. Houses were being rebuilt. People were returning to the place they had called home. They felt a since of pride in being a part of New Orleans. I was inspired by their integrity and ability to stay strong amidst times of great trouble.
To this day, I have still been touched by the pride found in New Orleans. Hurricane Katrina could take away as much as it could physically, but it could not mentally devastate the people involved. It brought them together to overcome a tragedy they were all experiencing at the same time. People from around the United States have reached out to the communities affected by Hurricane Katrina. Organizations are forming and have been formed on behalf of Katrina. We are coming together to help in any way possible. We are becoming a true nation where we find the greatest joys in life from helping others. Devastation cannot destroy us, but it can bring us together in a tighter bond than ever before. I am glad we received a slap in the face from this huge hurricane. Without it, we might not be as close a community as we are today. We are becoming more focused on helping others in need rather than ourselves. May God continue to bless this nation and being us together to overcome anything that may stand in our way. We are the nation others look up to and I encourage us to keep building this reputation up until it becomes contagious!
-Megan Christy
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