Hurricane Florence Leaves Lifelong Damage

An image of Hurricane Florence (Handout)

By Hannah S., 7th Grade Student, Krieger Schechter Day School of Chizuk Amuno Congregation

This past September, Hurricane Florence, a small tropical depression, turned into a deadly category 4 storm and hit the southeast coast of the United States. Starting its course in the Carolinas and Virginia and making it all the way up to Atlantic Canada, Hurricane Florence caused immense damage that is far from being repaired.

Although the hurricane is long-gone, the damage still stands. According to Mark Stephens, city manager of New Bern, N.C., more than 4,000 homes were destroyed in New Bern alone. The question is: how can we help?

“I think it’s tragic; so much damage can be caused by a hurricane or anything that comes from nature,” says Jodi Wahlberg, director of Bridges and Community Partnerships at Krieger Schechter Day School and a family member of some who have been affected by the hurricane. She notes that not only can people help with needs, like water, food and medicines, but they can also provide monetary assistance. “We can help by sending supplies or helping victims with costs that they weren’t expecting to pay.”

Additionally, Wahlberg states that middle school students, not only adults, can help out, too. “Middle school students can do a lot to help raise funds or collect items for affected communities.”

More than a month removed from the hurricane, families continue to feel its wrath. According to North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, at least 49 people have died as a result of the storm.

“I want to express my condolences to them. It was a real tragedy. Sometimes when these disasters happen, we don’t know how hard they’re going to hit,” says Miriam Glaser, a science teacher at KSDS. While utterly devastating, this is the truth.

Humans have no power to predict exactly how hard these natural disasters will hit or how much devastation they will leave in their paths. The only thing that we can do is help in their aftermath. “We can help by giving [the victims] shelter, food, and water,” said Brady B., a 7th grade student at KSDS.

The KSDS community can aid those who are victims of this and other natural disasters.

For information about relief efforts and ways to help, go to www.redcross.org.

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