This past week, the southern Louisiana has seen some of the worst flooding in its vibrant history. At least three people died and 7,000 were rescued from the rising tide of water that resulted in 20+ inches of rain that fell from Thursday through Saturday. People lost homes, pets, possessions and livelihoods. As soon as I returned to my adoptive state, all hell broke loose. My heart truly hurts for everyone who has experienced loss and damage in the past few days.
As images of the devastation flood my newsfeed and more and more of my friends lose their homes to the swelling tides, I am overwhelmed by a feeling of helplessness. I wish there was something, anything, I could do to help. I fantasize about buying a boat and heading out into the flooded neighborhoods where people so desperately need help. I can't even imagine what I would do in their position, and anxiously await to hear from all of my friends from school to make sure they're alright. Some of my friends that are safe at school still haven't heard from their loved ones, and I wait with baited breath, praying alongside them.
People have been stranded on interstates trying to evacuate, stuck clinging to trees overnight to escape the water, and have been dramatically rescued from submerged cars. Never in my life have I seen this level of disaster and devastation. Caskets have risen out of their graves and floated down the streets.
The most awe-inspiring thing about these floods isn't the sheer destruction. What really takes my breath away is how, despite whatever damage they've sustained, people are still willing to help each other through this. People have lost everything they've held dear, but still lend out a hand to those also in need. In the past few months, Louisiana has experienced tragedies that have divided its residents across several lines.
First responders and civilians alike, or anyone with a boat, have refused to hesitate to jump in and help others, even though their own homes and families are often in just as much danger as the people they are rescuing. As terrible as the current situation is, the resulting unification among Louisianians has truly renewed my faith in humanity. Sometimes it takes a disaster to bring people together.
