Imagine moving into your freshman dorm and wading through inches of water with all of your belongings. Imagine getting your outfits, jewelry and talking points ready for sorority recruitment just for it to be postponed. All of the excitement of being in your college town for the first, second or fifth time is literally damped by rain on top of rain. This is how it was for the students at Louisiana State University this year.
Some of you may know, some of you may not, but there was recently damaging flooding in the State of Louisiana. People throughout the state were forced to leave their homes while the water levels rose and, in some cases, houses were completely flooded and residents lost all of their possessions.
All of this comes not too long after Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana, struggled with shootings and a divide between races. Now, though, residents see no color difference. They are helping each other rebuild and resume their daily lives.
The people of Louisiana did not stop to ask for help from the rest of the country. They helped each other. They brought extra food and supplies that they do not need to their neighbors that were in more trouble than they were. The residents of Louisiana have thought about no one but each other during this hard time and have not stopped even though the water is receding in most areas.
Outsiders have been collecting goods, raising money and sending help to those that need it. Many large universities have organized events to collect whatever can be collected. The University of South Carolina was one of the first to volunteer their time and resources. Louisiana State University helped South Carolina out immensely when its football stadium, Williams-Brice Stadium, flooded this past football season.
These helpful actions are coming out of the hearts of many people all over the country, despite the lack of news coverage on the floods. The disaster of the floods is a definite “newsworthy” topic. The generosity and selflessness of the citizens of Louisiana, however, seems to not be. There is something amazing about communities coming together to assist their neighbors and it is truly upsetting that those actions are not recognized. We can just hope that those actions are something that are praised in the media from here on out.
That being said, the residents of Louisiana are bold and amazing people and will get through this difficult time. They did so after Hurricane Katrina so will absolutely do it again. To all of those still struggling with water and water damage, you are in so many people’s prayers. Stay safe.
