Natural disasters go beyond storms, catastrophes

We have obviously seen a fair amount of coverage concerning Hurricane Katrina and the effects that have devastated the Gulf Coast and immediate areas.

It is easy to say that people are growing tired of the constant badgering for volunteers and relief efforts.
Unfortunately, the rebuilding process is far from over. The areas that were hit hardest will take more than several months of hard work to establish "normal" communities again. They may take closer to a couple of decades.

The land is riddled with debris and towns have been leveled into post-apocalyptic settings.

Even though Katrina came and went in a matter of hours, the disaster still continues to affect the Southern region.
Our country has come a long way in trying to rebound from this disaster and a lot can be said for those who lent a helping hand.

Elon is just a small mark on a map but the time and effort it has given to Katrina relief is overwhelming.

In October, over Fall Break, 40 students and staff members made the inaugural trek to Bay St. Louis, MS, to help clean up and give supplies to the community. The trip was an experiment and it worked out wonderfully.

A second group is currently in the same location volunteering and taking a class on service. Two more trips are scheduled for this academic year: one during Fake Break and another during Spring Break.

While much of the country stood idly by, Elon stepped up and made a difference. Hurricane Katrina may have struck the Gulf in August but the effects continue to unfold and more help is needed.

Now is not the time to cease these amazing achievements.

It seems that some of our efforts and enthusiasm have fallen by the wayside. The people who lost their homes, families and belongings ask for nothing more than a little bit of assistance and care.

They aren't asking for much and we have given a lot and should continue to do so as long as we have the ability.

Times like these are where the true patriots emerge and bring a country into a relationship that is long overdue.