Coast Guard Air Station Houston during Hurricane Harvey search and rescue efforts on Aug. 27, 2017. It was taken by U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Johanna Strickland.
CHANNEL 1 LOS ANGELES
8/30/17 HOUSTON
The scenes of people caught in the path of Hurricane Harvey’s flooding rains are heartbreaking to watch. Like all Americans, we are keeping the residents along the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana in our thoughts and prayers. And we are inspired by those who are coming to the aid of those stranded by the floodwaters.
While the rescue and the recovery that follows this storm will continue for months and years to come, the images of our first responders, Coast Guard and National Guard service members, and ordinary citizen volunteers bringing their boats to join the effort reveals the heart of the American people.
“Always look for the helpers. There’s always someone who is trying to help.” was a lesson that Fred Rogers (Yes, that Mister Rogers) said his mother told him to remember whenever he would encounter alarming stories in the news.
We need to remind ourselves of the basic kindness of our nation during times of crisis.
“We see neighbor helping neighbor, friend helping friend and stranger helping stranger,” said President Trump on Monday. “We are one American family. We hurt together, we struggle together and believe me, we endure together.”
It is part of our character as Americans that we bond and rise to the occasion to help our neighbors in need. It is who we are.
The Corporation for National and Community service is working closely with state officials in coordination with FEMA and our other federal partners. We have mobilized our AmeriCorps Disaster Response Teams to allow them to respond as soon as it’s safe. Our FEMA Corpsteams – part of AmeriCorps NCCC – are deploying, and Senior Corps volunteers will join this effort as well.
These teams provide expert manpower that supports the recovery effort: logistics, sandbagging, shelter operations, debris removal, home repairs, and volunteer management. The ultimate goal is to assist the communities with the short- and long-term effects of the storm – for as long as it takes.
To learn more about how you can help by donating or volunteering to relief and recovery efforts, click and bookmark our Hurricane Harvey response page.
And keep looking for the helpers.
In service,
CNCS Office of External Affairs