The Silence Below Thirtieth Street

I took the day off work today to help people who were affected by Hurricane Sandy. I did not have to go very far. Twenty blocks south of where I live was a totally different world, it felt like a war zone. There were hardly any people on the streets and the national guard was out delivering food and supplies to shelters. There were policemen at every intersection as the traffic lights were not working. I was humbled by the few shops that were open, they were giving food and water to people who needed them at no cost. Among volunteers were elderly people, children and even the people that had been affected directly. It felt like everyone came together to help. As I walked down the road people asked me if I was ok or if I needed anything. I felt a sense of togetherness and pride; it made me very proud to be a New Yorker.

I hope we recover soon, please volunteer if you can. There are many people that are stuck in their homes with no food, electricity or water. Many of them are senior citizens who cannot fend for themselves and need help. It has been a rough few days. The streets below thirtieth made me see how vicious nature can be.