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Look for Word Nerd’s 8 Words IN BoLd
Making connections As you read the two stories on these pages,
think about how hurricanes affected people in Rockaway and New
Orleans, and how they responded.
UPCLose
10 s t o r y w o r k s
When her New York City community was badly damaged by the storm,
one girl
decided to help rebuild hope
Paired texts: Narrative Nonfiction and Informational text
SurvivingHurricane sandy
BY LAUreN TArsHIs
Ariel Creamer, 14, has always loved living in Rockaway, New
York. The community sits on an 11-mile peninsula, a sliver of land
that juts into the sea. Rockaway is part of New York City. But some
areas have the feel of a seaside resort. Ariel’s house is just half
a block from
the beach. She can see the ocean from her house. She hears the
waves as she drifts off to sleep. “It’s the ocean that makes this
place so special,” she says.
But on October 29, 2012, the sea turned harsh. That night,
Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast of the U.S. The storm was as
large as the state of Texas. It hit hard. Dozens of people
died.
Hurricane Sandy’s winds fueled a raging fire that destroyed 126
homes, like this one.
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SurvivingHurricane sandy
Ariel Creamer on her beloved beach
near her home in Rockaway, New York. The beach
is still recovering from damage from
Hurricane Sandy.
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12 s t o r y w o r k s
Hundreds of communities suffered major damage.
Rockaway was hit especially hard. During the storm, the waters
of the Atlantic surged over the beach, flooding neighborhoods.
Thousands of homes were damaged. Some were destroyed. Just blocks
from Ariel’s home, a sweeping fire broke out. More than 100 stores,
restaurants, and houses burned to the ground. Last-Minute
escape
Ariel’s family had planned to ride out the storm in their home.
But just hours before the storm hit, her dad decided it wasn’t safe
to stay. The family escaped just before the city’s bridges closed.
They stayed with relatives in nearby Brooklyn.
The morning after the storm, they returned to Rockaway. Their
neighborhood was in ruins. Roads were clogged with sand and
wreckage. The playground where Ariel used to take her little sister
and brother was now in the bay.
Ariel’s house had been hit
hard too. The basement was flooded. The heat, hot water, and
power were knocked out for nearly three weeks. Ariel and her
siblings went to stay with their aunt and cousins in Chicago while
their parents cleaned up the house. Ten days later, the family was
back together at home.
But Rockaway was a wreck. The tight-knit community was in shock.
There was no power or running water. Many of Ariel’s friends had
lost their homes and were living far away. Ariel’s school had been
damaged. To get to its new location in Brooklyn, she had to commute
an hour each way by bus.
In those first months, Ariel missed her old life—her friends,
her walks on the beach, and her favorite restaurant, which had
burned down. People were suffering all around her, especially the
poor and elderly. As the
days got colder, people stood shivering in long lines for water
and other supplies. A silver Lining
But Ariel felt inspired by the people who were working to help
Rockaway heal. People came from around the country.
Damage to Rockaway was severe, and many buildings have not yet
been fixed. Look at the map to the right. Why was Rockaway hit
especially hard by rising waters and Sandy’s winds?
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NEW JERSEY
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NEW YORK CITY
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They brought clothes and toys. Neighbors helped each other
rebuild. Teens climbed dozens of flights of stairs, bringing
supplies to elderly people in high-rise buildings with no working
elevators. “My mom told me you can’t control what happens to you,”
Ariel says. “But you can always choose how you want to deal with
it.” Ariel chose to help.
In February, she made a Facebook page called Survivors Silver
Lining. It matches survivors in need with donors who want to help.
Ariel posted information about a 9-year-old boy named Patrick who’d
lost his Lego collection when his house burned down. Within days,
the Legos had been replaced.
The page helped many kids. One boy got a new Nook. Two brothers
got a new drum set and keyboard. Ariel has also worked with other
groups to bring much-needed donations to Rockaway. Her hard work
has been noticed. In April, she went to the White
After Hurricane katrina: New Orleans Bounces Back
Hurricane Katrina hit the U. S. Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005.
It was one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history. More
than 1,800 people died. The storm caused major damage in Louisiana
and Mississippi. The city of New Orleans suffered the most
catastrophic damage.
New Orleans is a vibrant city. It’s known for its music, its
food, and its scenery. It’s also prone to flooding.
The city sits near the Gulf of Mexico. Rivers and canals run
through it. Long ago, levees were built in the city. These huge
walls were meant to protect the city from floods. Experts always
said the walls were not strong enough. They said the walls would
not survive a major hurricane. Sadly, Katrina proved them right.
Many levees failed during the storm. Four-fifths of the city
flooded. After the storm, many said the city would never be the
same. There was too much damage, they said. Hundreds of thousands
of people left. Many did not return.
But today, much of the city has rebounded. Homes have been
rebuilt. There are still problems, like crime and poverty. Some
areas are still scarred. But many people say the city is as vibrant
as ever.
To quote a famous blues song, “Ain’t no city like New
Orleans!”
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House, in Washington, D.C. There, she was honored as a Hurricane
Sandy Champion of Change.
Today, you can still see the damage in Rockaway. But hope is in
the salty sea air. The streets are clean. Homes are being
rebuilt.
“I can’t imagine living anywhere but Rockaway,” Ariel says. “My
neighborhood will be back, even stronger than before.”
INfOrmatIONal text
In some areas of New Orleans, floodwaters were 15 feet deep.
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Rockaway and New Orleans were each devastated by a hurricane.
What do you think Ariel and other residents of Rockaway could learn
from the people of New Orleans? Use specific details from both
articles in your answer.
WHAT’s THe CoNNeCTIoN?fINd AN ACTIvITY
sHeeT oNLINe!