Transcript:
When Hurricane Helen destroyed western North Carolina last fall, Vera Lester felt she knew some of the people there.
She is from New Orleans and has experienced the damage and trauma caused by Hurricane Katrina 19 years ago, so she feels helping.
Leicester: “Just to make people know they are not alone, and there are other people who have gone through this experience and we really know how hard it is.”
Lester created a long-distance partner program and paired up dozens of people to recover with Katrina survivors.
Hurricane Katrina's companions were there to listen, sharing their stories in time when asked – and verifying the emotions that Helene survivors felt difficult.
Leicester: “In the initial stages, I think the most important thing is… it's terrible. It's really devastating. We've been there too, and there's nothing to say, except that we're still here, we won't make it better.”
So while there is no quick way to resolve the pain survivors are suffering, she said it is crucial that they have people seeking emotional support.
Leicester: “Knowing at those moments there will be someone to rely on…it’s crucial to survival.”
Report Credit: Sarah Kennedy/Chavobart Digital Media
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