Hurricane Ida, the most recent of America’s natural disasters, has left small towns desperately searching for relief. Closer to home in Rockville, Md, the Twinbrook community is crying out for help. As a community, people are not taking action to get residents back on their feet. People are living on the streets, begging for food because they lost all of their belongings in the flood. We can help them find their way back.
The flood forced several members of the community to evacuate their homes. Unfortunately, there were casualties as 19-year-old Melkin Daniel Cedillo drowned as a result of the flood. This shock, along with the 150+ other relocations of Twinbrook citizens, has made it time to step in.
According to WTOP news, after the passing of Cedillo and the hospitalization of several other residents, The Red Cross set up a temporary sanctuary. The source also states that Hurricane Ida was just shy of being a Category 5 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph. The disaster had almost four dozen confirmed fatalities spread, while New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut took the worst hit of the storm. Twinbrook fared relatively well with fewer deaths and relocations, though these death tolls are expected to rise in other states.
All of the resources needed to rebuild Twinbrook are there for the taking. No matter what contributions have already been made, anything helps. Whether giving a dollar or lending a hand to help rebuild and restore the community, there are always ways to help following a disaster. You could help give a struggling family a new home, and a chance at rebuilding a life lost in this disaster.
WUSA9 reported that Cedillo’s family and other Twinbrook residents have set up GoFundMe pages to raise money for rebuilding the community. The Red Cross Foundation set up several shelters to give temporary homes to relocated families. Community groups organized clothing donations and emotional support available to residents at any hour. These actions are a great start to putting the community back together, but there needs to be more initiative.
There must be more support from the individual level. Go through closets and drawers, gather old and never worn clothes, and donate at the various drives. Not only will this give families a change of clothes, but it will give them a sense of support with their community behind them. After losing everything to a flood, an extra pair of socks would go a long way. Donating canned goods or some money would go towards restoring damaged homes and structures, and the food will put a well-needed meal on the table.
Donating blood is also essential as hurricane-caused injuries are common. Blood could save a life. According to the US National Library of Medicine, “Flooding is the predominant cause of death associated with natural disasters in the United States, with most deaths caused by drowning. Flash flooding, with rapidly rising water levels, is particularly deadly.” All they need to save a person’s life is a pint.
Community residents are supporting each other through this tremendously strenuous time, but those not impacted should provide more assistance. Though various organizations and groups have taken proactive steps to rebuild by setting up sanctuaries and donation drives, more people need encouragement to join the call for aid. Every little action counts towards a larger movement that allows victims to put one more step forward past this disaster.
Written by Madeline Leff of Bethesda Chevy-Chase High School
Photo courtesy by May Pham of Walter Johnson High School