Rice University’s Student Newspaper — Since 1916

Sunday, November 24, 2024 — Houston, TX

Natalie Larsen


NEWS 10/2/08 7:00pm

Ike aftermath reveals lack of volunteerism

Nervously slipping in and out of dreams and waking nightmares, I literally jumped off my bed when my floor rep pounded on the door. My off campus refugee and I quickly grabbed our stuff and headed downstairs to the shelter. Hurricane Ike was making his grand entrance. I slept decently, but I loathed the fact that Ike was an unknown. I couldn't see him or face him, and the foreign concept of a hurricane was both exhilarating and terrifying. When I woke up the next morning and went to check the news, I saw the devastation Ike had inflicted upon the greater Houston area. I didn't question how the mess would disappear because I assumed that the community at large would work together to restore our city. However, I soon discovered that the community at large included everyone but me.