Dear Internet,
You might have guessed that ERT is responding to Hurricane Sandy, and you're right. They're heading to New York City today, and I've been thinking about it all morning. Wondering what it will be like - it's so different from the small city responses I've been involved with (Joplin, Branson). They'll be outside the city instead of downtown, most likely, but still - it's so far from Missouri and so different. I'm wishing really hard that I was with them for this one.
Disaster response is unlike anything I've ever done in how hard it pushes you to be your best for other people. When you get there, all of a sudden your needs are secondary to the needs of an entire community - sleeping and eating are scheduled around your work, and it's all-consuming in a way that few things I've experienced are. Schoolwork could sometimes be that way for me (not kidding), but here, the stakes are so much higher. If you don't give your all in a disaster, you don't just get a bad grade on a paper - people have a hard time keeping their homes warm or feeding their kids. It's incredibly stressful and exhausting, but also so rewarding and exhilarating. I miss it.
If any of you guys read this, know I'm thinking of you and wishing I could help. You guys seriously rock, and good luck with everything!
xoxo Liz
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