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Surviving Hurricane Sandy (飓风桑迪)
Natalie Doan, 14, has always
felt lucky to live in Rockaway, New York. Living just a few blocks from the
beach, Natalie can see the ocean and hear the wave from her house. "It's
the ocean that makes Rockaway so special," she says.
On October 29, 2012, that ocean
turned fierce. That night, Hurricane Sandy attacked the East Coast, and Rockaway
was hit especially hard. Fortunately, Natalie's family escaped to Brooklyn
shortly before the city's bridge closed.
When they returned to Rockaway
the next day, they found their neighborhood in ruins. Many of Natalie's friends
had lost their homes and were living far away. All around her, people were
suffering, especially the elderly. Natalie's school was so damaged that she had
to temporarily attend a school in Brooklyn.
In the following few days, the
men and women helping Rockaway recover inspired Natalie. Volunteers came with
carloads of donated clothing and toys. Neighbors devoted their spare time to
helping others rebuild. Teenagers climbed dozens of flights of stairs to
deliver water and food to elderly people trapped in powerless high-rise
buildings.
"My mom tells me that I
can't control what happens to me," Natalie says. "but I can always
choose how I deal with it."
Natalie's choice was to help.
She created a website page
matching survivors in need with donors who wanted to help. Natalie posted
introduction about a boy named Patrick, who lost his baseball card collecting
when his house burned down. Within days, Patrick's collection was replaced.
In the coming months, her
website page helped lots of kids: Christopher, who received a new basketball;
Charlie, who got a new keyboard. Natalie also worked with other organizations
to bring much-need supplies to Rockaway. Her efforts made her a famous person.
Last April, she was invited to the White House and honored as a Hurricane Sandy
Champion of Change.
Today, the scars (创痕) of
destruction are still seen in Rockaway, but hope is in the air. The streets are
clear, and many homes have been rebuilt. "I can't imagine living anywhere
but Rockaway," Natalie declares. "My neighborhood will be back, even
stronger than before."