Since Sunday, November 17, there has been a huge cry for help in our neighboring community of Washington. The catastrophe of an F4 tornado created miles upon miles of destruction that not only left the city of Washington without power, but also left family after family without a home. Washington’s cry did not go unanswered. Within hours, cars full of people were swarming in to help, clogging the streets all around the path of destruction. It was clear that cleanup from such a huge disaster would take months, and because of how close we are to winter, it would take even longer. Neighboring communities have done what they can to help with “catastrophe relief efforts,” and people within those communities have gone above and beyond to help with what they can. Churches have provided shelters; the DMV has set up a base nearby for replacing drivers’ licenses, and even eyeglass stores have offered free replacements to anyone who lost their lenses in the storm.
Eureka High School is counted among these efforts. With power back on for school on Tuesday, our own Mr. Tapp made a great and valiant effort, putting together a team of over 40 students, six teachers and three chaperones to willingly take an excused day out of school to go and help with what they could on Friday, November 22. The team set out and tackled a family farm house, picking up as much rubble as they could from the huge yard in no more than two hours. After getting warmed up and eating lunch, they then attempted to help nearby Bethany Community Church. The Washington authorities had a tight hold on the perimeter, though, and that made it impossible for such a large group of people to get through and help. After that, our fearless leaders regrouped and quickly sent everyone off into the closest harvested field, and with nobody stopping them, they stacked up piles and piles of debris that landed in the field six days earlier, along with a five-gallon bucket half full of photographs they had all found in the field.
The mud was heavy in their boots from the rain, and the wetness in the air and cold wind from the field made everything look desolate, without even having to look west to see the town. Everyone came prepared with multiple layers of clothes, pairs of gloves, and buckets to make sure the job got done, and they were all more than happy to do it. The EHS group did as much as they could and were out volunteering from nine in the morning until three in the afternoon, and many did not want to stop there.
Many people will continue to try and help with anything they can, though situations in Washington are changing every day. All anyone needs to do is ask around, or get a group together, and they will find numerous opportunities to help. Eureka High School is nowhere near done contributing, as Ms. McClure is taking a group of FFA members leaving from school at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 27. Paying attention to announcements and asking questions is incredibly important while helping Washington recover.
By: Junior Quincy McSweeney, Journalism editor
Photos by: Mrs. Michelle Monk
 |
| EHS arrives to clean up. |
 |
| Looking out onto the empty, desolate field. |
 |
| The students wait for instructions before beginning clean-up. |
 |
| Students take a break for lunch. |
