|
|
 |
History of Spring Break 2006 Hurricane Katrina hit the coastal areas of Mississippi and Louisiana in August of 2006 leaving behind catastrophic damage. The entire region was in disarray and declared a federal disaster area. Many people in the affected regions have been left homeless or in severe financial hardship. In a humanitarian effort, the University of Akron collaborated with Kent State University in sending over four-hundred relief volunteers to Biloxi, Mississippi aiding in the rebuilding efforts.
The Akron - Kent group volunteered their spring break to help the residents of Biloxi. Leaving northeastern Ohio early in the morning, the volunteer group arrived at their living quarters a little before dawn. The group lived in “Tent City,” a massive array of army tents with the capacity to sleep the four-hundred plus volunteers. Taking buses from Tent City at 9:00 AM the group would depart for their worksites.
The worksites ranged from fields littered with debris to residents’ homes, desperately in need of repair. Prior to some of the more skilled tasks, such as dry walling or roofing, the volunteers would be taught by a skilled professional how to complete their given project. The projects ranged from roofing, installing dry wall, to inserting insulation into residents’ homes. A park gazebo, police evidence building, and shower facilities were some of the achievements of the UA and KSU group. The typical workday would end around 4:00 PM and groups would head out to dinner at a temporary dining facility called "Katrina's Kitchen."
After seeing the destruction firsthand, the Akron group realized that the effects of this natural disaster will be felt for years to come by both residents and municipalities of these hard-hit areas. As a result, the University of Akron is dedicated to providing long-term relief efforts to the affected areas in the Gulf Coast.
|
|
|
