In August, Hurricane Harvey submerged parts of east Texas in rainwater, decimating homes, schools, commercial buildings and other structures. Among the areas severely hit by the hurricane was the small tourist town of Port Aransas in Texas, U.S.A., where homes and buildings were destroyed and an ensuing sewage problem had begun to pose serious health risks to residents.
Hurricane Harvey was still in its prime, with winds of about 140 miles per hour, when the Texas Gulf Coast was hit. Weeks after the storm, Port Aransas is barely recognizable, covered in wreckage and rubble. But residents are now starting to slowly rebuild the town.
A group of Grade 6 students at Kaohsiung American School (KAS) is taking part in the rebuilding efforts by helping in the reconstruction of a school in Port Aransas. With the help of a G5 teacher who is from Texas, the students were able to find Brundrett Middle School in Port Aransas, which was heavily damaged by Hurricane Harvey. The school field was destroyed, library books drenched in floodwater, school structures battered, and facilities and equipment are also in bad shape.
“We are all citizens of this planet, so why not try to help others?” the students said.
MYP Y1 Science students Li-An Amos Chao and Maggie Liu are now studying weather in their science class and its massive global impact such as the recent Hurricane Harvey and its destruction of parts of Texas and the Gulf Coast in the United States.
“Weather, a complex interaction between many systems, is important to our lives and affects the citizens of the planet in many ways,” the student said.
Reconstruction of Brundrett School will start in October, but the extensive renovations would require funding, and the school does not have enough to cover for the expenses. Brundrett is currently accepting outside help and has accepted book donations from other organizations.
Students of Brundrett are going back to school, but in the meantime, while the school is still under construction, they will have to have their classes in temporary structures.
To help Brundrett Middle School, Li-An Amos Chao and Maggie Liu are now organizing fund raising activities such as bake sales, lemonade stands and other activities and they are inviting everyone to support their project.
“We can become Global Citizens by helping Hurricane Harvey victims,” the students said.
This student-made video below will tell you more about the destruction in Port Aransas and how you can take part in the rebuilding efforts. Well done, citizens of the world!
NOTICE: Tomorrow, Friday 13 October we will be holding an after-school bake sale. All proceeds will got to this amazing cause, please show your support by dropping by for a piece of cake!
I/C: before/after and flooding
