A popular Irish band, The Script, recently moved its concert at Huntington’s Paramount Theater from December 5 to November 9. Date changes for concert venues are common among artists. However, this wasn’t a typical date change due to a scheduling conflict. In fact, this was a type of concert that many Long Islanders had not previously experienced. The Script moved up its concert to headline the Strong Island Hurricane Sandy Relief Concert for which the proceeds went to the Long Island Red Cross to provide relief for those affected by Hurricane Sandy.

One would have to live under a rock not to be familiar with the disastrous effects Hurricane Sandy has had on Long Island. Formed from a tropical wave in the western Caribbean Sea, Hurricane Sandy is the second-largest Atlantic hurricane on record, only surpassed by Hurricane Katrina, which infamously struck New Orleans in 2005. The storm made landfall on October 29. The northeastern United States was heavily affected by the storm, and Long Island was especially damaged. Massapequa unfortunately experienced severe flooding which destroyed houses as well as power outages that lasted nearly two weeks for some homes.

Despite the lack of light, the camaraderie formed among the residents of Massapequa proved to brighten the town. Rather than seeing the situation as abysmal, people took the opportunity to join together to ensure that no one would have to face his toughest problems alone.

There were many national relief groups that were quick to aid those who were affected by the storm, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Red Cross, as mentioned earlier. In addition, local organizations were created specifically for Massapequa, such as the Massapequa Storm Recovery, started by sophomore Danielle Probst and her family.

“We saw so many people sitting on their front lawns, and their property was destroyed. I couldn’t even believe that something like this was happening to Massapequa.” Danielle said. “Then, we passed by one of my friend’s houses which was completely burned to the ground, and decided we needed to help since we were unaffected.” The Massapequa Storm Recovery was incredibly successful, collecting items such as clothes and food for victims of the storm.

Over 130 employees in the Massapequa School District were displaced by the storm. The Massapequa Federation of Teachers (MFT) had a collection among members which raised 11,000 dollars. This was matched by the MFT for a total of 22,000 dollars for staff members who were affected by Sandy. In addition, the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) partnered to have relief trucks sent to the Yes Community Counseling Center. They too hosted a drive which collected items for victims. Both teachers and students should be commended for their remarkable work.

Moreover, local businesses in the community were eager to help out in any way they could. Hair salons offered free hair washes and blowouts to people who did not have any hot water. Some salons even hosted “cut-a-thons” where one hundred percent of the proceeds went toward families who were affected by the storm. A photography company also offered its services by holding photo sessions for families who lost irreplaceable family photos as a result of the storm.

Nobody was expecting the enormity of Hurricane Sandy. Houses were ruined. Memorabilia was destroyed. People were without power for weeks and had to suffer through a nor’easter without any heat. However, the storm showed us how uniting against adversity can create incredible things. As Henry Ford once said, “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”