Phones light up and devices buzz with headlines about the latest tragedy. Whether it’s a mass shooting or a devastating storm, the news cycle has become a relentless, all-consuming parade of crisis.
But what happens once the country’s attention has moved to the next disaster? How do communities rebuild and rebound once the news trucks have left town, and the residents are left to pick up the pieces?
TODAY traveled across the country to meet survivors of some of the nation’s worst tragedies, including the attacks on September 11, the Columbine shooting, and the devastation in New Orleans caused by Hurricane Katrina. TODAY interviewed the people behind the headlines to see how they healed and how their communities rallied around them. Despite tremendous personal loss, every survivor we met spoke of forgiveness and of the ability to move forward.
This series is an effort to spotlight the resilience of the human spirit in the aftermath of tragedy, and to honor survivors and their communities.