In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, much has been done to clean up the area and to get lives back to normal. A summer camp at a local church though hopes to make sure the effects of the massive storm on children doesn’t follow them throughout their lives.

“My mom,” said West Laurel United Methodist Church Pastor Roy Pearson, “was afraid of storms throughout her life. She finally told me one day why. It was because she and the other children of their school had to hide under the school because of a tornado. Hurricane Katrina has left that sort of feeling on many people and we wanted to make sure none of our children were caught in that turmoil.”

Hence, Camp Noah.

Camp Noah is a Christian driven program that was designed toward children K-6th grades who have gone through a disaster. It helps the children to recognize they don’t have to be afraid of storms. Through events in the programs such as art, music and group speaking, it has been proven the fears inside children are made known and thus can be treated.

In Laurel, to facilitate the program is a group of 23 people from the sister city of Laurel, Md., who right after Katrina hit, adopted their southern brethren.

“When Katrina hit, it was all over the news,” said team leader Ann Marie Miller of the First United Church of Laurel, Maryland. “A man at our local newspaper, the Laurel Leader, told our mayor about the fact there was a Laurel, Mississippi. The mayor and city council voted to do something.”

When the officials of the two cities talked, and when the churches began corresponding with each other, a plan was made to bring a group down to teach the program. Volunteers both young and old have made the trip by train the almost one thousand miles and arrived Saturday night. Sunday they all gathered for a meal to greet them.

“We are so blessed to have them here,” said Pearson. “This has been a huge undertaking and there are so many people behind the scenes both here and in Laurel, Maryland who are responsible for this camp to become reality.”

In addition to the Laurel, Md., group, another group of 10 people are flying in from Seattle, Wash., in order to do the cooking for the week-long camp.

“People from all over the nation have a helping hand in this,” Pearson said.

Approximately 50 children from the Jones County area will begin participating in Camp Noah beginning today at the West Laurel United Methodist Church located on North 14th Avenue.

Giving up part of her summer vacation is Andrea Chapa, 16. She is a veteran of summer camps to help others out having taken part in Camp Hope last year in Maryland to assist the elderly. She said she and her dad agreed this would be a great life experience to come to Laurel.

“He’s in the Army so he’s seen the poverty in other countries,” said Chapa. “He told me the importance it is to help others. I really feel good about doing these sorts of things and I’m glad I can help.”

Pearson said a state licensed counselor will be on hand throughout the week in case one of the children needs to speak to a professional.