After months of ongoing cleanup and recovery from Hurricanes Laura and now Delta, the city of Lake Charles and surrounding communities are still in need of help.
Thursday morning, a glimmer of hope for residents in Southwest Louisiana as ABC's Good Morning America broadcast live from St. Louis Catholic School in Lake Charles.
Robin Roberts and Rob Marciano showcased the grit and determination of those rebounding from the storms.
"What I'm going to take away when I go back up north is the can-do spirit here," said Roberts. "The way so many people and hometown heroes that are coming together, that are finding a way to help neighbors. That does not surprise me. That's the way we do it down here."
As Roberts was flying into Lake Charles, she could see the devastation as well as the blue tarps. She says it brought back so many memories of what her family and others went through during Hurricane Katrina.
"I want to be the eyes and ears for people to let them know that's how I felt after Katrina when it wiped out my hometown of Pass Christian and I was there on the ground and bringing attention to it. I know what it's like. I know what it feels like to feel forgotten and we wanted to amend that," she explained.
Early in his career, Rob Marciano worked as a local meteorologist in Lake Charles. This year, he's covered both Laura and Delta.
"This community is self-reliant as they come. They can get by on their own," Marciano said. "But no group of people can endure what Southwest Louisiana has endured without outside help and that's why GMA is here."
Roberts and Marciano acknowledged the pleas from this region to not be forgotten. They say with the news cycle this year, the area did not get the coverage it would typically warrant.
"So, these people felt forgotten. That hurt me inside and I wanted to make sure GMA showed them that they are not forgotten. It's a long road to recovery and every bit of help will help We're bringing money. We're bringing people," said Marciano.
"I know the immediate days and months and years ahead will be hard down here," added Roberts. "Dream big, but focus small. Dream big on how you want it to be. Focus small on those day to day things that will get you there. Hold firm to knowing that this too shall pass."
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