My mom was so happy she bought them a six-pack of beer. His teacher asked students to share their stories and stitch together the lessons on a fire quilt. Such personal recovery efforts aside, parts of the town still don't look renewed. That's why FEMA-funded Project Recovery is hoping to continue counseling services in the schools through this fall. Los Alamos residents are behind in recovery compared to disaster survivors at other communities where people received insurance money sooner and knew their future outlook, according to Cerro Grande Fire's Project Recovery director Doris Thielemann.
Students are resilient and adaptable, teachers say.
Grades and attendance have been typical, though parent involvement has lessened. In subtle ways, some people show signs of stress. Mountain principal Gloria Salazar-Shuttles said a few parents don't want their children photographed, interviewed or counseled. Altherr noted that students whose houses burned have developed a dark sense of humor that others sometimes don't understand. Bravado may mask tears in other cases.