As an emergency responder, Robert Gessman witnessed the destruction caused by hurricanes Ike and Gustav in 2008.
Now, he and 30 of his classmates at the Commonwealth Medical College will respond to Superstorm Sandy's destruction of his hometown.
At 7 a.m. today, the group plans to leave Scranton for Staten Island, N.Y., carrying everything from donated winter coats to shovels, and wearing "TCMC disaster response team" shirts.
"We're not just there to give them something," said Mr. Gessman, a fourth-year medical student. "We're there to work alongside of them."
Mr. Gessman, an emergency medical technician before enrolling in medical college, was in Los Angeles for an interview for a residency program when the storm hit. For several days, he could not get in touch with his family.
"It's scary not knowing the condition of your family, your home," he said. "It felt like I was a world away."
When he eventually made contact, he headed home to assess the damage firsthand. His parents' home was without power, but was spared the damage seen at the shore. He visited shelters, asking first responders and those whose homes were hit hardest what they needed.
"There were a lot of people who weren't as lucky as I was," Mr. Gessman said. "It's so important for me to give back."
When he returned to Scranton, he organized a collection drive at the school and started soliciting donations. As of early Friday afternoon, more than $3,500 had been collected.
The group will stay at Mr. Gessman's parents' home tonight, sleeping on air mattresses borrowed from family and friends.
Mr. Gessman said he is impressed with the willingness of his classmates to give up a weekend, when they could be studying, for a cause that means so much to him. "It's an exciting and inspiring cause to work for," he said.
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