New Orleans firefighters lend a hand to Sandy victims

>>> time now for our "making a difference" report, it is another night of struggle for all of the hurricane sandy victims, all over this part of the country. folks are still looking for homes and apartments to live in until they're back on their feet. they're getting help every day, they know what suffering is like because they have been there themselves. tonig tonight's stephanie gosk has more on first responders in new orleans , making a difference up north.

>> reporter: starting the day after a hurricane is a physical and emotional job. firefighters from new orleans who lived through hurricane katrina six years ago remember it well.

>> i know what the people up here are going through, they're like how am i going to get this?

>> reporter: they also remembered that the new york fire department was on the door steps helping just days after the levees broke. this captain's house flooded up to the roof.

>> that was the biggest thing.

>> reporter: now the firefighters from new orleans want to repay the favor.

>> any country, any state. it is a connection between the fire department . and new york is like our brother city.

>> reporter: places like belle harbor , long island, need the help. the first floor of this house is destroyed. he also lost a house in new orleans during katrina. are you like a storm magnet? what is going on here?

>> a good friend in new orleans sent me a text message saying i have very strong hurrikarmr.

>> reporter: firefighters helped in katrina, as well.

>> the buildings are on fire, everybody runs out, they run in, here in a smaller scale they ran in to help me.

>> reporter: like many here, he comes from a family of firefighters. his brother, greg, was killed on 911. which made coming to his house even more important for the team from new orleans . this is the day firefighters talk about, no matter where you're from, you talk about it. in very little time, the crew cleared out the water-logged first floor. but perhaps even more important than muscle was their message.

>> it will get better.

>> reporter: coming from new orleans 's firefighters, it is just what new yorkers need to hear. stephanie gosk, nbc news, belle harbor , long island.