Sad Story
Yes, it is.
However, the response from Boston was amazing. The Massachusetts Governor telegraphed an offer of assistance immediately. He didn't even wait for a response and sent a train within 12 hours, loaded with supplies and medical teams. A Boston relief committee raised $1.9 million within an hour and the people of Massachusetts eventually sent $15 million to Halifax (both figures in today's equivalents).
"We have come here to help you; anything we have is yours; anything we can do will be done."
Although Gander Newfoundland gets most of the attention for receiving diverted aircraft on September 11th, 2001 (Musical: Come From Away), Halifax received 40 aircraft and 8,000 passengers. This was despite not knowing if any of those aircraft had also been hijacked.
Despite political turmoil, the pandemic, and other assorted BS, when $hit gets real, neighbours step up for each other.
