The images of anguish and terror out of Uvalde, Texas are achingly familiar to the families of 20 students and 6 educators gunned down in Newtown, now reliving their own trauma and sharing the pain of a new community forever changed.

"I had flashbacks watching the parents waiting for hours to hear whether their children were going to be found alive, hoping against hope. It's the absolute worst," said Scarlett Lewis. Her own wait ended in agony. Lewis' son Jesse Lewis was among the kids killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

"People said that after Sandy Hook with 20 six-year-olds and 7-year-olds dying and six educators that that would be rock bottom, and yet here we are again," said Nicole Hockley. Her son Dylan also died on Dec. 14, 2012.

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Nearly a decade later and 2,000 miles away, the Texas shooting has striking similarities to Sandy Hook, making the emotional toll even harder for those who lived through Sandy Hook, including former library aide Mary Ann Jacob.

"I was huddled in a closet with 18 9-year-olds and three of my colleagues that day when gunfire shattered the peace at Sandy Hook School. Yesterday, I was right back in that closet, remembering the fear and horror we experienced, trying to be brave for the kids we were with while we were more frightened than we'd ever been in our lives," Jacob recalled.

She pledged her support to the Uvalde community in any way.

"Please know you are not alone in your grief. Unfortunately, we know," Jacob stated. "We're here for you when you're ready."

Sandy Hook parent Mark Barden, whose son Daniel was killed, also knows the long, dark path people in Texas have ahead of them.

"I would say there is no wrong way to go through this process, just to do whatever works for you and to allow the people that want to help you to help you and to immerse yourself in the love of your family," Barden said.

He admitted he still takes it one minute to the next but said turning his pain into purpose has helped. Barden and Hockley founded the nonprofit Sandy Hook Promise, which focuses on teaching kids to know the signs of gun violence and to take action before violence occurs.

"It's the best way I can think of to honor my little Daniel," he said.

"Doing something to honor Dylan, to prevent other families from feeling this — as many as I can — I wouldn't say that brings me joy, but it certainly brings me purpose," said Hockley.

Joy, though, is possible, something she wants the Texas families to know.

"It sure as heck isn't easy," said Hockley, getting emotional. "But, you know, I have a surviving son who I love with my whole life. He brings me joy."