Hurricane Harvey. A name that has been uttered in every local newscast in southeast Texas for the past year.
Hurricane
Harvey impacted many people. And although our family emerged from Harvey’s wrath
virtually unscathed, many in our small rural community are still suffering from
the floods that showed no mercy. People are without homes or in the process of rebuilding.
Since Harvey has been in the forefront of many Texans' mind during this one-year anniversary, I thought I'd repost the images I shared with you all last year at this time. Images that will be forever seared into my memory. Because every time I cross the bridge into town, I can't help but think about those floodwaters.
At one
point, our little town was cut off to the west, north and south, leaving only
one way in and out.
Grocery
stores and other businesses were forced to close because of the rapidly rising river
and delivery trucks were unable to get in to restock the shelves. Mail delivery
ceased for a few days because the post office was cut off by flood waters.
And,
oh, how they rose, swallowing whatever lay in their path.
Wildlife found themselves trapped.
And people had to be rescued.
Quiet little hamlets that usually went unnoticed were completely under water.
Yet despite the devastation, it was Texas' shining hour. People came out in droves to help their neighbors. People with flat-bottom boats and airboats made their way to flooded areas to rescue those who were trapped.
In the aftermath, residents donated food, water, clothing... And months later, prom dresses for those young girls whose families were still living through the nightmare created by Harvey.
People cared. They came together to help. No matter their race, religion or politics, we were united. And, Lord willing, it won't take another tragedy for that to happen again.
-----------------------------------------------
Three-time Carol Award finalist, Mindy Obenhaus lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, the youngest of her five children and two dogs. She's passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. Learn more at www.MindyObenhaus.com
Oh, Mindy. Those photos are heart-wrenching. I just saw something on the news yesterday about the anniversary of Harvey. A year already. Wow.
ReplyDeleteYou remind me of our aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Because it was late October, you had to add in freezing temps and snow to the misery, but like in Texas, the people showed such human compassion in the drive to help one another.
Here's to a dry hurricane season this year!
Mary Cate, I remember seeing those images of "Super Storm" Sandy. Hurricane and blizzard at the same time. Absolutely crazy.
DeleteWhy is it that those tragedies bring out the best in us? And yet, when life is good, folks act like the devil. I just don't get it.
Oh, and we are very dry this year. So much so that a little-emphasis on little-tropical storm would be nice. And there haven't been any major hurricanes in the Atlantic. Here in Texas, we keep getting all this African dust that blows off of the Sahara and, believe it or not, makes it all the way across the ocean to give us some hazy skies. Weather guys say that dust is a good thing, because it means it no tropical development. And after last year, everyone could use a reprieve. Feast or famine, I guess.
DeleteI was stuck in the Omaha airport for Sandy because they wouldn't let flights go to LaGuardia or JFK and that was my connection... so I slept in the airport...
DeleteAnd Zach was in downtown Manhattan for that. He and his friends had to sleep on people's couches for weeks because the entire electric grid was fried.... And then they had monster-sized generators in the streets to help power the buildings (in winter) because there was no way to fix the massive underground damage that had occurred.
So these big apartment buildings... all fancy... had monster-sized generators and cords everywhere.
I remember when Zach first moved into the building that the second floor overlooked the first floor, like a hotel.... and then that first floor filled with water.
And Lower Manhattan had just shown signs of recovery after the 2008 market crash when thousands and thousands of people lost their jobs and moved away... businesses closed... shuttered shops, empty storefronts.... and that was seven years after 9/11/2001... So this area has taken hit after hit in various ways.
The beauty of Texas and Harvey is in the outpouring of help.
I loved seeing that.
I don't think you see as much of that in big cities... maybe because there are just so many people? But I loved seeing it with Harvey...
Now I see Cate's post above that it was like that in Brooklyn! Helping one another...
DeleteAnd I do remember the Salvation Army in NYC going into the streets with cash... because the people with nothing or in need can't get to an ATM when the subways aren't running or stores can't take cards and electricity doesn't exist...
So maybe there are as many helpers in the big cities, but I didn't see them!
Thank you for saying that, Cate!
Ruthy, I bet you were fit to be tied. Stuck in Nebraska, longing to be with your family while Sandy raged.
DeleteHoustonians proved themselves during Harvey. I thought it was cool when Mattress Mac, owner of one of Houston's largest furniture stores, opened his doors to people who had no place to go. We're talking a huge store with a kitchen and everything. So he fed people and gave them a safe place to sleep. Oh, to have the money to do be able to do that. Part of which made it so cool. Oh, and then he had a reunion party for all of those people this past weekend. He is one cool dude.
I can't believe it's been a year! From up here, Harvey seemed to be the hurricane of floods more than high winds. The water just kept coming and coming...and staying.
ReplyDeleteAnd then so much work to get back to normal.
Praying for a fairly normal weather year so that East Texas can continue recovery!
Jan, you are exactly right. Harvey was all about the rains. We had some winds, but over the three days it rained here, I don't think I even heard any thunder. Definitely not your typical hurricane. Of course, those who live where Harvey made landfall might disagree, but it really was all about the rain and then no where for all that water to go.
DeleteI remember this all too well. I use to work in mortgage servicing and when the flood came we had to try and figure out how we would keep these people out of collections until they either got back to work or got their insurance claims figured out. It was a rough time for sure, but with God's grace people made it through and get to rebuild.
ReplyDeleteKatie, storms like that can impact us in ways we never dreamed of. So many people who didn't have flood insurance because they lived in areas that had never flooded before. But to hear how your company tried to protect their customers just warms my heart. Yay, you!
DeleteThe worst part we were at the mercy of the actual mortgage companies. I think insurance companies should have a clause that in a natural disaster like then someone who would not normally need flood insurance would still be covered. It is sad how it works.
DeleteOh, what pictures, Mindy.... and how quickly we forget the aftermath of what happens far away while those affected live it daily.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this reminder. Natural disasters can strike anywhere and the devastation is long-lasting, but I remember those videos of miles of people trailering boats, coming to help.
In times of trouble... we rise.
We do forget, Ruthy. If we're not impacted directly, we simply continue on our merry way. I think of all the devastation in Puerto Rico. Our oldest son spent a month there a few summers ago, going to school. He felt those people's pain because he saw what their lives were like to begin with.
DeleteYou are so right. We do rise to the occasion.
Mindy, those photos are so scary. I'm so thankful people pitched in to help. I pray those still recovering will be back in their homes soon.
ReplyDeleteI pray so, too, Missy.
Delete