Random Tuesday

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These last few days, Houstonians have been looking back at Hurricane Harvey and the damage it caused.  Many people still haven't fully completed repairs.  It's estimated that 40% of those impacted are still trying to rebuild. We were lucky. We didn't sustain any extreme damage or flooding, but those not too far from us were not so lucky.  In total, estimates put the cost at $125 billion.

Before

After

Harvey wielded its power from August 25-29, 2017.  In some areas, it dropped as much as 51 inches of rain.  Freeways, highways, and inter-states were completely underwater.  The death toll was 75. A long-time high school coach who worked for one of the schools in my district lost his life while trying to save others.

Humans weren't the only ones who suffered.  Many animals were displaced or left to fend for themselves.  Dogs, cats, cattle, horses, and so on, likely hundreds of thousands.  Here is a picture of a "famous" dog whose picture circulated until his owner and he were reunited.  In the picture, he is carrying around a bag of dog food.

There were many heroes during this time period, and local celebrities who stepped up to the challenge.  Jim McIngvale, AKA"Mattress Mack," owner of Gallery Furniture, had his own down-on-his-luck story prior to moving to Houston, so even though his own home took in three feet of water, he opened his stores to serve as shelters for people displaced by the storm.  He also sent some of his larger trucks to rescue people when it was safe to do so.

Hurricane Harvey will always be part of Houston's collective memory.  I will leave you with this:

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” — Maya Angelou

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