Despite being a harrowing week for my fellow Houstonians, I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that I’ve never been more proud to be Texan. Stories and images of communities coming together during Hurricane Harvey have filled my feed, giving me hope and bringing me to tears—after all, helping a fellow neighbor is just the Texas way.
News outlets have created videos and lists highlighting local heroism, but not nearly enough to cover the types of posts I’ve been seeing locally from friends, family, and neighbors. It’s been devastating watching my hometown suffer from afar, but these heartwarming stories have reminded me of the compassion and resilience that will help Houston get through this.
This is #HoustonStrong.
(Artwork by Chad Ehlinger. Go here for an updated list from the Houston Chronicle of ways you can help the victims of Hurricane Harvey.)
#Harvey has taken a lot, but it will NEVER take our humanity. We have seen so many neighbors helping each other. THANK YOU #HopeForHouston pic.twitter.com/M8aTACwHhc
— ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) August 30, 2017
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This is Houston. Wanna know what this line is for? Food? Water? Housing? Nope. These people are waiting in line TO VOLUNTEER. #Harvey pic.twitter.com/UxGnqSNOQN
— Michael Berry (@MichaelBerrySho) August 30, 2017
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Watch employees of Houston’s @8thWonderBrew rescuing flood victims in a giant army truck during Hurricane Harvey: https://t.co/l7jlhxkrYt
— Eater Houston (@EaterHouston) August 30, 2017
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This photo by @jayjanner today at a Houston shelter is the best. Sometimes, tragedy brings out such heartfelt moments. #Harvey @statesman pic.twitter.com/JbiJzqUD2M
— Sebastian Herrera (@SebasAHerrera) August 30, 2017
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Anheuser-Busch stops making beer to produce 500,000 cans of drinking water for people affected by Hurricane Harvey https://t.co/DRIL5hGhzq pic.twitter.com/JL4XRyLEBl
— Eater (@Eater) August 28, 2017
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Texas, you didn’t deserve this, but my goodness ya’ll are making this country proud. #TexasStrong pic.twitter.com/Cs8WEvQNkL
— Ellison Barber (@ellisonbarber) August 27, 2017
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This storm will not break our spirit. We are in this together and we will rebuild even greater together after #HurricaneHarvey
— Sylvester Turner (@SylvesterTurner) August 27, 2017
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#BREAKING – Houstonians performing their own water rescues near Brays Bayou. Look. Incredible spirit of resilience amid disaster. #ABC13 pic.twitter.com/S3NYxr0nVu
— Steve Campion (@SteveABC13) August 27, 2017
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Houston ISD will offer 3 free meals a day to ALL students in the district in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey https://t.co/Qdk0JvjU9A pic.twitter.com/AMN1QVnuN0
— The Root (@TheRoot) August 30, 2017
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A message from Mattress Mack!
If anyone and their pets need a place, he’s opening two of his stores to provide shelter!
God bless him! pic.twitter.com/ngiRg4DR3g— Jennifer Reyna (@XOXOJenny510) August 27, 2017
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Buc-ess just let emergency personnel in to stay the night. And we can eat and drink on Buc-ess. Thank Buc-ees – Love Texas 😎 pic.twitter.com/VUASelsctF
— God & Country 🇺🇸 (@ezeduzit4ever) August 28, 2017
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Dear God some people give me such hope:
REPORTER: What are you going to do?
HERO: I’m gonna save some lives.pic.twitter.com/Qj2nmvCD97
— Mikel Jollett (@Mikel_Jollett) August 27, 2017
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THANK YOU to our Oak Lake Pizza Hut team for their out-of-the-car response to deliver hot pizzas all day to the community they serve. pic.twitter.com/Xmkv9XhrKw
— Pizza Hut (@pizzahut) August 30, 2017
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“If someone tries to deport you, I will represent you myself.” Mayor @SylvesterTurner
Seek help regardless of your status #ABC13 #Hounews pic.twitter.com/l6wfFRxXaD
— ABC13 Antonio (@ABC13Antonio) August 28, 2017
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Amazing scenes in Richmond, a half hour from Houston. So many boats. So many evacuees. So many volunteers. Nonstop all day. pic.twitter.com/uzKBiQ4uNb
— Jacob Rascon (@Jacobnbc) August 28, 2017
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Much love and respect to @Kraftsmenbaking for donating all this bread!!! Y’all are amazing!!! Show them some love❤️ Houston pic.twitter.com/h7gTjRMhFA
— Pinkerton’s Barbecue (@PinkertonsBBQ) August 29, 2017
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#TexasCares – Group of Austinites pack up U-Haul with life jackets, life-saving water devices & supplies to #Houston. #KVUEHarvey pic.twitter.com/8anoTcYXkA
— Rebeca Trejo (@RebecaT_KVUE) August 29, 2017
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Catalina is only 5 years old, but she is helping neighbors by offering hot soup. Heroes of #Harvey https://t.co/r3j7VrXOku #HoustonStrong pic.twitter.com/nKdIbgY1Ll
— ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) August 30, 2017
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A man just drove his truck into a ravine in Beaumont, Texas and CNN’s @DrewGriffinCNN rescued him on live TV https://t.co/WT4qnHgFqd
— CNN (@CNN) August 30, 2017
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Incredible video shows 2 men on horseback rescuing a horse trapped in rising waters in Cleveland, TX https://t.co/1PG01mp7Ea #HoustonStrong pic.twitter.com/7gHpR3g3FW
— ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) August 30, 2017
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Incredible, watch as @BrandiKHOU flags down a rescue boat on-air, saving this truck driver’s life https://t.co/EVvNbdt13k pic.twitter.com/3mYi9McniB
— Hayley Jones (@meetmissjoness) August 27, 2017
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A powerful moment on @CNN just now — a flood rescue with @edlavaCNN https://t.co/4Icgn35WzV
— Ana Cabrera (@AnaCabrera) August 27, 2017
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WATCH: Family floating on an air mattress found @CourtneyABC13‘s rescue boat by the Barker Reservoir #HoustonFlood: https://t.co/IgIDrv7GTe pic.twitter.com/vAXeHeEfHV
— ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) August 28, 2017
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High-five @nypost! Today’s front page has it right. https://t.co/sApfwruQ32 #TexasStrong #Harvey2017 pic.twitter.com/BCZnFJ0xIG
— Tulsi Kamath (@tulsi_kamath) August 30, 2017
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Calling on @SenateGOP @HouseGOP @SenateMajLdr & @SpeakerRyan to commit every dollar they would have spent on Wall toward Houston relief. pic.twitter.com/Vjp59YMJup
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) August 27, 2017
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The Cajun Navy
When America needs heroes our best rise to the call
This is humanity and American spirit#HoustonStrong pic.twitter.com/L6TBYKlNTp
— Red T Raccoon (@RedTRaccoon) August 28, 2017
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Austin, every time I think I can’t love you more… https://t.co/ro8NJ0VfhF
— Mayor Adler (@MayorAdler) August 31, 2017
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Woman gives a six pack of Galveston beer to FOX News reporter Casey Stegall. #Harvey2017 pic.twitter.com/nwG06HMCvb
— Richard W. (@IceManNYR) August 25, 2017
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I have an idea for replacing one of those statues… pic.twitter.com/v3zZzb1yFe
— FishingForTruth (@FishBlanc) August 27, 2017
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.@heb has it’s mobile kitchens on stand-by ready to go to feed those impacted by #Harvey it can serve over 2,000 meals an hour.@fox7austin pic.twitter.com/c99oiKKEfR
— RaeAnn Christensen (@RaeOnFOX7) August 25, 2017