Women In Community Service Inc.

June 2001 Tropical Storm Allison

Dec 04, 2002

So many of us know the sad days that followed the downpour of this early June. All over our city and in many counties surrounding us, the reports were the same. Water, water everywhere and no dry place to lay our weary heads. As the rainwaters came creeping into our homes and automobiles, workplaces and places of worship, we watched helplessly, grabbed what little we could salvage and headed for higher ground.

Many of those who suffered water damage were veterans to flooding but there was an increased number of newly initiated to the ?‘Living Room Pool?’ club. One can imagine what it would be like to have water in your home but it?’s only until you have actually experienced it that you understand the strange overwhelming feeling of watching everything you have slowly go under, or float and bob down the hallway. Ants and other critters from outside, trying to stay afloat, hang on to your drapes and scramble up your walls. Dirt, mud, chemicals, garbage, oil and gas; everything imaginable that is on the ground outside your home is now making a thick brown stew in the middle of your kitchen. Priceless memories in frames, or books, or heirloom furniture all go under almost simultaneously, there is no time to make a list of what to save. You save yourself and then you turn to save others.

The morning broke over a landscape still being pelted by rain and teeming with activity. Long before the first rooster crowed over Harris County, there was the sound of owners calling nervously for their outside pets. Thousands of residents were mopping up, ripping out, shoveling, hauling and every other kind of ?“ing?” that is required to get your home dumped inside out to the curb.

For those with electricity, there was constant news coverage; many were surprised at how far spread the damage had been. The City of Houston Health Dept (713/794-9320), Harris County, FEMA (800/426-5460) and the Red Cross (713/526-8300) were already hard at work too. Everyone knew the task ahead would be difficult and enormous. We had taken almost 40 inches of rain in a line of storms that ran over us repeatedly in a very short time.

Here is where the true spirit of community always comes in to play. As we lamented our situation for a little while, thoughts of gratefulness soon lit up the shadows that the dark waters had created. We hugged our neighbors and wet pets; we finally got through to friends and family and were assured of their safety. The images on the television were incredible, but invariably, the stories ended with someone, who though wet and weary, was smiling and saying ?– ?“We?’ll be OK, we have what?’s important, our family, friends and our lives.?”

God Bless Us All
WICS