Hurricane Harvey Showed We Are “Houston Strong”

On August 26, 2017, Hurricane Harvey arrived over Houston and the surrounding areas. An unimaginable 50 inches of rain was dumped in some spots. The storm was relentless, its winds howled, bayous swelled far beyond their banks, and entire neighborhoods vanished under floodwaters. It was one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history, causing billions in damage and displacing hundreds of thousands of people.

But out of devastation came something stronger than the storm: the spirit of Houston. As Harvey’s rains continued day after day, the city showed its true heart. Neighbors became first responders, wading through waist-deep water to carry strangers to safety. Volunteers launched fishing boats, kayaks, and even jet skis from suburban driveways to rescue families trapped in their homes. Churches, mosques, synagogues, and businesses opened their doors, not asking who you were or where you came from, only asking what you needed.

While Houstonians lined up to donate food, water, and clothing, thousands more volunteered to help organize and hand out those donations. Even our neighbors from Louisiana, “ The Cajun Navy”, rolled in to do anything to help. Shelters swelled, but so did generosity. It didn’t matter about your age, race, religion, or which side of the freeway you called home.

Harvey reminded everyone that Houston is one family.

Eight years later, the scars of Harvey remain, but so does the memory of a city that pulled together when it mattered most. Out of floodwaters rose resilience, proving that in Houston, no storm is stronger than the people who call it home.

“Houston Strong” is more than a motto.  It’s who we truly are.

Doug O’Brien