Hurricane Harvey and Me. So Far.

Bhavna Hinduja
Aug 28, 2017 · 4 min read
Dealing with Hurricane Harvey-induced-Cabin-Fever

You’re reading your social media feeds, surfing the news channels and every now and then, you see a natural disaster hitting somewhere in the world. Your heart goes out to the victims when you see the heartbreaking images floating around on social media and news channels. You feel a lump in your throat and maybe even shed a tear thinking what if it was you or your loved one. You let out a prayer and a wish for all concerned to be safe. You secretly (almost out of embarrassment) thank your stars that you’re not “there”, but instead in the safety of your home. Every now and then you check up on that one friend or cousin you have that is somewhere in the vicinity of the natural disaster. You let out a sigh of relief that she is safe. And you move on. I’ve been there.

But this time, it’s me in the middle of a natural disaster. Hurricane Harvey literally came to my doorstep, albeit downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it affected mainland Houston. And it still feels surreal that this is happening to us. Now, now. Don’t freak out! Me along with my pillar of rock of a husband and three adorable animals are dry and safe. SO FAR. “So far” being the key words. We still skip a heartbeat every time the Emergency Alert beeps on our phones warning us of a Flash Flood or Tornado.

Our street in Midtown Houston — the closest it’s come to flooding.

It’s one thing when you see images on your screens. But it’s even more heart-breaking when you recognize that corner store, that underpass or flyover, that street that you considered buying your new home on, that neighbourhood that you spent hours researching. It’s scary. It’s even scarier not knowing if we will continue being safe or will we be next on a raft going down our street with the animals. My husband and I try to keep a strong front for our families in Toronto and India as well as for each other. But I’m sure he knows that I’m scared and worried as much as I know that somewhere between his mapping and twitter-following, he forgets to breathe too.

Buddy the Cat mapping his (and hopefully ours too) evacuation.

As newbies to the city, we don’t have very many friends here. Our realtors are the closest people we have to friends here, and thankfully for them, they’re away. God bless their hearts for they keep checking in on us just as we check in with them on their home and families. There’s something about the events that have taken place last couple of days that has connected me to this city. The rescue efforts by the first responders are incredible and heart warming. Check this out. And this. And OMG this. It gives me hope that no matter how one voted, ultimately we show up for each other, no matter our nationality, race, colour or orientation. Some of these heart-breaking images really put the storm in perspective and is also very humbling.

I sit here contemplating how can we help. Should we go down to the George R. Brown Convention Centre and volunteer our services? Should we foster pets that are stranded and scared? Ultimately, I decide that the best I can do is stay out of everyone’s way, more importantly, off the road, and be one less person tying up the city’s resources if I end up in a high water area. While my apartment complex may not be flooded, the areas around us are impassable.

If you’re like me wondering how people are doing, I’m going to shamelessly request you to consider donating to Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund. If animals tug at your heart more, you may consider donating to SPCA of Texas or Houston Humane Society. Here’s more ways to help. Prayers are welcome too. I for one know, it is the prayers of my loved ones — friends and family all over — that is keeping me safe SO FAR.

Pixie the Cat — always ready to skip town!

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