Pinoy in Houston Shares Family’s Experience with Hurricane Harvey

Neil Reyes retreated indoors like other Houstonians as Hurricane Harvey, the most powerful storm to hit Texas in 50 years, flooded streets, knocked out power for 230,000 people and claimed at least two lives.

Reyes showed Unang Balita on Monday that while Harvey’s winds were not as strong in their area as they are in the northwest, the constant rain kept their roads flooded up to their calves.

“Nag-ipon po ‘yung tubig dito sa kalsada,” Reyes said. “Ang mga pamilya okay naman po kasi malapit po sila. ‘Yung area po na malayo, ‘yun po ‘yung mga talagang natamaan po ng seryoso, mga northwest po ata natamaan eh.”

While a highway near Reyes’ home is currently under 16 feet of floodwater, enough had been drained from other areas to prepare them for the next onslaught of heavy rains.

“Ready na po kami sa susunod na heavy rain ulit. Pangalawang baha na ho ‘to. Uulan daw ho bukas, mamayang gabi, tsaka bukas po,” Reyes said, noting that they stocked up on flood essentials beforehand.

Several Filipinos in Houston posted on Facebook helplines for police, evacuations, and others; shelter locations, dry and cooked food provisions by Desi teams, and the hotline of the Philippine Consul General in LA, Adel Cruz.

Harvey entered Texas late Friday and lingered over Houston, triggering catastrophic flooding, cut-off power lines, destroyed homes, caused oil and gas price hikes, and prompted an overnight curfew for residents. —Rie Takumi/KG/KVD, GMA News

(Source: GMAnetwork.com)