What can I, it has been an unforgivable experience. I think it has absolutely blind sided everyone. Found this in a Facebook post over the weekend and it is the perfect explanation for what was going on. “For my non-Houston friends- to help you understand the devastation: Houston is huge. The greater metropolitan area is circled by the Grand Parkway – which is 170 miles long. That makes the area of the circle inside the Grand Parkway over 2200 sq. miles. 2200 square miles of densely habited, urban and suburban, areas are flooded. Imagine if the entire state of Delaware, with twice the population of Manhattan, was under water. That’s Houston, with a population of 2.303 million inside its city limits (2016).” This doesn’t cover everything that is on the outside of Grand Parkway. Needless to say, it is a complete catastrophe.
I moved to Houston in 1993, I am an immigrant from Colombia. My family fled not only for a better opportunity but also leaving the uncertainty of horrible crime. If you have seen Narcos on Netflix, you know what I am talking about. To answer the question, No I haven’t seen it, I can’t get passed the third episode. I lived it, I don’t need to watch it. So Houston has been my home for the better part of almost 25 years. This disaster has been almost traumatizing for me. Yes, I prepared, but no one knew it was going to be this bad. Sunday night was probably the worst, I got distraught. Watching from my third-floor balcony just hearing the awful rain and watching the water creep. When it finally stopped, I was able to venture out and look, and it was just shocking. Nothing ever happens out here in Katy.
Monday, was very grim, I actually lost my shit. Mainly because the military Blackhawk helicopters started to fly around. There was no end in sight, I would randomly start crying. Then the news of the dams and levees began to emerge. We had family friends mandatorily evacuate their homes, on their own and by boat. We have streets full of boats instead of cars, it is unbelievable. Homes that will have water for an indeterminate amount of time. I have never seen my town in such, worry. I wanted to say despair but we are Texans, and we will come out of this. Yesterday, when the sun came out so, did everyone, literally. The donations, the volunteers, the cleanup. I also began to raise money. I am a planner and a mom, I am looking to the future. So many families have lost everything, what about the kids affected by this. So I did start a gofundme.com, and Youcaring pledge also.
I am not asking for millions of dollars, I am asking for everyone to reach out to a couple of dollars. I have posted it on my Facebook and my Instagram. I just want people to share and donate what they can. Kids are going to have to go back to school, and everything their families just bought for them, it’s gone. Yes, I understand it is not a priority, but it is something that will take a bit to organize, and it is unknown when they will go back to school. My concern is that we need to get those affected back to normal. I am fortunate my family has minimal damage, my parents had a lot of their storage get water, and it is undetermined if the insurance company will cover any of it. I wish that I could donate. I am very unstable financially, we cleaned out our closets during the summer. That is why I am trying to do something great by thinking of the kids and raising money for them. I get it everyone, and their mama has started something, but if you are reading this, please help my cause. Donate what you can, then share it on your business and social media. So click the link, give, share it is my challenge to you.
XOXO
Ana
https://www.youcaring.com/fundraiser-widget.aspx?frid=920598
Everyday Banana 