Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas on Friday evening. The Category 4 storm packed 130-mile-per-hour winds, leading to at least five deaths.
Though the brunt of Harvey has passed, flooding and multiple days of rain ahead mean that thousands are stranded in their homes or left without a place to stay. But with tragedy and heartache, our country bands together and heroes emerge. These brave men and women are what makes the United States so beautiful.
This Houston pastor waded around his city in chest-deep water checking cars to make sure no one needed saving.
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A Sheriff’s deputy in Cypress, Texas, rescued two small children from their home as the floodwaters rose.
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Everywhere you look, Americans are showing their true colors.
Touching photo by Louis DeLuca from our slideshow of Texans providing rescue in #HurricaneHarvey's 'biblical' floods https://t.co/faSH6O6Omm pic.twitter.com/h3r2vAji5J
— Michael Hamtil (@mhamtil) August 28, 2017
This news crew was about to leave a neighborhood when a woman flagged them down to rescue her elderly parents and their dogs.
A truly amazing moment on CNN ➝ https://t.co/roWhNDwJ85
— Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) August 27, 2017
Everyday Texans with working boats are risking everything to go out and help rescue others.
A boater tells @edlavaCNN that he's going to "try to save some lives" as flooding spawned from #HurricaneHarvey pummels Texas pic.twitter.com/sDTT843CFq
— Doug Criss (@CNNDoug) August 28, 2017
Eighteen people at this old folks home were rescued after they posted about their dire situation on social media.
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But humans aren’t the only ones who need saving.
WATCH: Texas police move a massive herd of cattle to higher ground outside of Houston pic.twitter.com/e6Dz2Dkrlr
— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 28, 2017
This man picked up a lost dog while stopping for gas. After posting about him, the pup was reunited with his owner!
Displaced dog jumped into my jeep. Please share to help find owner! #harvey #hurricane #displacedpets pic.twitter.com/0C6Ve9bN78
— Aaron Jayjack (@aaronjayjack) August 26, 2017
Residents carried children and animals to safety.
Some scenes in #Houston will break your heart. This is one of them.#HoustonFlood #HurricaneHarvey pic.twitter.com/hn6N643rBa
— Austin Kellerman (@AustinKellerman) August 27, 2017
Many have been forced to their roofs because the flood waters have risen so high. Thankfully, the Coast Guard is on the job.
#USCG crews continue working to rescue victims of the aftermath of #HurricaneHarvey. #Harvey pic.twitter.com/ywcdLoh7GP
— U.S. Coast Guard (@USCG) August 27, 2017
Emergency personnel have been working day and night to rescue people.
This deputy worked 12+ hours before collapsing from exhaustion.
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Rescuers aren’t just from Texas, though.
These Bay Area firefighters are driving down from Northern California to help in any way they can.
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And the Cajun Navy is on its way from Louisiana.
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If you’d like to help but can’t be there, consider donating to JJ Watt’s Houston Flood Relief Fund.
The initial 200k was raised in less than 2 hours.
I have now raised the goal to 500k.
Your support is phenomenal!https://t.co/SR6DmnNbyM— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) August 28, 2017
There are plenty of other ways to donate like giving money or blood to the American Red Cross or contributing to the Salvation Army.
It’s incredible to see such bravery and teamwork amidst such tragedy.
Share this to spread this glimmer of light on a dim day in Texas.
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