It is hard to know where to start with a story when you are still in the middle of it.
Many of you I’ve had the opportunity to meet, but most of you have only seen my name at the bottom of an email or referenced in our newsletter. I have the great fortune to work with and for Linda Elliott. 
We work together in her business ventures and in managing and growing the Healthcare Think Tank. I facilitate the Houston luncheons and coordinate and support everything else behind the scenes for the organization, but I do all of this from my hometown of Houston. We have a virtual working relationship – that’s working!
I was out of commission two weeks ago as Hurricane Harvey blew through the Texas coast and dumped over 50 inches of rain on Houston alone in less than a three-day time frame, resulting in unprecedented flooding. Some of you have only seen pictures and heard the news stories and some of you have lived it with me. I can assure you that pictures will never do this hurricane and the devastation justice.
Houston did not take a direct hit like Rockport and Port Aransas did with powerful and damaging winds, but H-town got drenched with an enormous 
amount of water. For three days it rained and rained and rained. It seemed like it was never going to stop. I have NEVER seen that much rain! I live close to Braes Bayou, not far from the Texas Medical Center. I am incredibly lucky that my home was dry and my family is safe. Even losing power for days on end seems insignificant now. As I write this, there are still many who have water in their homes. It’s hard to imagine, but the truth. The path of Hurricane Harvey has touched many lives along the Texas coast.
With the world we live in focused on politics, race and religion, among other things that divide us, that all seemed to be non-existent as rescues were made, lives were saved and PEOPLE JUST HELPED PEOPLE. PEOPLE – every race, every religion, every color, every size, every age. It was a beautiful moment for humanity in this big city.
The cleanup process has begun, but not without being an overwhelming and emotional task. 
This is my neighborhood, only two streets over closer to the bayou. After the rain stopped and the water receded (at least in my area), it was time to get to work, no matter how traumatizing and difficult the situation. My family helped where we could with friends and even strangers – from demolition of drenched sheetrock and wood floors to the removal of waterlogged books, pictures, clothes, valuables, etc. I stood shoulder to shoulder with a friend of mine as she sorted through her “nerd notes” from medical school that somehow survived the water in her home during the flood, but yet family photos were destroyed. Talk about some tough moments. As you drive up and down the streets that were flooded, what you see is the entire contents of someone’s home in the front yard – RUINED. These pictures speak a thousand words and are an indication of what so many are dealing with at the moment. It is EVERY SINGLE HOUSE. It is a very sad sight!
“Tragic to Magic” was a term I heard often in the midst of the catastrophic mess in each home. That Magic is the human spirit that I have seen in such a big way, whether in the heroic efforts of the First Responders, our city leaders, volunteers, sports figures like JJ Watt, business community leaders like Mattress Mack and HEB, only to name a few. There are many heroes that you won’t hear about in the news. Streets were like rivers and rescues were made all over the city.
Looking for a sense of purpose, neighbors have gathered to help anyone and everyone that needs assistance. In the areas of my neighborhood that were devastated, my friends, the Norvells, who were built up high and did not flood, set up a volunteer 
station, headquartered in their yard for the first week after Harvey, complete with supplies, food and drinks and a whiteboard listing of those in need, which changed daily. Crews of moms and dads and even young teens lined up to give of themselves, even though it was hard work and it smelled. It was truly a collaborative effort.
Even the smallest helpers jumped in and sorted packages of underwear for the non-profit Undies for Everyone. As of September 11, there were 300,650 pairs of undies collected and distributed to Harvey Relief.
My kids attend Presbyterian School, which operates on six core values: Respect, Perseverance, Courage, Compassion, Integrity and Gratitude. These are not just words, but a way of life for many that I have spoken to, met and worked with side by side over the last few weeks. The stories of servant leadership as this story unfolds in so many communities will be stories that I will never tire of hearing. Faith, hope and love will get us through, along with these core values, as each community moves forward.
Two major hurricanes in a two-week time frame? That’s crazy! My thoughts and prayers are now with Florida and all that were in the path of Irma as they begin their road to recovery.
Thank you for your kind emails and well wishes. This is just a portion of my story. Hurricane Harvey is the reason that our August newsletter is now an August/September edition. Thank you for your understanding and your patience. Please consider donating to those who still need help all along the coastline…and now in Florida as well.
Linda serves as co-executive director of the MilTribe Foundation , a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, in its mission to support military children and families. They are working closely with victims of Harvey and Operation Supply Drop to ensure that direct requests from military families are met. This would be a great place to donate to support those who defend our country.
Cheers to staying positive,
Melissa Murray