The media will bring you the facts. Houston has been hit by one of the largest storms of the century. Despite this catastrophe, Houstonians have come together demonstrating compassion for their neighbors in need.
The community at large has come together like never before. #HoustonStrong has begun to trend on Twitter, offering up numerous examples through pictures and videos of what it means to be a strong Houstonian. The hashtag was made in honor of the city of Houston’s collective birthday. This hashtag highlights the resilient spirit of the city and its citizens throughout the many years of its existence. People from all over Houston and beyond are volunteering to help in the relief of victims caught in the path of the storm.
Multiple posts have shown evidence of people from around Texas bringing their boats to the Houston area to assist in amateur search and rescue operations. Other posts show more personal stories, one being of a Houston officer purchasing emergency supplies and food for victims of the tremendous flooding (this might be a good spot to put a link to the source). The Cowboys and Texans have officially canceled their Thursday preseason game so players can return to Houston to further help their community.
While official government funding for the relief effort is still being debated, others have taken up the mantel in an unprecedented way. Both MLB Texas teams, the Astros and the Rangers, have pledged $4 million and $1 million, respectively, in showing their support for Houston during this difficult time.
in addition to organizations and citizens, celebrities have also contributed to humanitarian efforts with their money and time. Kim Kardashian West, for example, has donated $500,000 to the relief of Houstonians. Despite how you may personally feel about certain celebrities, their contribution and their compassion for those in need have made a difference for the people in Texas.
The hashtag isn’t exclusively for content showing humans helping humans; it also includes anything that inspires hope for the people affected by the storm. The spread of positive news has inspired those in Texas and around the nation of the hope that still lingers on the horizon. Clear skies have opened up over Houston as the storm has started to migrate to southwestern Louisiana, and the sun is shining down on a different Houston, a damaged but still standing one.
Through this crisis, we have seen the resilient spirit of the American people, the unquestionable durability that America is known for. Houston is a shining example of how different people can come together and help one another. We now have confirmation that everything is indeed bigger in Texas, even their hearts.