www.womanthismonth.com October 2017 PEOPLE | interview 47 turned on the television, we started seeing the devastation and the heart-breaking images of people leaving their homes in waist-high water to evacuate. People using blow-up mattresses to help the elderly and children evacuate. Seeing police boats unable to continue with evacuating people because they'd run out of gas and the community showing up with cans of gas to help. The loss and devastation was extremely emotional and seeing the amount of people that rallied to help people they didn't know, regardless of race, religion, economic differences.... it didn't matter, humanity at its finest! The loss of life, displaced animals, separated families — heart-breaking. Then you start getting the calls from people that you know and your loved ones who are in dire situations. Our handyman, his wife and their three children, ages 10, three and two, lost everything and were living in a shelter. Our daughter had to be evacuated and it took her three attempts to get to our house. She’s still waiting to go back because in that area they've had to shut the power off because of the flooding. We feel extremely blessed that she had a place to come. After the rain subsided I woke up one morning around 3am. I thought I heard it raining. I began to cry, not for myself but for those who were already dealing with devastation. I went to the window and was extremely relieved that it was not raining. I cried several times every day and when I was able to start helping those in need, whether it be finding them housing, donating items and helping first responders, it was then that I stopped crying. But there is the guilt that lingers that my house is, as we say, high and dry. Have you had any damage and, if so, how long will it take to repair? None. It seems silly to mention, in light of everybody else's dire straits, we just couldn't get out of our house for two days due to flooded roads. And a tornado destroyed a business three miles from our home. As the storm waters subside, what are you seeing around you now? People trying to repair what little they have left. This is a long recovery, at least two years. Those that have the least trying to gather basic human necessities to carry on. We’re still seeing people coming together to help one another to find donations for people and to help people get their belongings out of their homes to the curbside for rubbish pick-up. Many of your friends here in Bahrain will probably want to help. What would be your message to them, is there somewhere trusted that you are aware of for people to make donations? There have been some great organisations helping out but the one that I know that will 100 per cent go back into the Houston community is a JJ Watt fund he set up. He is a professional football player for the Houston Texans. Many celebrities, such as Jimmy Fallon, have also donated to this foundation. Here is his website. https://www.youcaring.com/ victimsofhurricaneharvey-915053
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