In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, the community came together, which inspired many people across the country to help as well. Many donated money to various organizations or went out to physically volunteer. The relief efforts for Harvey victims took time to not only demo houses, but to rebuild and help life return to somewhat normality.In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, the community came together, which inspired many people across the country to help as well. Many donated money to various organizations or went out to physically volunteer. The relief efforts for Harvey victims took time to not only demo houses, but to rebuild and help life return to somewhat normality.
Phillip Kemp, a pastor from Compass Church in Colleyville, Texas, was one of many people who took the call to action and lended their time and effort to helping Houston rebuild.
“I thought it was just a hurricane,” Kemp said. “I didn’t understand how devastating it was.”
Many people weren’t as prepared as they should have been because no one really knew the storm’s severity until it was too late.
“Unless you’re seeing it and experiencing it, you just have no idea,” Kemp said.
The relentless rain that hounded down for days and threatened the lives of many was unprecedented in terms of sheer size and intensity.
“How Texas culture is, is that if someone is in trouble, you go and you help the best that you can,” Kemp said. “The moment that our staff knew that people needed help, we mobilized people and were ready to go.”
There is no thinking about your options. The church knew there was a need and went, not knowing who they would be helping or what exactly they would be doing. “My emotions were all over the place; I was distraught. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” Kemp said. “It was almost like a third world country.”
The area had been ravished and was almost unrecognizable. “I saw the church mobilizing, sending out 400 volunteers, and I was so encouraged to go and see churches working together in order to help,” Kemp said.
Being a pastor and seeing people from all walks of life made coming to help gratifying in his eyes.
“There was a lady who lived next to Creech, who was probably 60-65 [years old], and the majority of her stuff was out on the street”, Kemp said. “But there was a guy who came down with a Bobcat dump truck and he cleared all of it in four hours. She was so happy that someone would do that for her.”
Not only were they able to clear her trash, they made her situtation better.
“We also went to this other place where the water had just receded. There were about 800 homes, and we went driving looking to see if we could help,” Kemp said. “You would see mountains and mountains of stuff, but with tons and tons of people coming together to help this community, you saw people who didn’t even live there helping.”
In the face of heartbreak, the community stood together, because no matter how difficult it gets, Houstonians will always come back stronger than ever.
Not only did they bring themselves for the physical work but they also brought and 18 foot truck full of much needed supplies to help make life just a little easier.
“I was completely amazed; despite racial tensions in the United States, despite the political climate, despite religion, people came together, and that surprised me,” Kemp said. “It seemed like everybody put down their personal opinions and said ‘Hey I’m going to help you,.’”
Nothing can get in the way of people trying to help others. No difference is too great.
“The biggest thing I saw was the church being the church,” Kemp said. “Mobilizing people, getting out in communities and generally loving on folks.”
Being a pastor himself, Kemp saw what the church was doing for the community and was amazed. People from all walks of life needed help and when they came asking, others came answering the call and helped change people’s lives.
“The community just banded together, especially when you would see people come in to steal some stuff. They would just band together because they were all in the same situation,” Kemp said.
Although in some areas you could not find a house that didn’t have some amount of damage, these people could have been rude and bitter, not trusting anyone. However, instead of closing themselves off, they came together to become stronger as a whole, ultimately benefitting the community.