Written by Hsiulien Chu
Translated by H.B. Qin
Edited by Adriana DiBenedetto
Following devastating flash floods over the July 4th holiday weekend in Texas, Tzu Chi volunteers leaped into action. Upon assessing the situation in person, 29 volunteers were mobilized to the Burnet Community Center, where FEMA had established its Disaster Recovery Center (DRC), for a Tzu Chi relief distribution that included emergency supplies and cash cards. Here, many disaster survivors shared their experiences and stories of survival, as well as their gratitude for Tzu Chi’s care and assistance.
“We had never encountered such a situation before when doing the disaster assessment,” recounted one Tzu Chi volunteer. “After we gave a simple briefing, a local government official, Paige Saucer, believed in us and was willing to give us the information. This official is truly a bodhisattva. She knew that these people needed help. It was truly wonderful karma.”
Collaboration Ensures a Successful Distribution
Before 5 AM, Tzu Chi USA Southern Region volunteers Roger Lin, Hsiupi Yang, Hsihan Huang, Harry Huang, and Luca Yeh, led by Southern Region Executive Director Sean Lo, drove approximately three hours to the Austin Service Center to meet with 23 local Tzu Chi volunteers, including Tsang-Bin Wen, Hsihan Huang, Yenping Liu, Ichun Chen, Yuming Chen, Weishun Wen, Meifeng Chang, and Huiming Liu. They then drove to the Burnet Community Center, about 55 miles away, to distribute emergency supplies and Tzu Chi cash cards.
Thanks to the trust of Paige Saucer, the Assistant Emergency Management Coordinator for Denton County, Tzu Chi was able to quickly obtain a list of survivors. Tzu Chi additionally received assistance from the local nonprofit organization, Ark of Highland Lakes, which helped to mail notices to disaster survivors. Altogether, nearly 60% of the contacted disaster survivors came to receive the cash cards. “Based on past records, an attendance rate of one-quarter would already be good,” said Executive Director Lo. “Today, we invited over sixty households, nearly seventy, and forty-one households attended. It’s an excellent outcome.”
Yet, the disaster would leave a lasting impact on communities. The sudden and violent flood washed away homes in an instant, leaving disaster survivors scrambling to escape, and resulted in a tragic loss of lives.
A Harrowing Experience
Two flood survivors at the July 26 distribution, Ronnie Williamson and his wife, Jennifer Nicholson, described the situation, finishing each other’s sentences as they shared their story with Tzu Chi volunteers. “It was a matter of about three minutes,” Nicholson began. “From nothing to about four feet deep,” Williamson picked up the thread. “And everything in somebody’s house is low: all your furniture, all of your belongings, your clothes, appliances,” Nicholson continued, with Williamson adding, “so even though we only got four feet in our house, we pretty much lost everything. If it was hanging above four feet, that’s all we have left.”
“We own a business as well, Williamson Excavating. He lost all of his work tools and everything he needs to make a living,” Nicholson went on. “So pretty much, you know, 57 years of his life, 54 years of my life, everything was just wiped out, and all of our memories, all of our special belongings and everything, just gone in a matter of minutes.”
Jennifer Nicholson and Ronnie Williamson also experienced an outpouring of community support. “I think at one point we had about 100 to 150 people at our house, volunteers who just showed up out of the blue,” Nicholson said. “They helped us dig through the rubble, and we managed to save a little bit of stuff that we thought would be unsavable, possessions that are of sentimental value,” Williamson added.
As for the cash card from Tzu Chi, it too was a blessing, as the couple explained how they were saddled with mortgage and utility payments while neither can currently work. “The money… I mean, it’s…” Williamson began, “…invaluable,” his wife said, completing his thought.
Offering Warmth and Companionship
Melissa Williamson also endured trauma that night, although the danger was not immediately evident. “My dog was barking throughout the night, and at one point, he was just growling and scratching and jumping. I got up to show him that it was just a rainstorm. It was not,” she said. “The water was already up to my door frame, several feet of water. It was rushing through with a current that I was not going to challenge. I went and looked out the front door. My truck was already underwater.”
Unable to flee, Williamson called 911 to report her situation, then climbed into the ceiling, bringing her dogs with her. Thankfully, she survived. “I stayed in the ceiling for about 40 minutes, and then the Burnet Fire Department actually showed up and got me out of the house. They rescued everybody on our street, including our dogs, and three cats survived. So everybody made it out.”
It was heartwarming, too, to learn how communities had come together to assist those affected. “When I came back home the next day after the flood, I was just walking in circles. I didn’t know what to do. Volunteers [from the community] started showing up that day. They came in, a group of about 30 people, and just started clearing everything out of my house. Not just throwing it out like nobody cared. They were very respectful in everything that they did,” Williamson recounted. “Watching the community come together the way that they have, and the support that we’ve gotten from outside resources, has been overwhelmingly great. It’s helping so much.”
What you guys came out to do for us, it helps in ways that you couldn’t understand. Every little bit that everybody is giving helps so significantly.
Despite the severe damage, disaster survivor Jon Bender is grateful to be alive — and grateful to his loyal service dog for saving his life. “Nobody knew it was coming. And it was fast. I mean, like in minutes, the water was coming up,” Bender recounted in disbelief.
“Not everybody has their vehicles. On my street, mine was the only car that survived because I got it out before the rest of the flood came through,” said Bender. His home took in about four feet of water, but it can be repaired. “I’m living in my daughter’s boyfriend’s drum room, so my dog and I are there; otherwise, I’d be living in my Jeep.” Still, compared with what so many lost, those inconveniences felt secondary. “Not everybody has their houses. It literally picked up the homes and moved them; it all depended on where you were.”
I'm going to use that cash card to get my service dog’s meds and her dog food. I mean, first thing I need is to give her medicine. One of the things we lost in the house was all the prescriptions, mine and hers… I have to take care of her first, right? She saved me, so I'm gonna save her.
A Narrow Escape
“My son was in his RV, and he woke up to use the restroom. He looked out the window and said it was like being on a beach, with waves of water coming in,” said Kendall Milburn, another survivor who had come to the DRC for help. “He told his girlfriend, ‘We have to get out of here.’ Within two or three minutes, they opened the door, and the water was already coming into their trailer. They got through to 911 and were told, ‘You need to get to higher ground.’ They said, ‘We’re waist-deep in water. There is no higher ground!’” Their only chance of survival was to climb atop the roof of a car, which itself was on the verge of floating away in the rush of floodwater. “Greyson and his neighbor, Joe, wedged the car so they could get their dogs, the children, the women, and another elderly woman in the park, and they helped them up,” Milburn recounted.
Next, the men tried to climb up. Joe succeeded, but Greyson had a close call. “My son got onto the top of the car, and he slipped, and he could already feel the car moving. So he just lunged toward Joe, who was on his stomach with his arms reaching out, and they pulled him up,” she said, uneasy even at the thought of her son’s brush with death. “They spent the next three to four hours on the rooftop. The Coast Guard was bringing helicopters in to take the people trapped on top of their trailers, inside their trailers. As the water started to recede, rescue boats were able to come in, and they finally got into a rescue boat.” Greyson Milburn was among the lucky. “He saw one of the residents floating down. And later we found out that he drowned…”
A Shining Light After the Disaster
The volunteers felt the survivors’ sorrow deeply, and were grateful to be able to offer their care in person. Tsang-Bin Wen, Director of Tzu Chi USA’s Austin Service Center, said, “We are relieved to have been able to personally deliver Tzu Chi’s love from around the world to the disaster survivors. There was one disaster area with unclear data, but we conducted an on-site assessment to confirm the disaster situation and obtained approval from Executive Director Sean Lo. We successfully assisted the disaster survivors in receiving aid. This once again demonstrates the importance of on-site assessments to avoid ambiguities in handling. This time, we collaborated with multiple organizations for the distribution, but despite the limited space, the volunteers worked together seamlessly, demonstrating exceptional teamwork and spirit. We do not wish to see disasters occur, but when they do, Tzu Chi volunteers can conduct on-site assessments and distribute aid promptly.”
These donations are blessings and care from around the world, delivered through our hands to disaster survivors to help them rebuild their lives; a truly worthwhile endeavor.
As time passes, the affected families continue to work hard to rebuild their homes. The disaster brought tremendous heartache and took a great deal, but in the days that followed, it also shed light upon some of the most resilient and kind aspects of humanity. The warm support from neighbors and volunteers alike is akin to a beam of hope, illuminating the way forward. On this path of reconstruction, may the future remain full of strength and supported by love.
