I’ve been at my current job for twelve years and I’ve experienced several weather events. Hurricanes, freezes, wildfires, you name it; I’ve been in it. When these type of events happen most people are preparing their home for the disaster and making sure that their family will be safe if or when trouble strikes. I, on the other hand, am always hard at work prepping to make sure an entire city is safe and stays functioning. I don’t run from storms. I face them head on. My job requires me to be on call during times inclement weather strikes so I’ve never actually been at home for a hurricane.

This has never bothered me since I’ve always known my family was safe. I don’t have a wife and children so no worries there. My only concerns have always been that my grandparents, mother, and sisters were safe with family, knowing that gave me a sense of peace. However, that peace was shaken with Hurricane Harvey. I felt anxiety, disturbed and troubled. This was very different for me. It was the first time I felt fearful for the ones I loved. I felt uneasy about their safety.

My girlfriend and dog wanted to stay at my house while I was at work so that they could be close to me. I loved the idea of it but in my mind, I didn’t know how bad the storm would get. And if it did get bad, I wouldn’t be able to get to them if they got flooded in. So I told her to go stay with family so she wouldn’t be alone.

The problem is the entire time the rain started to fall and fall and fall all I could think was, “Is she okay?” “I hope she doesn’t try and leave where she is or drive in this weather.” The questions and doubts became endless.

I had to put those thoughts and feelings aside because I had work to do. As Hurricane Harvey made landfall, my emotions were heightened. I watched as the rain fell and heard the winds roar. I continued to watch as the streets surrounding my office began to fill with water. Then it happened. In twelve years, this had never occurred. I was flooded in at work. Every single route out of my office was flooded and I have never felt so helpless in my life. I drove to every road and every side road. I even walked to the back of the yard and looked to see if I could walk through the marsh to get out. And I wasn’t alone.

One of my co-workers had children that he needed to get back to because his wife was stuck out of town. Another co-worker had parents that were stuck in their home and couldn’t get out. Then yet another guy lost his mother and needed to fly back for the funeral but had no way to get out of Houston. Nor could he get to his house to get his passport. I was stranded with these men for three days.

Over the course of those three days, we bonded in our shared worries, fears, and survival. We shared cans of beans we got from a corner store. We pooled together chips and bowls of noodles. We took showers with t-shirts because there was no place to get towels. We slept on cots and pillows that could hardly be classified as pillows. We awoke every morning looking for a way out, worried about the people we loved.

As the seconds turned to minutes and the minutes to hours during my entrapment, my mind constantly went to thoughts of my family. I knew they were ok but I didn't know about her, my girl. And then the questions came back. Was she afraid? Was she eating enough? Was she stressed worrying about me? I wondered at what point would one of us try to take a truck through high water to get to the other.

Hurricane Harvey did not discriminate, not by age, race, wealth or sex. If you were directly affected, you felt the brunt indirectly. My co-workers and I made it through, like the rest of you. I eventually was able to wrap my arms around my girl, comforting both her and me. My co-worker’s family were rescued and evacuated to his relief. My other co-worker was eventually able to get home to see that his children were safe and sound. The last guy made it out and I'm not sure if he made it to his mother's funeral but I did say a prayer for him. Although the city shut down and was at a stand still, life went on. As we all pick up the pieces and put our lives back together, one thing is sure. Hurricane Harvey will be one storm that will always be in my memory for how it changed me and made me re-evaluate life itself.