To some Lipscomb students, the affects of Hurricane Harvey are much more personal than rainfall in Nashville.
Hurricane Harvey and its effect on Texas have garnered the attention and sympathy of people worldwide.
“I come from a really big family, and most of them live in Houston,” said Allan Hooker, a Houston native. “I would say our biggest struggle would be making sure the people that we know, love and care about are safe.
“The people of Houston are always so kind and great,” Hooker said, adding, “They don’t deserve this, but maybe God is allowing this to happen to further His kingdom. The best advice I can give to anyone who is affected by this is to trust in the Lord.”
Texas is a state known for being rooted in family and community, but Hurricane Harvey has left Texas residents aching to be reunited with their families during this devastating time. Hooker has kept in contact with his family throughout the week with phone calls and FaceTime.
Maritza Munoz, a junior and another Houston native, said it is hard to focus in class while people back home are struggling.
“I’m looking at the stuff online, so then for me to get off my phone and go to class here in Nashville is just weird because I feel like part of me is in a different state,” Munoz said.
Munoz’s father is currently staying in a hotel after his apartment was flooded with over two feet of water. She explained that despite the loss of some of his material possessions, he is still in good spirits.
Junior Arden Whitehurst is from Corpus Christi, one of the areas the hurricane hit the hardest.
“There have been a lot of unknowns, but we are grateful for the Lord’s protection throughout Hurricane Harvey,” Whitehurst said. “While there is considerable damage to my city and my dad’s company, my home was spared, and that’s a reason to give thanks.”
Lipscomb is at work to aid the victims and the city both financially and through service. The Herd for Harvey Relief Fund was launched September 1, and service teams will be dispatching in the months to come.
In a statement released to Lipscomb faculty, President Lowry addressed what Lipscomb plans to do to help those affected by the hurricane.
“In the upcoming weeks and months, we are planning a series of on-the-ground relief efforts to assist with clean up and rebuilding needs during fall break, Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and spring break,” Lowry said.
Nashville is currently experiencing the hurricane’s power in a small way with ongoing heavy rain. The Red Cross and Metro Nashville’s Office of Emergency Management requested Lipscomb’s SAC to be used as a stand-by shelter for those affected by weather events, so cots have been placed in the SAC to provide service to those in need if necessary.
Photo courtesy of Lipscomb University