I want to share a small part of the nightmare of an experience I encountered after Hurricane Ike washed away my home and everything I own, forever changing my life.
I never realized just how many people are willing to go out on a limb, beyond the call of duty, to help a complete stranger in a time of need.
The ones I was fortunate enought to come across live, work and run the city of Tiki Island. I'm talking about Mayor Charles Everts, Police Chief Jerry Wright, and Paul Slack, Kelly Duran, Volunteers with the Salvation Army and other volunteers who made sure we had all the water and ice we could possibly use.
Let me back up and explain how I ended up on the Iiki Island, since I don't live there and have only been there a few times.
My family and I (my mom, my two teenage daughter, my nine month old granddaughter, the baby's father, my boyfriends, and a family friend, along with our two dogs and two cats) originally evacutated to Onalaska, Texas, which is 12 miles west of Livingston. But due to circumstances beyond our contral, we had to leave there, even though we were told not to return to Galveston Island. We figured we' give it a try anyway since we had a generator and enough food and water to sustain us for a day or so.
Needless to say, we were turned away at the causeway. I called an old friend and asked for any suggestions, since our funds were running low, we had no cages for the animals, and not a hotel room for miles. She offered us a bay house in Tiki that she's responsible for taking care of for the out-of-town owners (if it was still standing) if we would clean it up while we were there. NO PROBLEM!
This looked to be the answer to my prayers so us girls went to Tiki Island to start the clean up process while the men went to fill the gas cans and run some errands.
During the cleanup process my daughter stepped on a nail and was in need of a Tetnus shot. So, she and I headed to the Tiki Island Fire Department looking for some help. This is where we met Charlie (whom I later found out was the mayor) who did his best to comfort my daughter who was in a lot of pain.
While at the fire department I received a call from my boyfriend who had been stopped by the police and not allowed into Tiki Island. So I left my daughter with charlie while I went to explain to the officers why were were here.
This is when I found out that there was a 6pm curfew and no one was allowed to be there after that time. I fell apart. I didn't have a plan B.
As I pulled into the parking lot at the fire department, Pual Slack, the volunteer from the Salvation Army came to my car to see why I was crying. I told him the problem; that I had cleaned all day in order to have a place to stay, and now we had to leave in 2-1/2 hours, and we had no where to go.
We had all the things we needed to sustain ourselves, we just needed a place to do it. Paul led me up the stairs as Chief Wright was coming down. We explained my problem and as I neared the end of my story, Charlie came outside to the stairs where we were talking. This is when the chief introduces me to Charlie, the mayor.
Thank God for kind people, because after the chief explained my situation, the two of them decided it was no problems for my family and I to stay in the bay house. He kindly explained some very strict rules, keeping in mind the homes and residents he's sworn to protect.
Not only did he allow us to stay, but he, Paul, and Kelly Duran stocked us up with all the hot food our bellies could stand, and sent us home with all the food, water, MRE's and ice we could store.
The kindness and compassion these four gentlemen extended to me and my family during one of the darkest times in my life, went way beyond the call of duty. It made me want to remind people that there are people out there that truly care about other people. They selflessly put thier personal lives on hold to be there when someone needed them. Not because it's thier jobs, but because they wanted to be there. I'm sure their homes needed to be cleared up and fixed just like every other house on Tiki Island.
Thank you for publishing this letter and letting me tell everyone about the "HEROS" on Tiki Island.
Truly Blessed,
Pam Purslay
Galveston
Tiki Heros
Dear Ms Purslay, Glad Tiki Island and their great team were able to help along with the Salvation army and others. Charlie Everts Mayor Tiki Island 77554
I agree with you, Chief Wright and his crew have and always be there for the people. Lupe Hamlet 77551
