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‘God bless you:’ Neighbors helping neighbors trough their darkest days after tornado

“Whoever they are, I just want to say, God bless you.”

HOUSTON – During a disaster, it’s easy to get caught up in all the bad that’s happening all around us.

Even during our darkest days, there are people that show their true Texas colors, which can brighten all of our lives. All across the city and region, Houstonians are coming out in hoards to help one another—people they don’t even know.

“We have really good neighbors who helped us out,” said Paul Castillo, who had a tree fall on his house.

In the Oak Forest neighborhood, a tree fell from Castillo’s yard and blocked W 43rd Street.

A man randomly drove up, pulled out a chainsaw and got to work as if he was sent by the city. Castillo says he didn’t know the man; he was a person looking to help.

“Whoever they are, I just want to say, God bless you.”

Meanwhile, a street over at Rochelle Mannigel’s home, another tree landed on her roof.

“I actually had some neighbors down the way that came last night to tarp me and take the tree out part of it,” she said.

Part of the tree pierced through the roof of her master bathroom.

“It was about all the way down here. So, it was probably about 4 to 5 feet,” she said.

While both Rochelle and Paul have a lot to be sad and angry about, they’re not.

A tree lays across the roof of a home in the Oaks Forest neighborhood of Northwest Houston after a tornado and straight-line winds moved through SE Texas on May 16, 2024. (Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.)

Instead, they’re seeing the glass half full. They’re alive. And they have one heck of a story to share.

“You can’t be negative or angry or anything like that. Just be happy that you’re alive. And this too will pass, and this will get taken care of,” Castillo said.


About the Authors
Gage Goulding headshot

Gage Goulding is an award-winning TV news reporter and anchor. A native of Pittsburgh, PA, he comes to Texas from Fort Myers, FL, where he covered some of the areas most important stories, including Hurricane Ian.

Matt James headshot

Award-winning Photojournalist, creative writer, comic book fan, and cat dad.

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