Houston Neighbors Help Each Other Recover From Hurricane Beryl

HOUSTON — Joyce Murray lives in northeast Houston, where many people are spending another day without power. Part of her street is blocked by a large tree.

“That tree fell. Thank God it didn’t hit the house. It fell in the street. And it stayed here,” Murray said.

For days, Joyce was without electricity and without help.

“All the entities are telling me to go somewhere and calm down. Well, I couldn’t get out,” Murray said.

Her neighbors finally intervened so she could get out.

“I came in and cut off three limbs,” Murray said.

This weekend Joyce’s electricity came back, but it’s been a tough week for her.

“Mentally I’m in a state of total exhaustion because I’m not a young person anymore. I’m 79 years old and it’s very difficult,” Murray said.

While Joyce has no powers, her friend Trish, who lives a few blocks away, does not.

“I lost power on Tuesday. I had no power. I think it happened Wednesday for about six hours and then it went out again and I haven’t had power since,” Trish Henderson said.

Trish used her car to get relief from the heat.

“It’s the only way I’m going to survive, because I’m not going to stay in this hot greenhouse. And they find me passed out because I don’t want to go out like that,” Henderson said.

Even though she had no electricity, Trish delivered ice cream to Joyce.

“We have to support each other,” Henderson said.

Even though she, too, has a damaged tree in her yard and is waiting for the power to come back on for good, she’s just grateful to be okay.

“I’m not alone. Everyone is going through this, and we have to get through it together,” Henderson said.

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