Former RI’ers living in Houston react to Hurricane Harvey

August 29, 2017 3:37 pm

By: Samantha Fenlon

Email: sfenlon@abc6.com

Twitter: @SFenlonABC6

With much of Houston underwater following the wrath of Hurricane Harvey, Cranston native Holly Beretto said she’s feeling incredibly fortunate to be ok.

"It feels completely surreal to be safe and sound. For me and for my husband this was a whole lot of rain and for so many people some of whom are my friends it was much, much more than that,” said Beretto.

Beretto who works at Rice University has lived in Houston for 17 years. She said the nearest flooding to her home was about five miles away.

"We have one friend whose house is completely underwater. I have two more who have evacuated for various higher ground places,” said Beretto.

Fellow Rhode Island native Jackie Champagne told ABC6 News she is riding out the storm in her high–rise apartment. She is also fairing very well considering the circumstances.

"It was kind of nightmarish, like what you see in the movies,” said Champagne. “When you picture a horror movie with thunder and lightening every two seconds and boom and boom and boom afterwards. It was really incredible weather, a pattern I’ve never seen. And, rain, it was just buckets and buckets. There was five inches of rain an hour Saturday night."

Champagne says she is anxiously waiting for the chance to help others.

"I can’t get out of here so I can’t really help anybody,” said Champagne.

That drive to help is something these two women share, and both are beyond impressed with the level of support their city has received already.

"We’re going to be ok. It’s going to take a while for the city to dig out but we will come out of this stronger as we always do. And, it is wonderful to watch everybody work together,” said Beretto.

As for Rice University where Beretto works, she said classes have been canceled through Labor Day. She adds that as of now everyone at the University is safe.