A family who once called Airdrie home is safe after they were evacuated from their house in Houston on Monday (August 28th).

Ryan and Michelle Diks and their family have lived in Houston for the past 6 years, working with a non-profit Christian organization who helps refugees in the Houston area.

Even though their family's house and community wasn't at greatest risk from the storm, they still had to leave as a precaution.

The Diks family took this shot of a gas station at the entrance to their community which was evacuated (Photo Courtesy: Michelle Diks)

"The levies they built, which are the big walls to keep the water out, have been fine," says Ryan Diks, "this year they're looking at the levels going 'this is higher than even the levies themselves'. They ordered us out just in case because if that river does overflow it will take out a large portion of our neighbourhood and the neighbourhoods around us."

The family did leave their community safely and are staying in a hotel until they're given the all clear to return. Ryan says the biggest challenge in leaving was finding a road they could travel on.

"Even on Google Maps, it's saying the road is open and we'd get up and all of a sudden there'd be Police across the road redirecting you. Half of our travel around was just trying to find a road that was open that we could go up."

With rain continuing to fall and water levels rising, the family isn't certain when they can return but thankfully the situation near their house looks promising to maybe head back by the end of the week.

"The water got up pretty high onto the roads. I've got friends down there and they said 'houses are pretty dry'...We're pretty excited that probably more of just going down and getting back to work and seeing what we can do with people."

Since they were given the mandatory evacuation order over the weekend, the Diks say they've been overwhelmed with messages from family and friends asking how they can help.

"Pray, pray like crazy if that's who you are...find an organization that your can donate to. Money is the biggest thing that is going to help especially with people that have lost everything...show your love with your money and just help people out because man, there's a lot of people down here who have lost everything."

 

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