‘Devastating Floods-We Lost Everything’- Mangalorean Pinto Family in Houston-TX
Mangaluru: I can call this family that is suffering in the devastating and horrific floods in Houston-Texas, USA as Mangalorean, as well as a Goan Family- for the fact, that Harold Pinto is from Mangaluru and his wife, Shirley Vaz is from Goa- but they lived in Mangaluru as well as Goa, before they left to US in the year 2003. Harold after his parents passed away, moved to Mapusa-Goa and lived there for many years. Both husband and wife did catering/hotel management course in Goa, and both got employed with a cruise ship as banquet captains/Chefs. In 2003, they sailed to Florida from Singapore on a cruise liner, and once they reached Florida they slipped off from the port and later moved to Chicago- and got employed at a Fine dining Indian restaurant in downtown- Chicago.
It was in the year 2004, I met this couple while shopping in Indian Town on Devon Avenue-Chicago and we introduced ourselves, and from that day until now we have remained great friends even though I moved back to Mangaluru couple of years ago- we communicated through emails and occasionally, over the phone. In Chicago, I was like an SOS man for this couple, whenever they needed some information or if they needed a ride to do their errands or shopping. They couldn’t buy a car since they were not legal, with no proper documents. But they still managed to live in the States for years with fear of getting caught and deported. In 2007, they became proud parents of a baby boy named Carlton, who is ten years now-the couple also adopted a baby girl (whose Mexican parents had died in a road accident) named Margarita.
I have seen this couple working day and night at the restaurant, and on their day off they worked part-time at an Indian grocery store as cashiers. Their aim was to save enough money and return back to Goa in few years- and whenever I used to come down to India they would give a parcel to their old-age parents in Mapusa-Goa. Ever since they left India in 2003, they never made a trip to India- because if they did, they will not be able to return back to US. Like this couple, there are many Goans in US, who just like these couple had entered US working on cruise ships, and decided to stay there illegally. In the meantime, their anxiously waiting parents, some seniors, for their beloved children are all left in vain. Really a sad story!
Even though Harold and Shirley were happy at their workplace in Chicago, they were convinced by one of their friends of a better job opportunity and more pay at a posh Indian restaurant in Houston-Texas. In an email, Harold had asked my opinion whether he should opt for the new job- and I replied saying, “If you are happy with your current job, don’t quit. Even though you may get more money, you may not like the boss or the management. Then you are stuck there with unhappiness”. However, seems like my advice didn’t convince Harold and Shirley, who just last week moved to Houston.
Three days after they moved into their three bed-room home in Houston, where they put almost 95% of the earnings that they had saved, along with a loan from their new employer (since the couple won’t get a bank due to their status), disaster struck where hurricane “Harvey” battering their area, with life-threatening floods surging through Houston, destroyed almost everything in their new that Harold and Shirley just moved in. When I saw the news on CNN about the flooding in Houston, I remembered this couple and called them yesterday, and Harold had a horrible and devastating story to tell.
He said, ” Even though our house was surrounded by few feet of water, only little water had seeped in through tiny openings, and everything was okay. But Sunday evening, bad luck stuck us- a huge log floating in the floating in the flood water, pierced right through our large window glass, shattering it into pieces, and water started gushing in ruining every valuable thing we had, from electronics, furniture, children books/computers, clothing etc – I can’t explain how much we lost. All our savings put on this house and things have gone down the flood water. We no place to stay inside the house, for nearly 12 hours we were stranded on our house terrace in the torrential rains, until fire rescue rushed and took us to a shelter centre.
“My wife is in all tears since she lost her jewellery and other personnel valuables. Kids are devastated since they lost their study materials/laptops and other electronic items. Luckily we could save our two dogs, who were about to get washed away in the floods. It’s still terrible out there, with more lashing rains expected. Water has still not receded- even though the rescue teams are doing their best, they have to attend many residents, especially seniors who are stuck inside their homes. Most of our neighbours are immigrants from India, and they too are facing the hardship like us. Few hundred Indian students studying at Houston University were also evacuated from their premises. The situation is such that I have never seen anything like this before. Simply horrific! But Harvey hurricane has dumped so much on Houston that at this point it is reabsorbing that water from the flooded city and hurling it back down. One police officer told me that even less volatile storms in the future will cause widespread damage to Houston. I am completely desperate and worried what we’ll do next if such is the case” added Harold.
Before concluding, remembering the two advises that I had given him earlier, Harold said, ” Alfie, I should have taken your word not to switch my job- I am totally repenting now, so also my wife. I also remember when you had advised me few years ago, to go back to India for good, since there are better opportunities there- I should have listened- but sadly now my father and mother in-law passed away recently, and both of us couldn’t travel for their funeral due to our status-instead our relatives arranged their funeral. At the moment we are not sure what to do, about our future, and also that we have almost lost everything we earned and our valuables. Please pray for us and also tell your friends. Thank you for your concern and remembering us during this tough times”.
Indeed a sad story of my dear friends who are in such a miserable state and coping with all the inconveniences due to heavy flooding. It is learnt that with many homes flooded, thousands of people have sought emergency shelter from the wind and rains, with officials estimating that 30,000 residents are likely to need shelter. Houston’s main hub, the George R Brown convention center, has already exceeded its bed capacity of 5,000 plus. An unknown number of people remain stranded in their homes awaiting rescue. Police, military and coast guard, along with volunteer teams, have taken to boats to try to reach those trapped, with some working through the night. At least dozen people are reported to have been killed in the storm, including a family reportedly killed when their van was swept away in floodwater. There is expected to be no let-up in the storm’s intensity throughout Tuesday, with up to 20 inches of further rain forecast for the stricken region.
President Donald Trump and the first lady, Melania Trump, will visit Texas on Tuesday, stopping off at Corpus Christi and Austin to witness the relief efforts.The flood damage is expected to cost tens of billions and there are concerns for the health of people caught up in muddy floodwaters. On Monday, Texas governor Greg Abbott activated the entire state National Guard, tripling the number of active personnel from 4,000 to 12,000. Schools, office buildings, and airports in Houston, the fourth-largest city in the United States and home to 2.3 million people, were ordered to remain closed on Monday. Towns up to 150 miles away from Houston were also bombarded with rain over the weekend, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes.The heavy rain is likely to continue throughout the week, according to the National Weather Service, with the worst floods expected on Wednesday and Thursday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said some parts of Texas could experience up to 50 inches (127 cm) of accumulated rainfall by the end of the week. However, the storm’s path is unpredictable and could change at any moment, meteorologists have warned. “This is a landmark event for Texas- Texas has never seen an event like this.” had said Houston Fire Marshal.
The heavy rain is likely to continue throughout the week, according to the National Weather Service, with the worst floods expected on Wednesday and Thursday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said some parts of Texas could experience up to 50 inches (127 cm) of accumulated rainfall by the end of the week. However, the storm’s path is unpredictable and could change at any moment, meteorologists have warned. “This is a landmark event for Texas- Texas has never seen an event like this.” had said Houston Fire Marshal.
Team Mangalorean had tried calling Max and Jessie Rasquinha of Mangaluru, now residing in Dallas, Texas, and also Mangaluru/Bengaluru origin Dr Abreo family (with nine kids) who had given a concert recently in Mangaluru, now residing in Houston, but our call couldn’t get connected, probably due to bad weather. Anyways, Team Mangalorean prayers are with the residents of Houston and other regions of Texas State, for their safety during this ‘disastrous’ flooding.
Note: On the request of Harold and Shirley Pinto we have not incorporated any of their family/house pics