Tropical Storm Harvey hit Port Arthur, hard. But we will survive — and get better in the process.

Yes, we are down and yes the recovery will be slow, the memories of what we have gone through and are going through in the short-term will be painful, but make no mistake.

This flood and this storm will not define us.

This ordeal will strengthen our resolve.

It will bond us together in a deep way.

And it will reinforce for all of us, what it means to be part of this community.

The storm left our city momentarily crippled.

Floodwaters overwhelmed emergency crews, caused victims in shelters to flee for higher ground and generally made us feel as if the world as we know it was ending.

And it did, at least for a bit.

The frustrations of the storm’s aftermath may have caused us to be short with one another, to question how hard authorities are working to provide help, but we hope these frustrations subside with the realization that this is a natural disaster. While authorities had a plan, they planned for something less catastrophic and widespread than what Harvey threw at them.

This week was tough.

But today will be better. Tomorrow better still.

Through time and with each other’s help and cooperation, we can rebuild our lives, our houses and our city. But it will require patience and a spirit of community.

On Wednesday, Port Arthur Mayor Derrick Freeman urged the world to, “Pray for our city.”

They mayor is wise to seek heavenly guidance as we will need the Lord’s help in getting through all of what is to come.

We are thankful the storm has passed and that we survived the test.

Today, we all pray for Port Arthur and are thankful to be here.