It’s easy to begin feeling as though there is nothing but bad in this world when all we see across news channels daily are stories that seemingly feed hate, frustration, anger and intolerance.

But in reality, compassion for our fellow man and woman is more dominant than the negativity that been the recent focus.

This statement has not been truer than over the past week-and-a-half for citizens across Mid- and South-Jefferson County. Thousands of residents who found themselves in need are telling their stories of family members, friends, neighbors or even complete strangers who came to aid them in their most dire time.

Before I tell my story, I want to thank each and every person who went out of his or her way to help someone else during this time. It may have been easier to focus on yourself and your loved ones and nobody would have thought less of you. But you didn’t. You put the life of another before yours and that truly is an awesome thing.

So again, thank you for the compassion you showed, and thank you to the many who are still showing compassion.

It was 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, and interestingly enough was also my wife and I’s anniversary. I was picked up for work by co-worker Ed Kestler, as we were beginning to see minor flooding throughout our neighborhood of Dominion Ranch from previous heavy rains.

We had a skeleton crew working at The News office as many struggled to get to work due to flooding in their area as well. Throughout the day we were listening to reports of possibly an additional eight to10 inches of rain expected to fall when now Tropical Storm Harvey, was going to make landfall at Sabine Pass. Many thought eight to 10 inches, yep, that’s a lot, but it will be OK.

Later that day, as floodwaters began to rise, I spoke with my wife and we decided that she, our 19-year-old daughter and her 22-year-old fiancé, our dog, Piper, and cat, Bug, would ride out the night at home and I would stay the night at the paper.

Not much longer after that, the rain started again. Water began to rise significantly at the house forcing my family to flee. Luckily, a friend of the family had a large 4×4 pick-up. He picked them all up and brought them to The News office, which, at the time, was completely dry.

We began to settle in to what we all knew was going to be a very uncomfortable night sleeping on couches and loveseats. Man, I wish an uncomfortable couch had been all we had to worry about. Around 1 a.m. my wife, Jennifer, woke us to water covering the entire floor. I rushed to the front door where the water level was already five feet up the front of the building. Remember, we didn’t have a vehicle and opening the front doors would have allowed all that water to come rushing in.

Still not overly concerned as we thought the water wouldn’t get too much higher, we began going through the building unplugging computer power cords and switched off breakers just to be safe. Throughout the night that felt as though it would never end, we watched the water outside continue to rise while the water inside finally did the same. Inside the office, water levels settled in just above my knees.

We called three separate evacuation numbers, which apparently put us on a list. As disappointing as it was that nobody ever came to rescue us, I am completely fine with it now. Had they done so, we would not have been able to witness the miracle of compassion that came our way when we decided to finally flee the building.

As the sun started to rise Wednesday morning we were all soaking wet. The decision was made that we needed to get out of the building, walk as far as we could and try to get help. With a few items along with our cat floating along in a trashcan to stay dry, and me carrying our 45-pound dog, we exited the building and headed straight for Memorial.

The water in the parking lot was almost to our chests making the first 40 plus yards or so quite grueling. But once we got to the knee-high water on Memorial, it was much easier.

It didn’t take long as a family, also trying to flee, in a large truck pulled up and told us to jump in the back. We did, sitting on the tailgate, dragging our trashcan of stuff in the water behind the truck. We were all thankful that we were finally out of the office.

Our new friends drove to 32^nd Street, where we were dropped off and another family opened the door of their home to us. They gave us towels to dry off, get warm, offered water to drink, and let us charge our phones so we could contact other friends who would ultimately take us to safety.

Prior to Wednesday morning, we didn’t even know the family in the truck and the family who took us in even existed. These fine people helped us because they care about others. They saw a group of people in distress and didn’t even think twice to offer their assistance. And if they are reading this column today, my family thanks you from the very bottom of our hearts for your help that very wet morning. You are truly a gift.

This story is not much different than those that you may be telling about the people who helped you. It is for this reason that The Port Arthur News would like you to share your story with us and other readers honoring those that have shown much compassion for others through this difficult time we all shared. Please send your story to rich.macke@panews.com and we will let the world know that compassion is alive and well for each and every one of us.

Rich Macke is publisher of The Port Arthur News. Contact him at rich.macke@panews.com.