Josh Hranicky was one of the lucky ones.

Flooding did not get into the Port Neches-Groves senior’s house, which is located just behind the visitors’ bleachers at Indian Stadium.

“The night it hit, I was at home, and I saw all these people post these addresses who needed help,” the offensive lineman said. “I didn’t get anything at my house. People losing things, I felt bad for them and prayed for them. I had to go out and get some help.”

Like many of his teammates and schoolmates, Josh and his brother, PNG junior o-lineman Hunter Hranicky, spent the past week helping at shelters for evacuees of then-Tropical Storm Harvey and going into homes helping to remove drywall and flooring that was immersed in Harvey’s waters. At least two of the homes the brothers visited were those of their assistant coaches.

PNG head coach Brandon Faircloth was not spared any of Harvey’s wrath. His home was flooded.

“This has been a terrible tragedy, but I am proud of the people who came to help out,” the ninth-year head coach said. “My home got flooded, and kids came to help us out.”

Late Monday morning, Faircloth conducted the Indians’ first practice since Harvey hit Jefferson County. He confirmed the Indians will host Baytown Sterling at 7 p.m. Friday as originally scheduled.

Classes in the district will resume Sept. 11. So Faircloth scheduled a morning practice to give his players time to continue helping others recover from the storm.

“The ones affected have been working on their homes,” he said. “The ones who weren’t have been out volunteering. I’m really proud of the people who’ve been out helping from the dance team, football team, and all kinds of people helping me.”

Students and athletes from across Jefferson County have assisted in rescue and recovery efforts last week.

Port Arthur Memorial coach Kenny Harrison said senior defensive lineman Braydon Williams, junior defensive back Javontae’ Butler-Hopkins and junior defensive lineman Malik Blake helped with yard and house work in the days since Harvey’s impact. He planned for the entire team to volunteer around Port Arthur when they resume practice.

Memorial’s second-week game against Houston Westside at Delmar Stadium has been canceled. The Titans, however, will scrimmage Channelview on Saturday morning at a time to be announced.

Nederland coach Monte Barrow said he and assistant coach Jae Stoker had helped out at the Jack Brooks Regional Airport. Many who were displaced were bused to the airport and flew to Dallas, where they would continue to take up shelter.

“We had a number of kids out there, from Nederland and Port Neches,” Barrow said. “I’m pretty sure there were kids from Port Arthur helping.”
Nederland is still slated to play at Dayton at 7 p.m. Friday. Barrow added football helps his players deal with natural disasters and other emergencies.

“Anything that prepares you for what we deal with, football does that,” Barrow said. “Not leaving a brother and helping a teammate in trouble. All those things you preach come into play in a time like this.”

Attempts to reach Sabine Pass coach Jason Thibodeaux have been unsuccessful. Sabine Pass did not play Pasadena First Baptist last weekend and is scheduled to play at Galveston O’Connell at 7 p.m. Friday.

Keeping a really busy schedule is nothing new for Josh, 17, the fifth of seven children.

When he usually gets done with football practice afterschool, he heads to his youngest brother Christian’s practice to help coach that team.

School began in PNGISD on Aug. 21. But by last Wednesday, Harvey forced Josh to change his schedule.

“I went to St. Elizabeth’s first,” Josh said. “We had about 200-plus people there. Then I went from there and helped people at the Port Neches Middle School. We stayed there over a two-day period without any sleep, making sure they had clothes to wear, food and water and places to shower.”

Josh even helped clean up an elderly man who had “an accident” while staying at PNMS, an experience the teen never encountered before.

“When I picked him up, I saw [the result of the accident],” Josh said. “He needed to use the shower. The showers were not open. The coaches were not there. I said, let’s go change. I put him in the stall and I helped him put on everything, put on his shoes and tied it.

“It made it all worth it. He said ‘You’re a very nice man and he said thank you.’ I’d have to say he was in his early 90s.”

After two nights at PNMS, Josh went to his grandparents’ house to help tear up the floor, as well as assist with the homes of two assistant coaches, Scott Carter and Norman Abshere.

Carter is Josh’s head coach on the 5A state champion PNG baseball team. Carter was named 5A Coach of the Year and Hranicky 5A most valuable player by the Texas Sports Writers Association.

All told, Josh caught 6 to 10 hours of sleep between Wednesday and Saturday. He was only able to nap for 2 hours each night he was at PNMS.

He’s probably found a little more time to rest easy knowing his community is already on the rebound and the Indians will play Friday night.

“We just have to focus back and keep our heads straight,” he said. “Although the Hurricane hit, we have a job to do.”
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I.C. Murrell: 549-8541. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews