HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The floods ruined a veteran and her nine-year-old's apartment this week. They needed help, but it's who came to help that that made a tragic situation a little easier to face.
"It makes me cry every time I think about it," said Asia Craft.
Craft and her nine-year-old son, Joey, are homeless but surrounded by love.
Almost all of their belongings were ruined in Monday's flood, when firefighters burst through their window to save them from rising water.
One firefighter was worried about Joey, who can't swim.
"He put him on his shoulders and he carried him out," Craft explained. "At this point, a rush of peace came over me because I knew at least my boy was safe."
"I didn't want to fall in the water because I thought that the water would actually drown me," Joey added.
Others are also looking out for Joey.
When he didn't show up at school Wednesday, administrators got worried and came over.
"So many of our families have so much," said River Oaks Elementary Assistant Principal Dottie Lawrence. "It's just so sad to see people in this kind of state and we really wanted to help them today."
If you'd like to help out, contact River Oaks Elementary.
Several shelters are open in the Houston area right now. They will be open 24 hours a day, providing a warm, dry place to stay, food and emotional support for area residents who are not able to remain at their homes due to storms and flooding.
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED! Volunteers are greatly needed to staff shelters as well as distribute food and provide other services to those in need. Training will be provided on site. Anyone interested in assisting this way is encouraged to go to redcross.org/volunteer or call 713.313.5491.
FOR HELP: Those with flood-related needs are urged to call the American Red Cross at 1-866-526-8300.
TO DONATE: Those who wish to donate to flood relief may do so at redcross.org/donate.
Houstonians who have experienced flooding damage to their homes should report it immediately to Houston 311. There are three ways to do that:
1. Call 311 (713.837.0311)
2. Visit houston311.org and click on "Flooding"
3. Download the Houston 311 App for Android or iOS