{"id":11912,"date":"2017-09-11T17:12:00","date_gmt":"2017-09-11T17:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/salarmyeds.org\/?p=11912"},"modified":"2026-08-24T17:20:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T17:20:43","slug":"food-and-a-friendly-face-in-port-lavaca-texas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/salarmyeds.org\/index.php\/2017\/09\/11\/food-and-a-friendly-face-in-port-lavaca-texas\/","title":{"rendered":"Food and a Friendly Face in Port Lavaca, Texas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Port Lavaca, Texas – <\/strong>On a normal summers day in Port Lavaca a cool breeze blows gently off the bay. It\u2019s usually a welcome respite from the Texas heat and mugginess. But when that breeze is a hurricane-force wind brought by Hurricane Harvey, it is much less welcomed. In Port Lavaca, the wind and water decimated apartments, houses, trailers and businesses with a one-two punch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two weeks after Harvey made landfall, utilities have been restored to the area and residents are returning to survey the damage and begin cleanup. They\u2019re finding broken windows, damaged roofs, water-logged walls and carpet, and dangerous mold. Some renters are even finding that their landlords have given up on the properties and they\u2019re left on their own to make repairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Salvation Army has been there serving the area since the hurricane, providing meals, clean-up kits and emotional comfort to aid in the efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Johnny Ocanas, 63, rode out the storm inside the largest of his four trailer homes. \u201cIt was really scary, but I had no money and no place to go,\u201d he said. \u201cI figured I\u2019m 63 years old. I\u2019m either going to live or die.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ocanas said at one point the wind picked up his trailer nearly two feet in the air and dropped him straight down. \u201cI was up and then \u2018boom,\u2019 I was down. And the roof bent inward. The pipe for the water broke in half.\u201d All four trailers have been so damaged that he has been sleeping in his truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said the few bright spots in his life now include The Salvation Army\u2019s volunteers serving hot meals and snacks twice a day in the community center parking lot. \u201cThey\u2019re friendly. And the food is good,\u201d Ocanas said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Volunteer Janet Harrison, of Waco, is serving on canteen in Port Lavaca. She said Ocanas has been by every day, but this was the first day he gave her a hug. \u201cHe\u2019s a nice man. We\u2019ve talked before, but this is the first time he\u2019s actually put his arm around me. I think he\u2019s really starting to trust us and think of us as friends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ocanas isn\u2019t sure what his future holds. \u201cI don\u2019t know what I\u2019m going to do yet. But I thank the Army for their help.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Salvation Army <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Port Lavaca, Texas – On a normal summers day in Port Lavaca a cool breeze blows gently off the bay. It\u2019s usually a welcome respite from the Texas heat and 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