Only a week after moving from Virginia to the Lone Star State, military veteran Philip Miller and his family endured an unexpected Texas welcome as Hurricane Beryl swept through South Texas. Like more than two million others in South Texas, the Katy residents experienced a power outage Sunday night during the hurricane.  

Making the best of the situation, Miller and his wife took their children to the pool to keep cool and distract them from the extreme heat. As temperatures rose, they knew they needed to get their family to safety. Looking to escape the heat, Alexa Miller found out through internet searching that the Red Cross had a shelter open in the area. 

“You guys at the Red Cross are awesome. Everyone was very welcoming and accommodating, especially with our dog Comanche. We couldn’t leave him behind,” said Philip.  

Comanche, now 10, has been a member of the Miller family since he was a puppy. It was important for the Miller family to find a place that would accept a valued member of their family. With it being their first week in Texas, they stocked up on their grocery needs and other items to make their new house a home. Unfortunately, they will have to throw out their cold and frozen goods due to the prolonged power loss.  

“If the only thing we must let go of is our food, then we are doing alright. My family is safe and that is what matters,” Philip shared.  

Emergency shelters and cooling centers are open across the region. The Red Cross strongly encourages anyone in need of a safe place to seek one out from the heat and hurricane damage. Red Cross shelters are safe places for everyone, regardless of citizenship status. Residents need only share their name and previous address when arriving at a Red Cross shelter. To find a shelter location visit redcross.org/shelters.  

To support Red Cross Disaster Relief and help people affected by disasters like storms and countless other crises. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.