Storm Harvey has shown the worst in Mother Nature but the best in people

Amid the worst natural disaster to hit America for years, human kindness shines through

US President Donald Trump is briefed on Tropical Storm Harvey in Corpus Christi, Texas on August 29, 2017.Earlier he said America's core characteristics of strength, charity and resilience would see the country through the disaster.Carlos Barria / ReutersShow less

Firefighters find one of their own in trouble

Four members of the Cy-Fair Fire Department, who had launched rescue operations in the outskirts of Houston, found themselves in trouble.

A firefighter heading out to save people stranded by Tropical Storm Harvey fell into floodwaters as he was boarding a boat on a suburban street. Three of his colleagues on board the boat turned their attention to him.

They were able to pull the fourth out of the water, however, the fast current pinned the boat to a tree and left them stranded.

Eventually, the men were rescued by the army.

“We are extracted. The boat is tied to a tree. We are walking out with the military,” said one firefighter via radio.

It was just the first hair-raising moment in a long night of rescues by firefighters, police and the National Guard as rains from the devastating storm continued to hammer Houston and the surrounding area. More than 3,000 people had been rescued from their homes by late Monday. (Reuters)

A journalist covering the storm becomes rescuer

CNN reporter, Ed Lavandra, was with rescuers and a crew covering the storm when they were flagged down by a woman to tell them that she and her two elderly parents were stuck in their home.

Mr Lavandra — who said they were leaving the neighbourhood in Dickinson, Texas, when they saw the women — put his microphone down to help an older man into a boat from stomach-high waters.

Senior citizens are rescued from assisted living facility

Eighteen people were rescued from an assisted living facility, La Vita Belle, after a picture of group of senior citizen trapped in the flooded home went viral.

The picture showed at least seven people (and a cat) sitting a room with water up to their waist. They were reportedly rescued by helicopter on Sunday and taken to a new location. (The Daily News)

Reporters rescue family on air mattress 

A family of five, including three children, were rescued by journalists at ABC13 when they were found trying to escape the flooding on an air mattress near the Barker Reservoir in Houston. They were pulled about the ABC13’s boat.

Pet Rescue

A dog that was found abandoned and tethered to a telegraph pole in Victoria, Texas, as water rose around him was rescue by a press photographer. Texas officials have warned repeatedly against leaving pets and livestock tied up. Roman Forest police chief Stephen Carlisle said, “I promise you, that I will hold anyone accountable that unlawfully restrains their dog in extreme weather conditions. Dogs are your family members too.”

Hurricane hawk

Taxi driver William Bruso of Missouri City, Texas, was shocked to find a Cooper's hawk camping out inside his cab on Friday. The bird had flown in through an open window, apparently terrified of the low pressure and high winds of the storm according to the New York Post.

The bid of prey was quite content to perch on mr Bruso's gloved hand as he took it to the Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition of Houston.