ROCKPORT, Texas — A massive category 4 hurricane made landfall near Lake Charles, Louisiana, bringing with it gale force winds and downpours of rain.
The storm swept across Louisiana and parts of East Texas. It also brought massive destruction, which destroyed buildings and uprooted trees in its path.
It's a sight Cody Morales knows all too well as he dealt with the after effects of Hurricane Harvey three years ago.
"Knowing firsthand what they've gone through and what they're going through at each time and each point of the storm, you know, when the bands are moving in and when the eye wall is moving in," said Morales.
Morales and his friend Kevin Craft are both from Rockport. They said their family in Ragley, Louisiana, was directly affected by Hurricane Laura.
"Knowing that you have family who are gonna ride it out and you're not there to comfort them or help them right then or not knowing if they were safe or what was going on," said Craft.
After they got word that their families made it through the storm, Craft and Morales hit the store and bought supplies to help rebuild a community, because they remember what it felt like when help arrived and rebuilding started for them.
"It was an amazing feeling watching everybody from day one, the morning after the storm hit, to everybody coming in and just watching days on end and watching people roll in, bringing in food trailers, setting up and I mean nobody charged a dime for anything. It was about helping people. It was about giving back," said Morales.
They said they want the Coastal Bend to remember one thing, this community lived through it and now it's time to return the favor and lend a helping hand.
"Call the charities, call the churches. See what they need," Morales added.
"Remember, it's Texas strong. Now, it's Louisiana and Texas strong so it's neighbors helping neighbors," Morales said.
For resources on who to contact to donate items, click here to link to a website designed to connect Hurricane Laura victims.