College disrupted, Crosby student returns home to pitch in

Posted 12:05 p.m.

Alec Lewis hadn’t even had a full week of classes in his freshman year of college when he returned to Crosby to help rescue people trapped in tropical storm Harvey.

Lewis, a member of the Crosby High School class of 2017, was a two-time first team all-district selection in both football and baseball. Now he is at Texas A&MKingsville and on the football team there.

He had been at football camp for two weeks when school-related activities were cancelled due to Harvey, so he decided to come back to Crosby to be with his family.

“I can’t just sit at home warm, with electricity, relaxing, knowing in the back of my head people are cold and their lives are at risk,” he said.

Lewis helped rescue people by boat in Crosby, which received more than 40 inches of rain in parts of the city.

“Crosby is a whole different type of community,” he said of the city of under 3,000 people. “The way people work in this town is absolutely astonishing. This was my way to give back.”

Lewis and his family rescued over 100 people, ranging from a 4-year-old child to a bedridden 78-year-old woman who had difficulty walking.

Aside from one relative, Lewis didn’t know any of the people he helped rescue. They were complete strangers.

Some people would break down in tears upon reaching the boat, a mix of emotions of being rescued and leaving their home behind. Lewis saw grown men cry. The family got offered money as thanks several times but declined to accept any.

“We weren’t out there for that,” Lewis said.

Seeing the people’s reactions confirmed to Lewis that he was in the right place.

“The Lord has blessed me with the ability to go out and save others, not only physically, but also not having to worry about my house,” he said.