Hurricane Harvey Hero: F-250 Super Duty Saves Family During Storm
Texas couple spent a treacherous night in their ‘built Ford tough’ pickup truck and lived to tell the story.
The damage is far from over, but already Hurricane Harvey has become one of the most devastating storms to hit the US in a long time. With heavy rain and winds pummeling the Texas coast, there have been plenty of stories highlighting the struggle that many Southeast Texas residents have had to go through. As highlighted in a story over at Ford Truck Enthusiasts, one such family sought shelter in the confines of their Ford F-250.
Bill and Paulette Rogers decided to stay in their Texas home to ride out the storm. After their two-story beach home became unstable due to the rain and wind, with a tree crashing into one of their bedrooms, the couple and their two dogs were forced to take shelter somewhere else.
At first, they headed toward Paulette’s Ford Focus, but when Bill opened the door, he noticed water was already rushing into the vehicle. Their only hope at this point would be to take the dogs and pile into Bill’s F-250 Super Duty. That’s when the couple began to truly test the limits of their heavy duty pickup.
As water was rising, Bill attempted to take the truck to higher ground, which wasn’t far away. He had his sights set on one of their neighbors’ driveways. However, they were stopped when boats, still attached to trailers, were blocking his way. Attempting to go around, he noticed that the truck had just ceased to move altogether. That’s when Bill made an almost-fatal mistake.
He opened his door to see if he could dislodge any debris that was causing the issue. The force from the water made him lose his footing and he held onto the F-250’s door while Paulette lunged over to bring him back inside. Luckily, Bill was able to get back in the truck, and the couple, along with their two small dogs, rode out the storm.
After spending the night, submerged in their truck, Bill and Paulette were grateful to see the waters subside. Unfortunately, all they were left with was the remnants of their neighborhood. Sadly, the Rogers’ home was completely destroyed. However, while the Ford F-250 Super Duty wasn’t able to navigate the roads that night, the toughness of the truck was just enough shelter to keep the family safe.
