Portland Rosen was stuck. There were no more flights out of Houston. Hurricane Harvey wrecked havoc on her city and getting to Sioux Falls was not an option on Monday.
Nothing stops Portland Rosen, and this Hurricane wasn’t going to either. On Wednesday, she found a safe route from her home in Sugar Land, just southwest of Houston, to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and flew to St. Louis and then to Omaha. She then drove from Omaha to Sioux Falls and will make it to the Sioux Falls GreatLIFE Challenge in time for her 12:20 p.m. tee time.
Getting practice rounds in is the furthest thing from her mind. Just being here is enough.
"Experiencing something so catastrophic like Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath, makes you realize how precious life is,” said Rosen, a third-year Epson Tour professional. "You begin to really understand the important things in life. Every day we tend to worry about such silly things. In the end, it's our families, closest friends, faith, and belief, that is most important; they are what keeps us going and thriving in life.”
If you follow Portland on social media (@portrosen), you know that she didn’t just sulk in the sorrow of Hurricane Harvey. She got to work helping those in need in the city she loves and represents dearly.
"During these unimaginable circumstances I saw the good in people really shine,” said Rosen. "The only thing I knew was to go out and help; my parents raised my sisters and me not just to exist but to live, to be selfless, and to always help thy neighbor without expecting anything in return.”
The Rosen family delivered warm BBQ to those stuck in their homes and ventured out into the waist-high water and freezing rain to help people fleeing from their homes.
“Not for a second did we think to sit back and watch this unfold, you have to be proactive, and then others see the efforts to help and it’s like a chain reaction.”
Rosen’s mom, Robin, has a truck that was able to trek in the water, so the family was able to help citizens that were stranded. On the flight from St. Louis to Omaha, Rosen detailed some of her raw feelings. She will head into the Sioux Falls GreatLIFE Challenge with a broken heart, but a sense of pride in Houston.
"I'm a Houston Texan and always will be,” said Rosen. "My heart is a bit broken right now because it really hurts to see people suffer, but I know God watches over us, and in Houston we are fighters, we don't back down, we never give up. We are one of the greatest cities in the country, and we will be back, we are all in this together."
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