As Hurricane Irma barrels through the Caribbean and toward the U.S. coast, Florida residents are frantically preparing to brace themselves for the worst hurricane to hit them in decades.
“I can guarantee you that I don’t know anybody in Florida who’s ever experienced what’s about to hit South Florida,” says FEMA administrator Brock Long.
Anticipating ferocious winds up to 150 miles per hour and “life-threatening inundation,” panic runs rampant through the Florida Keys up through Central Florida like never before. State officials have warned residents not to underestimate Irma, a tropical storm that Gov. Rick Scott claims will be “way bigger than Andrew”—the Category 5 that ravaged the state back in 1992.
But amidst the chaos, like we saw with Harvey, the pending natural disaster is already bringing humanity a little closer together.
In a viral Facebook post, a bystander captured the heartwarming story of a devastated woman in Lowe’s who got the most unexpected blessing from a total stranger:
“THIS IS CENTRAL FLORIDA:
Pam Brekke’s father is on oxygen. She ran into Lowe’s and we watched her breakdown in tears when she realized she had just missed the last generator. A total stranger, Ramon Santiago, saw her too. He walked up and insisted she take his.
This was her reaction.
Writing this through tears and with a heart full of pride for my community.” ❤️
#LoveWhatMatters
Credit: Nancy Alvarez, WFTV
Posted by Love What Matters on Thursday, September 7, 2017
“THIS IS CENTRAL FLORIDA,” wrote the onlooker. “Pam Brekke’s father is on oxygen. She ran into Lowe’s and we watched her breakdown in tears when she realized she had just missed the last generator. A total stranger, Ramon Santiago, saw her too. He walked up and insisted she take his. This was her reaction. Writing this through tears and with a heart full of pride for my community.”
Completely overwhelmed by the selfless gesture, an emotional Pam embraced Ramon’s face as she choked out six simple words through her tears:
“That’s a beautiful man right there.”
And it seems the Internet couldn’t agree more:
The captivating video has amassed over 12 million views and 142,000 shares since it was shared by the Love What Matters Facebook page yesterday.
“There’s a pure, joyful example of not only the American spirit…but also like the good Samaritan in the Bible…giving himself up to help someone else in need,” writes Facebook user Mark Ray.
“I’m very overwhelmed by that man. God will bless that man,” Pam later remarked in a WFTV news interview.
Praise God for sending beautiful souls like Ramon into the darkest of places to help those in need. In the eye of the storm, He remains in control.
May He richly bless this man and his family for his sacrifice. ❤️
