HOUSTON – NASA astronaut Joe Acaba was preparing in Russia for his launch to the International Space Station while his home in the Houston area flooded from Hurricane Harvey.
His neighbors and NASA friends went to work.
"Luckily, there was an army of folks in the Houston area, a lot coming from the JSC (Johnson Space Center) that helped clean out my house, starting yanking out the walls, going through the drying process," Acaba said.
His neighbor saw the water rising in their neighborhood. He then saw an army go to work at Acaba’s home.
"After the storm, when everybody was still shut down, nobody was doing anything, they came over with full crews, there were 10 to 15 people at a time. (An) organized effort. Everyone working together, taking care of Joe," Josh Perlitz said.
Acaba was launched into space from Kazakhstan last week.
Now, he is in orbit aboard the International Space Station, more than 250 miles above the earth.
Meanwhile, his family in Puerto Rico faces another disaster.
He is the first astronaut from Puerto Rico.
“My parents were born there," and "a lot of relatives, cousins, godparents” still live there, Acaba said.
Acaba spoke from the International Space Station on Wednesday morning as Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico.
“I hope everyone’s doing well and that you take care of yourselves,” Acaba told them.
It was a message of strength for Puerto Rico and a message of thanks to Houston.
"When you can help people out, it really means a lot. I personally know that," Acaba said.
