It’s been a little more than two years since Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston, displacing thousands of people and creating an all-too-familiar scene for New Orleans Saints fans. Memories of Hurricane Katrina are still fresh among many people who experienced that storm firsthand in Louisiana, Mississippi, and the greater Gulf South. One of those who took on a role in recovery from Katrina was Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who found himself taking on a mentor’s role years later after Harvey.
Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt led fundraising efforts to help his community in the aftermath of the storm, gathering more than $41.6 million which he put towards rebuilding homes, providing healthcare services, and simply feeding people. Watt recently shared a two-year update on his foundation’s progress, announcing that they had rebuilt or repaired more than 1,100 homes, over 900 childcare facilities, and distributed 239 million meals, among other relief efforts.
During his Thursday media availability, Brees was asked whether Watt ever reached out for advice on what to do with the resources suddenly at his disposal; initially, Watt’s goal was just $200,000, and the support he gathered passed that almost immediately.
“He called me and it was really one of those like, man, where do we start?” Brees said. “How do we know who to trust? All those hard, tough questions. He’s got a big heart and just wanted to help people and give people the opportunity to come back stronger and really looked at New Orleans as a model for that. I think a lot can be said about what we were able to accomplish coming post Katrina.”
Brees and Watt have done a lot to help their communities in the wake of natural disasters, and it’s great to see a willingness to collaborate in hopes of doing the most good. Between the efforts of players like Brees and Watt, as well as Saints linebacker Demario Davis and Texans wide receiver Kenny Stills, it’s clear that both organizations value character in their locker rooms.
