Brian Ward, right, and his family.

A week ago, Butler native Brian Ward, a golf pro at a country club in Katy, Texas, just west of Houston, was living a relatively normal life by Hurricane Harvey standards.

Ward, his wife Erin and their 10-year-old son, Andrew, were safe in their home at the Canyon Gate subdivision of Cinco Ranch. It had been raining since Friday, but there seemed to be little reason for concern.

Still, Ward and his family decided they'd rather be safe than sorry. So they packed up their car and headed to a friend's house north of town.

They got about two blocks before water swamped the vehicle, making it impossible to leave the development. Even before public officials began to announce voluntary evacuations, the Wards were effectively trapped in their neighborhood.

By Monday, Ward's street began flooding — the water creeping up the family's driveway. By about 2 p.m. that day, the tide began seeping into their house, and the family called for a Coast Guard evacuation.

While friends and neighbors have shown kindness to the Wards, Harvey has not. The last time Brian checked the family's rental home was under seven feet of water. Their vehicles were swamped, and everything they owned has effectively been destroyed.

In the wake of this devastation, Brian's siblings, Adam and Erin, have set up an online crowdfunding page to raise money and help the family get back on their feet.

To find out more about the fundraising effort, or to donate, you can visit the YouCaring page here: https://www.youcaring.com/briananderinwardfamily-918947.

A full report will appear in the Butler Eagle.