In the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, a heartwarming story has emerged following the storm’s devastation. While driving along a storm-battered highway, a local couple made an unexpected and lifesaving discovery.
Amid the debris and destruction left behind by the powerful storm, Heidi Somers Guzman, 35, and her husband, Christian, 30, spotted a frightened kitten crossing the road in Missouri City, Texas.
Christian’s quick thinking and compassionate action have been hailed on TikTok by thousands of users who are invested in the rescue story. On July, 10, Heidi shared a clip to @heidisomers that shows the couple sitting in their car, with their husky, Nalla, in the back. Christian can be seen cradling the 8-week-old kitten, who is wrapped in a blanket.
Racking up 1.1 million views, the video has provided social media viewers with a glimmer of hope and humanity following the hurricane’s destruction. Simba, a Siamese mix, has since been adopted by the business owner couple.
Heidi, who lives in Sugar Land, Texas, told Newsweek: “My husband is an alpha male who does bodybuilding shows and melted into a puddle when he saved this kitten from the cars on the highway.”
More From Newsweek Vault: Pet Insurance 101: How Much Does It Cost and Is It Worth the Price?
Beryl made landfall in Texas on July 8, with wind speeds up to 80 mph. Six to 8 inches of rain fell on Houston, leading to flash floods in low-lying areas. Around 400,000 people lost power, and over 2 million people across the state were without power by the next day. Schools were closed in anticipation of the storm. Beryl, which formed on June 28, had quickly intensified to a Category 5 hurricane by July 1.
@heidisomers Udate…the kitten we rescued is now living his best life. 🥹 We ate taking him to the vet on Monday for a check up and to see if hes chipped. We would take him sooner but Houston is still struggling and i dont want to overwhelm the vet clinics. 🥺 #kittensoftiktok #catsoftiktok #catvideos
Initially, the couple attempted to find Simba’s owners. But with no luck, they were led to believe, he must be a stray.
“He’s your baby now,” commented one user on the video, which has over 107,000 likes. Another user said: “That’s a lynx point Siamese! You guys won the cat lottery!!”
Now, Heidi’s page (@heidisomers) is filled with updates on the feline settling into his new home. In another clip that has over 174,000 views, the Christian and the kitten can be seen snuggling together, and the text explains that the “kitten now owns our life.”
Heidi told Newsweek: “This kitten has made my husband his person and I am now just the runner-up! They have such a special sweet bond.”
Udate…the kitten we rescued is now living his best life. 🥹 We ate taking him to the vet on Monday for a check up and to see if hes chipped. We would take him sooner but Houston is still struggling and i dont want to overwhelm the vet clinics. 🥺
However, Nalla is still coming to terms with the feline’s arrival.
“So far, the pets get along pretty well. They don’t “love” each other by any means, but they tolerate one another,” Heidi said. “Looking after Simba has been a huge learning curve, especially because we had no access to internet or cell service the first couple of days due to the storm.”