This Texas Hero Saved 17 Lives

In late August 2017, Hurricane Harvey devastated Texas and Louisiana. The storm caused more than 80 deaths and an estimated $125 billion in damage. But out of that tragedy came a quiet hero: Virgil Smith—or VJ, as his friends call him—from Dickinson, Texas. He was 13 at the time. 

Scope: Where were you on the night of the hurricane?

Virgil: I was with my mom and older sister at my family’s apartment in Dickinson, Texas, which is about a one-hour drive south of Houston.

Scope: Did you know a major storm was coming?

Virgil: I didn’t know it was going to be as bad as it was. I was playing a video game while on the phone with my friend Keshaun, who lives in the same apartment community, and he told me to look outside. There was water everywhere—it started rising until it was nearly as high as the door. My mom, sister, and I had to swim to get to a neighbor’s apartment on higher ground.

Scope: Was Keshaun OK?

Virgil: He was scared. He called me after I got to my neighbor’s and said, “VJ, we can’t swim—can you come help me and my family?” I remembered that I had an air mattress already blown up in my closet, and I thought it could be a good raft. So I left my mom and sister and swam back to our apartment to get it. Then I pushed the mattress in front of me while I swam to Keshaun’s apartment. It was like swimming in a lake. I kept whacking away bugs that were biting me.

Scope: Were you afraid?

Virgil: I wasn’t. I learned how to swim when I was 7 or 8, so I wasn’t worried. And I’ve always had good role models of calmness and bravery, like my parents.

Scope: What happened after you reached Keshaun?

Virgil: Once Keshaun’s family got on the mattress, I pushed it to where my mom and sister were.

Scope: And did you join them then?

Virgil: No. I kept hearing screams, so I made three more trips to help other people. One older woman was in a wheelchair and was really afraid. I calmed her down, and then she told me she had a puppy. So I got the dog, then I got them to the rest of the group. Finally, we called for help. Eventually, a stranger in a boat rescued us.

Scope: How bad was the damage after the storm?

Virgil: We lost everything. We had to live in a hotel for six months. Now we live in a different apartment, about 15 minutes from our old one.

Scope: Did your experience change you in any way?

Virgil: Yes. Now I want to join the Marines. Hurricane Harvey showed me that I want to keep helping people.

Scope: What advice do you have for Scope readers if they find themselves in an emergency?

Virgil: Try not to be scared. Do the best you can to help other people. Remember, you don’t have to be an adult to make a difference.

This interview was originally published in the October 2018 issue.