Houston family takes in 16 strangers and pets displaced by Harvey

Houston's Richert family took in 16 strangers who were taking shelter at a Shell gas station Monday. Houston's Richert family took in 16 strangers who were taking shelter at a Shell gas station Monday. Photo: Nicole Richert Photo: Nicole Richert Image 1 of / 234 Caption Close Houston family takes in 16 strangers and pets displaced by Harvey 1 / 234 Back to Gallery

A Houston area family has given new meaning to southern hospitality during Tropical Storm Harvey.

Nicole Richert, 42, was driving around her Cypress community Monday about noon when she saw groups of people seeking shelter at Shell gas station roughly a mile from her home.

Richert, a children's pastor at Fairfield Baptist Church, stopped and for about seven hours, shuttled 16 people and seven dogs to her home to shelter.

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"There was no place where they could go," Richert told Chron.com Tuesday morning.

The group ate a chili and cornbread for dinner before Richert found them places to sleep around her home.

The group includes older couples and young families, one of which who had a dachshund who had just given birth to puppies.

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"They were all complete strangers to Nicole, but Nicole shows all the best character traits of Texas hospitality and Christian love. What a great lady," family friend Kevin McGown told Chron.com.