HOUSTON – After Hurricane Ike, Rubye Johnson’s home needed $5,000 worth of repairs.  The hurricane had toppled a large rotting tree in her front yard, narrowly missing her bedroom.  Instead, it punched two holes into her roof. 

“I’m just lucky I’m still standing,” said Johnson.

When the tree crashed on top of her house, the 80-year-old didn't know who to turn to. She didn’t have insurance, and being wheelchair bound, she was limited as to where she could go.  In desperation, she called the Houston Police Department.

"I told him I was 80-years-old, in a wheelchair with no legs, so I didn't have any help," said Johnson.

That call started a chain of events that brought a number of volunteers out to her home on Saturday morning. 

"We were her only hope, I guess," said Officer Warren Jones, Houston Police Department.

Jones said that after working 15 years in the department’s public affairs division, he knew the people to call.  He even called his own church members to come and lend a hand.

Members of Trinity Garden Church of Christ showed up on Saturday morning with chainsaws to help chop up the tree.

Jones also called Lowe's in Kingwood.  They donated the supplies needed for the repairs. Then there was Willis Demolition Company.  Willis Demolition was able to provide the backhoe and more manpower.

In just a few hours, Johnson’s house was on its way to becoming a home again.