AUSTIN, Texas -- Parks can provide respite from daily pressures, and some of McKinney Falls’ newest visitors might be in need of that relief the most.

“[[It's]] peaceful. It’s nothing like I’ve had in years," said Stephen Michael Meier. "I mean and Austin is a wake up experience for me because I did not know I was caught so dead in a rut.”

The 55-year-old is calling McKinney Falls State Park "home" for the next few weeks. Bringing his dog Peck, and whatever he could fit in his car, Meier evacuated Angleton shortly after Harvey hit land. He took a wrong turn as he escaped floods, and ended up at the campground.

“The guy said, ‘Put that wallet away you’re an evacuee.  We’re not doing that, the state of Texas is better than that. We treat our people better.' Sure enough, the people here are beautiful,” said Meier.


Texas Parks and Wildlife said since Aug. 25, the state agency has taken in almost 8,000 evacuees in parks statewide.  

“Everybody that was affected is hurting, to some degree, and I know that a lot of people search out going outside and being in nature to process things in their life,” said Tommy Cude, the parks superintendent for McKinney Falls State Parks.

Meier said he chose to camp out because he wanted more privacy and did not want to be separated from his dog.

“He’s already traumatized enough because he’s used to the A/C, he’s a, you know, a yuppie puppy, just a creature of comfort. I’m more an outdoorsy type of guy, plus the heartbreak of it all,” said Meier.

Meier is not talking about what he loss. Even though heavy rain several damaged his trailer, he considers himself one of the lucky ones.         

“My loss is minuscule compared to what other people are doing,” he said.

As Meier recovers and salvages whatever he can from the storm, he said he gained a newfound love for Central Texas. He is hoping to find a job and live in the Austin area permanently.

“This reaffirms my belief once again in Texas, the way everyone has helped everyone else, it’s a beautiful thing,” Meier said.

Texas Parks and Wildlife said as of Saturday, almost 250 people who fled Harvey's damage remain in parks statewide. State parks will continue to accept evacuees until the end of the September and after, will address need on a case-by-case basis.