A new report by the Texas Interfaith Center for Public Policy finds that faith-based organizations are playing a key role in the ongoing recovery from 2017’s Hurricane Harvey — and that state emergency management leaders, specifically those in Texas, should bring more faith-based disaster response organizations into the state’s emergency planning process before the next disaster strikes.
A new report by the Texas Interfaith Center for Public Policy finds that faith-based organizations are playing a key role in the ongoing Hurricane Harvey recovery — and that state emergency management leaders, specifically those in Texas, should bring more faith-based disaster response organizations into the sate’s emergency planning process before the next disaster strikes.
Weeks after Hurricane Harvey pounded the Houston area, many emergency response teams were packing up and preparing to leave the area. But Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) was setting its sights on the long haul.
It’s called the Golden Triangle, a region about an hour and a half east of Houston. Most people had never heard of it until Hurricane Harvey. The communities in the triangle made national news when flooding cut off many residents from immediate help. Like many impacted by Harvey, some homes saw minimal damage, while others had several feet of water.
It’s called the Golden Triangle, a region about an hour and a half east of Houston. Most people had never heard of it until Hurricane Harvey. The communities in the triangle made national news when flooding cut off many residents from immediate help. Like many Texans impacted by Harvey, some homes saw minimal damage, while others had several feet of water. In the nearly three weeks since Harvey, residents have worked fast and furiously to try to return to some sense of normalcy. Churches in the area have become distribution centers for supplies such as water, diapers, food, cleaning materials and other necessities while trying to get worship and other church activities back on track.
Traveling around the area, one may wonder if there was any damage at all from Hurricane Harvey. Crews have worked overtime to remove debris from the main roadways in the city, but travel 20 minutes to the south or east and you can see the evidence for miles. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance leaders joined local church leaders over the weekend to assess the damage left by several days of Harvey’s heavy rain.
It’s a sunny day, and a light breeze blows across Port Aransas, Texas, a small island near Corpus Christi. It’s a stark difference to the weather two week ago when Hurricane Harvey crashed into the community.
The road to recovery from Hurricane Harvey is just beginning in Texas. For Mission Presbytery and the Presbytery of the New Covenant, the primary task in recent days has been to maintain communication with churches and congregations in the storm’s path. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is in the midst of a six-day visit to both presbyteries to meet with leaders and help them in recovery planning.
