Harvey Flood Relief in Texas

The debris removal and clean up efforts continued!

Four months after Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, there were still many affected families in need.

IsraAID's Emergency Response team, together with partners Team Rubicon and a group of US veterans, spent November and December in East Downton, Houston. Before this, they had focused their efforts in Wharton, and the Bellaire and Meyerland area of West Houston. 

The volunteers worked house-by-house, stripping each flood-damaged building right down to its foundations, due to prolonged, extreme water and mold damage.

“Harvey was the third time my house flooded; I was ready to give up on our home and our life in Beaumont…I just couldn't go on any more. Then out of the blue, on my front yard, a group from Israel came to my aid...thank you for helping me deal with this dire situation!” Mary, an elderly home owner from Beaumont, Texas, after the team completed the house.

On August 25th, Hurricane Harvey struck several towns in Texas.  The devastation was immense. The torrential downpour flooded homes and the affected lost everything.  IsraAID’s Emergency Response team distributed relief items and worked to remove debris, clean out and pack up the homes of uninsured, low-income, elderly and disabled residents. 

In total, together with partners Team Rubicon, the team assisted around 180 households, reaching approximately 540 direct beneficiaries.

Now the team is focusing on longer-term, community resilience-building and Disaster Risk Reduction planning, to help build and strengthen a local, community-based response to disasters.  

More updates to follow!