Reconstruction fund set up for victims of severe storms in 3 Houston-area counties

Working with city and county leaders, the Greater Houston Disaster Alliance created a rebuilding fund to help those severely impacted by the recent storms.

Between April 26 and May 17, severe storms, derecho winds, tornadoes, and flooding caused deaths, extensive damage, and power outages.

Following the Major Disaster Declaration approved by President Joe Biden on May 18, federal assistance will be available to support local recovery efforts. Grants will be awarded to nonprofit organizations in Harris, Montgomery and Waller counties from the Severe Weather and Derecho Recovery Fund. In addition to emergency financial support, these funds will provide access to essential resources for low-to-moderate income families.

SEE ALSO: FEMA Aid for Houston Storm Victims: Who Can Apply and How

The Fund will help storm victims in Harris, Montgomery and Waller counties, where data shows the highest needs.

You can find out more via the 211 HELPLINE.

211 Texas/United Way HELPLINE is a 24/7 disaster information resource for people who need immediate assistance.

The United Way 211 line gives callers information about utilities, housing and rental assistance, crisis counseling, senior services, food pantries in their communities, and more.

If wait times are long due to high call volume, 211 support can also be accessed via the following methods:

• Visit 211texas.org to find online resources or chat online with a specialist.

“We are working together to meet the needs of those affected by recent natural disasters in our region. We will work closely with the United Way of Greater Houston, the Greater Houston Community Foundation and Harris County to recruit the necessary resources to assist in the recovery efforts,” said Mayor John Whitmire. “Activating the Severe Weather Recovery Fund and Derecho is an important part of overall recovery efforts, aimed at connecting affected families with the help they need to rebuild and recover.

Initial contributions to the fund include $500,000 from the CenterPoint Energy Foundation and a $500,000 donation from Comcast, split into a $250,000 cash and $250,000 in-kind donation.

“The Greater Houston Disaster Alliance was created so that in times of crisis, there would be a quick and effective response to help those severely affected begin the process of recovery,” said Stephen Maislin, president and CEO of the Greater Houston Disaster Alliance. Greater Houston Community Foundation. “When disaster strikes, a collaborative and coordinated response from the nonprofit, for-profit, public sector and philanthropic community is necessary to ensure that our region’s most vulnerable receive the assistance they need. they need to start the process of recovery and reconstruction.

As part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and Winter Storm Uri, United Way of Greater Houston and the Greater Houston Community Foundation collaborated to address urgent community needs before establishing the Disaster Alliance in 2023.

“My heart goes out to all those affected by these devastating disasters. In times like these, the strength and unity of our Harris County community becomes our greatest asset. There are ways all Harris County residents can support. For those who are willing and able to volunteer, you can call 713-533-3190 or visit volunteerhouston.org. If you can contribute financially, your donation to the Severe Weather and Derecho Recovery Fund is invaluable. This fund will help us quickly distribute relief funds to local nonprofits so they can begin helping people rebuild as quickly as possible. Thank you to the United Way, the Greater Houston Community Foundation and everyone who is helping us recover,” said Judge Lina Hidalgo.

The Greater Houston Disaster Alliance was created to improve year-round disaster preparedness in the Greater Houston area and ensure the social service network and systems are in place in the event of a disaster so the region can respond quickly, fairly and effectively. Both organizations have been leading disaster recovery efforts for over 35 years.

“Outside of times of disaster, we know that 14% of households in our region struggle to earn an income below the federal poverty level and 31% of households in our region work hard but struggle to make both ends meet. ends. These are the neighbors who are disproportionately impacted when disaster strikes,” said Amanda McMillian, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Houston. “This fund allows us to support the most vulnerable people who have been affected by recent weather events to ensure they can not only recover from the immediate crisis, but also prepare for future disasters. »

SEE ALSO: Ask Question 2: Why are there inaccuracies in the CenterPoint outage map?

The Greater Houston Disaster Alliance is a joint initiative of the Greater Houston Community Foundation and the United Way of Greater Houston.