WHARTON RECOVERY TEAM

Description

The Wharton County Recovery Team is a 501(C)(3) that was established following flood number three, Memorial Day 2016. Community organizers came together in the summer and fall of 2016 to form an organization to assist low-income persons, whether uninsured or under-insured, recover from natural disasters.

As the WCRT was finally getting their "sea legs" Hurricane Harvey hit the coast of Texas creating a flooding event of mammoth proportion. FEMA estimated that one-third, 4,200, Wharton County homes were damaged during the flood; 3000 with minor damage and 1,200 with major damage.

Harvey was a game-changer for the WCRT. The magnitude and impact of Harvey, coupled with the realization that recovery would be a three to five year project, led the WCRT to ramp-up the efforts to provide long-haul survivor services. The Executive Committee began outreach for community, state and national funding partner and resources to aid in long-term recovery.

WCRT has three different missions. Our first is to help our clients return to their homes that were damaged by the storm through our organization and in coordination with other funding partners. The second is our West End Initiative (WEI) to build 40 new homes in the flood ravaged west end of the city of Wharton.

Our third and final mission is disaster preparation. We are the boots on the ground to offer logistical support when the next disaster occurs.