Houston has a long flood history, but the severe flooding caused by record-breaking torrential rain that pummeled the city this April, the wettest in Houston on record, makes this the most significant flood event since Tropical Storm Allison in 2001.
His efforts helped guide the second disaster assessment on May 12th, which was quickly followed by an emergency aid distribution on May 14th.
Tzu Chi worked in collaboration with Just Do It Now, a faith-based non-profit organization based in Wharton, which assists low-income residents with a vision guided by their motto of “loving the community back to health”.
With the help of 21 volunteers, Tzu Chi distributed $16,800, benefitting 61 families (167 recipients). And of course there were plenty of blankets and hugs to share, bringing welcome comfort and care.
Wharton was not the only community in the Greater Houston area that was severely impacted by the flooding in April.
Overall, 266 people (75 families) benefitted from the $26,400 in direct aid that was distributed.
On June 8th, Tzu Chi volunteers met the Mayor of Richmond, another city in the greater Houston area that was ravaged by flooding. They discussed the situation, then drove through the town and surrounding areas to assess the damage first hand.
Everywhere they went, they saw piles of unsalvageable furniture, broken appliances, and destroyed household items discarded along the side of the road, everything moldy and smelly due to exposure to direct sunlight.
