Dozens of families still battle flood’s damage

Jan. 26--While the rest of North Texas sings the praises of May's drought-relieving rains, about a dozen families in Wichita County and surrounding areas continue to fight the blessing's curse.

The Wichita Falls Area Disaster Recovery Committee, formed after flooding in 2007 and responded to other disasters such as wildfires, initially focused on about 170 families affected by the May 2015 flooding, a desperate drought situation became an abundance of water practically overnight.

The scores of families benefiting from the recovery committee's efforts were primarily denied assistance by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In the flood's aftermath, Catholic Charities spearheaded an effort to get a list of flooded-out families from FEMA, and a renewed collaborative effort began. About $66,000 left over from previous disasters remained in an account at Interfaith Ministries Inc., a nonprofit organization borne out of our most significant disaster to date, the 1979 tornado.

Nine months later, between 10 and 15 families are still in desperate need of assistance. Some, said Laura Sotelo, senior director of Catholic Charities, live amongst the water damage that includes bare floors and exposed black mold five feet high. Denied assistance by FEMA and in some cases insurance companies, these families have few options other than the generosity of their neighbors.

"All the money this committee works with," said Jean Payne, former director of Interfaith Ministries and a member of the disaster recovery committee, "comes from within this community."

Payne estimates that the committee needs about $50,000 in order to address the needs of the remaining families and to maintain a fund balance for the next disaster.

"We would like a buffer for the next disaster," said Sotelo Monday, "but it's important to stress that we do not know what disaster could be on the way." Families are still "overblessed" by the flooding, said David Hartman, senior pastor at First Christian Church, suffering through what once drought-stricken North Texans celebrate.

A considerable number of the homes are in Archer County, Sotelo said, where a disaster was not designated. Federal funds, thus, did not trickle in.

"The ones who had insurance are doing OK," Payne added. "It's those families who were already living in the margins financially, paycheck to paycheck, trying to manage the damage."

Some of the families live in homes inherited from previous generations, smaller abodes where the cost of repairs nearly match the property's worth.

"They don't have the money to pick up and move into an apartment. Their only option is to live with the damage, the pulled-up carpet and the mold," Payne said.

Other families face drainage issues that must be addressed before structure problems are solved.

The families struggle with issues beyond the flood damage, said Sotelo, with finances and even mental strain.

"We look at how to help them in other areas in their lives, counseling, talking about how you need to have an emergency savings in case of disasters like this," Sotelo added.

The Wichita Falls Area Disaster Recovery Committee welcomes donations for ongoing efforts, and will have a booth at Saturday's annual Kiwanis Pancake Festival to relay information and hopefully collect contributions.

For those interested in donating -- volunteers are needed as well -- contact Sotelo at 940-716-9669.

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