Read Texas Housers’ comments to FEMA on the efficiency and equity of their aid distribution
Comments by Julia Orduña When the Biden Administration took office in January 2021, among the first executive orders issued fromContinue Reading
Tag: Disaster recovery
February 21 Update: Governor Abbott and the Texas Legislature continue to fail to act to help Texas freeze survivors
Less than 48 hours after Texas Housers posted a blog entry challenging Texas government officials to take 5 critical actionsContinue Reading
Governor Abbott and Texas Legislators: you got us in this mess, here is what you must do to fix it
A monumental failure of Texas state government is responsible for a statewide power outage causing devastation of our economy andContinue Reading
Record-breaking 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season reminds us that preparedness is the first step in disaster recovery
This year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted a busy hurricane season with 13-19 named storms, 6-10 hurricanes,Continue Reading
Texas Housers calls on local officials to preserve communities and protect people from homelessness and displacement
The federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic was delayed and has been, at times, inconsistent and confusing. Much of theContinue Reading
Disaster Recovery in Houston is a tangled mess. This is what I learned that needs to change in my first six months.
Julia Orduña is Texas Housers’ Community Navigator in the greater Houston area. She is sharing her initial impressions of workingContinue Reading
The Reforming Disaster Recovery Act of 2019 succeeds in the House of Representatives, but more work lies ahead
The Federal Reforming Disaster Recovery Act of 2019 (RDRA) passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on November 18, 2019Continue Reading
Episode 19: Disaster recovery is leaving out renters
When a disaster hits, flooding and fires might not discriminate, but the systems and funding intended to rebuild our communitiesContinue Reading
Here is how the Seven Principles for Disaster Recovery could be a roadmap to repair following Hurricane Dorian
The harsh toll Hurricane Dorian took on the Bahamas, Southeastern United States, and Atlantic Canada is a cruel, but unfortunatelyContinue Reading
Two years of disaster recovery: we are holding our fire for now as we listen to survivors and ask government for a honest accounting
In the two years since Hurricane Harvey made landfall, so much has changed. There has even been some encouraging movementContinue Reading
Report details the cumulative trauma of family violence and natural disaster during Hurricane Harvey
In a natural disaster, it is vital to act as quickly as possible to help those most vulnerable first. SomeContinue Reading
The U.S. Senate wants to establish a permanent resource to rebuild with the Reforming Disaster Recovery Act Of 2019
Disaster recovery at this moment does not work for all who need it. Structural issues like drainage or organizational issues suchContinue Reading
Disaster survivors often faced double the financial toll when rebuilding their homes. A new law now ensures that won’t happen.
Following a natural disaster, a survivor’s road back to normal can be long and difficult. If they are lucky enoughContinue Reading
These bills strengthening Texas tenants’ rights and disaster recovery could reshape our future
Texans face a host of housing issues: an inadequate amount of quality affordable homes and the lingering effects of HurricaneContinue Reading
How to avoid disaster recovery Groundhog Day
There is no question that natural disasters will hit Texas again. We hope Mother Nature will keep the peace, butContinue Reading
Low-income households disproportionately denied by FEMA is a sign of a system that is failing the most vulnerable
For some, Hurricane Harvey is now a distant, if not unpleasant, memory. Looking back on 2017, many Texas families willContinue Reading
Lessons on disaster recovery, from the Rio Grande Valley to Puerto Rico
One year since Hurricane Maria made landfall, residents and advocates have been rebuilding and preparing themselves for the distribution ofContinue Reading
Texas is offering $1 billion for cities to build resilience to prepare for the next storm. But the process could leave out communities that need it most.
(Photo: A lineman checks on a downed powerlines in Port Arthur) In the last blog on Port Arthur, we predictedContinue Reading
Houston coalition holds People’s Tribunal to amplify voices of vulnerable hurricane survivors
As the one year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey approached the Houston Organizing Movement for Equity coalition also known as HOMEContinue Reading
Disaster relief rolls out in the Rio Grande Valley; residents hope for just and fair process
(Home in Indian Hills colonia that experienced flooding after the June storms. Photo taken a week after the storms hit.)Continue Reading
The goal of disaster recovery should be more than returning to normal
I was honored to give the keynote at the 43rd Annual Natural Hazards Research and Applications Workshop on July 9 inContinue Reading
Texas Housers submits comments to City of Houston on proposed Hurricane Harvey action plan
Texas Housers submitted comments to the City of Houston last week about the city’s proposed plan for spending $1.15 billionContinue Reading
West Street Recovery makes recommendations to improve state-run rapid repair program
This is a guest blog, written by West Street Recovery staff Ben Hirsch and Becky Selle. West Street Recovery is aContinue Reading
Where health happens: Housing’s impact on health and quality of life
Image by Elizabeth Conley from Houston Chronicle This post was written by Quianta Moore, M.D., J.D., a Child Health Policy Fellow atContinue Reading
State must amend plan for disaster recovery so thousands of low- and moderate-income Texans can rebuild and recover
Texas Housers and partners Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid and Texas Appleseed held a press conference Friday morning about theContinue Reading
Field Notes: An unequal response to disaster in Beaumont
More than 48 inches of rain inundated Beaumont after Hurricane Harvey struck last August, and the deluge impacted people acrossContinue Reading
Community planning and resiliency expert encourages being purposeful and prepared during hurricane rebuilding
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, Houston has an opportunity to leverage its unique characteristics to build not only aContinue Reading
The needs of low-income Hurricane Harvey survivors cannot be determined by FEMA data alone
To determine unmet need of survivors of disaster, the state relies heavily on FEMA data, an appropriate source, but oneContinue Reading
How the state should evaluate the needs of survivors after a disaster
The state’s draft action plan for spending $57.8 million in federal disaster recovery funds was released on Jan. 18. The Texas GeneralContinue Reading
The State of Texas must pay special attention to civil rights when it carries out disaster recovery plans
The state’s draft action plan for spending $57.8 million in federal disaster recovery funds was released on Jan. 18. The Texas GeneralContinue Reading