By Curt Williams, Founder & Executive Director
“It is not likely to hit Houston.”
“It is only a Category 1 storm.”
“We can expect a blustery day.”
“There is a low probability that we will lose power.”
“There’s no need for all of this preparation.”
These are all statements I heard leading up to the arrival of Hurricane Beryl. These are words that I would remember when we did, indeed, lose power, when the wind began to uproot 80-year-old trees and all the preparations we had made seemed genius. Being on the “dirty side” of any hurricane is troubling, but here at Youth-Reach where we have very little windbreak in the form of buildings, hills, or trees, the wind wreaked havoc.
As the wind began to die down, I walked the campus. The rising water had little effect, but the massive pine trees that crushed our Life Skills Building and the tall pine that crashed down on our Stage One home did significant damage. With the ground already saturated by previous rains, none of the trees snapped off, but all were uprooted. Rain was driven through torn eaves and soffits and damaged a staff apartment. Shingles were missing from two staff homes, and outbuildings were stripped of siding. It took an insurance adjuster two full days to assess the damage.
That’s the bad news.
The good news is we are not alone, and within hours our staff and residents of Youth-Reach Gulf Coast mobilized with three trucks, trailers, equipment, and muscle. Pictures were taken of the extensive damage, and then the arduous task of removing tons of trees from buildings began. These men are no rookies, as they regularly respond to hurricanes, floods and tornadoes. They know what they are doing, and with the help of our local staff and residents, the massive job was done in less than two days. The debris was piled outside our entry gate, where it was soon removed. Without power and in the heat, everything was a bit more difficult, but spirits were high, and teamwork was the order of the day.
Many individuals, churches and small groups came together to provide food and supplies to the workers. We are SO GRATEFUL to all who assisted with food or a special offering to keep the progress going.
We are now faced with a daunting deductible to cover the remaining repairs and get us back to where we were on July 7th. Please pray about how you might help us meet this obligation.
All in all, we are safe, and the ministry is still in full operation. The boys were inside the Stage One home when the tree fell on it, so we are very thankful for the Lord’s hand of protection. These boys will never forget Hurricane Beryl. CW
Thank You!
We would like to recognize the following individuals, churches and organizations for going above and beyond to serve and support Youth-Reach Houston in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. From providing a place for our boys to stay to preparing meals, doing laundry and cleaning up the property, these folks blessed us abundantly.
