BEAUMONT — The Jefferson County Commissioners Court said the data accumulated by the Episcopal Health Foundation will be a big help in Tropical Storm Harvey recovery.

Shao-Chee Sim, vice president of Applied Research EHF, gave a presentation titled “Health has a New Voice in Texas” at the regular meeting Monday afternoon at the Jefferson County Courthouse.

The outline presentation of EHF’s Hurricane Harvey research on Jefferson County consisted of:

• Overview of Harvey related research efforts
• Analyzing Federal Emergency Management Agency application and assistance data
• Summary of focus group data from vulnerable Texans
• Mapping Harvey’s property damage in Texas
• Summary of phone survey data from vulnerable Texans

Forty-one counties are under a Federal Disaster Declaration. Harvey dumped 60.58 inches of record rainfall on the Golden Triangle, which affected 500,000 homes by flooding.

There were 895,000 applicants for FEMA assistance and the total estimated economic impact was $190 billion.

 

Property damages detailed

 

EHF mapped property damage, analyzed FEMA assistance data and partnered with Kaiser Family Foundation for a randomized telephone survey.

FEMA assistance was broken down by zip code.

Five focus groups were held in Houston and Beaumont with vulnerable Texans — including low income, Hispanic, African-Americans and undocumented immigrants.

The Golden Triangle had a higher percentage of respondents, 77 percent, of all the storm-affected regions in Texas affected by Harvey. Tropical Storm Harvey also negatively impacted them: 62 percent of residents reported their home was damaged. Thirty-two percent residents reported their vehicle was damaged and 46 percent of residents reported income or employment losses.

Golden Triangle residents were more likely to report mental health issues.

Three months after Harvey, most respondents were either still very disrupted or still somewhat disrupted. Nearly one-quarter were displaced from their homes.

Most residents felt more resources need to be devoted to recovery. The top priorities for rebuilding and recover efforts were rebuilding destroyed homes, getting financial help to people who need it, making temporary housing available for who need it and making more affordable permanent housing.

Lastly, the issues discussed in focus groups were loss of employment, difficult living conditions, financial challenges, healthcare challenges and stress and mental health.

County Judge Jeff Branick said FEMA officials will put homeowners in a program without discussing it with the individual about their wishes or desires. He added that’s why the county is pushing Texas General Land Office programs that helps residents with more permanent assistance with housing than temporary solutions.

Branick also wants a pre-disaster contract in place with FEMA.

Brent Weaver, Precinct 2 commissioner, said he’s received some complaints about FEMA inspectors. He added that the inspectors are contractors and not FEMA employees.

 

Recovery slower here

 

Sim said Harvey recovery wasn’t as fast or as smooth as in other regions. He attributed that to neighborhoods in the Golden Triangle being socially vulnerable before the storm due to outdated infrastructure.

Branick said since Harvey, family disturbance calls have increased and the Disaster Recovery Appropriations bill is stuck in Congress until early March. Most of the disaster funding has gone to Puerto Rico, Florida and California.

He added that some in Washington, D.C. are saying Texas has enough money in their Rainy Day Fund to pay, however, Southeast Texas is where that money is made through the petrochemical industry. Additionally, the state has paid $2 billion out of the Rainy Day Fund for recovery.

“We need the money before we can meet needs,” Branick said.

Referring to stress and mental health, Everette “Bo” Alfred, Precinct 4 commissioner, said some of his college fraternity brothers said they were shook up when the area flooded on Jan. 27. He said if people who are college educated are have challenges, he knows others in the community are also having challenges.

Michael “Shane” Sinegal, Precinct 3 commissioner, added that every time it rains his office receives calls from “panicky” residents.

 

Recovery to take a while

 

Weaver doesn’t think some residents will recover until the end of the year. Other commissioners think it may take three to five years.

Weaver said even though some homeowners had insurance, they didn’t have the necessary money quickly enough to recover or they’re waiting on contractors.

“It’s not going to be a quick turnaround,” he said.

Sinegal said progress is not being made on rental properties. He added that there’s a lack of communication between governmental entities. Alfred said all of the people need to get into a room together and discuss things.

Branick said a long-term recovery group has been established in Jefferson County.

Sim said they will return to the survey one year after Hurricane Harvey.