As locals dealt with the devastating flood from Tropical Storm Harvey, so did agencies that lend a helping hand.

Through it all, these agencies — United Board of Missions, United Way of Mid & South Jefferson County and the Salvation Army — continued to serve others while they were displaced.

Some will come back stronger than ever. At least one, Salvation Army, has a future that seems less certain.

The damage

Janie Johnson, executive director of the local United Way, recalls how she and staff worked out of their vehicles with the office phone transferred to her own cell in order to keep lines of communication open.

“We were working out of our cars and had folding chairs in front of the building until the temporary building was placed in front of our office,” Johnson said. “Karen Do, community impact director, I don’t know how she was in so many places. PODs (points of distribution), the airport, she was literally everywhere. It was the best case of Where’s Waldo you’ve ever seen.”

The United Way works with 21 agencies on more than 30 programs so networking to get food and necessary supplies to town was of vital concern.

Mae Terro, executive director of the United Board of Missions, a coalition of Mid and South Jefferson County churches and volunteers working to assist those in need, said they lost almost everything at their Ninth Avenue office.

“We had water in here for about four days. A guy who volunteers here came when there was still water in here,” Terro said. “He walked from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in the water to check on the building. There was over 2 feet of water when he came. He sent a message and said that the water was still sloshing.”

Five or six days after the flood, water was still on the floor and it was smelly, she said.

The laborious task of gutting the building began as well as trying to salvage what was left up high.

“Every desk, file cabinet, everything below 3 feet is gone,” she said. “All of the (fully functioning) kitchen including the freezers and stove, gone as well and all of the electrical was under water.”

The Salvation Army church and associated buildings didn’t fare well either. Located at 3145 25th St., Port Arthur, the area saw extensive flooding and when leaders Martha and Francko Higdon were finally able to make it to the church they saw the full extent of the damage. Sadly, she said, they were underinsured.

How they made it work

Terro, staff and volunteers took the bull by the horns.

“When we could get in we looked at all of the important papers and got enough supplies to open for business and start helping people,” Terro said.

The UBM operates two thrift stores and neither were affected, Mission’s Attic on 32nd Street in Groves and Attic Treasures on 39th Street in Groves. Items were loaded up and brought to the Mission’s Attic in the beginning.

“We haven’t missed a beat,” she said. “Only when there was water.”

Eventually, food, clothing and other necessities were distributed from the 32nd Street location while persons needing assistance with bills received help from the 39th location.

The Ninth Avenue location is currently being repaired with hopes to return by Sept. 1.

“It’s working,” she said of the way business is being done at this time. “It’s not the ideal way, it’s not comfy but we do what the mission says to do.”

Even with displacement the UBM continued its work with Meals on Wheels, going first through the United Methodist Temple and now through Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Nederland.

150,000 pounds of help

Johnson used her communication skills, networking to get supplies and let people know what was needed here.

“By the time it was over we were able to assist with bringing in in the neighborhood of 150,000 pounds of supplies — everything: food, cleaning supplies, etc.,” Johnson said. “Supplies were not only given through the agencies but through the PODS (points of distribution) with the city of Port Arthur.”

One of the first trucks to make it to the area came in through New Orleans and continued to be a huge support from the very first day, she said.

Students in another area of Texas had collected items for Harvey survivors here but there was the issue of getting the items down to South East Texas.

“We worked to get the UPS as a partner and have the items picked up from the site,” she said. “From there it went to Dallas, to Beaumont and to finally to the city’s warehouse where it was stored and agencies were able to pick up items as well. This was a good example of how many people pull together for a way to deliver to our community in need.”

Martha Higdon knew there would be challenges ahead.

“It (flood) made it hard. There was no place to call home for ministry services and what we normally help people with,” Higdon said. “It made us think outside the box. We had help come in; it was unique.”

The Salvation Army was able to find a dry location with enough space that was immediately habitable at 2600 Nederland Ave., in Nederland.

“We were able to have supplies trucked in and it go straight to those in need,” she said.  There were also the door-to-door deliveries in the early days after the storm.

“We had to be creative, drive down back streets. We got to know a lot of people,” she said.

SA programs continue

Programs are continuing though. The Boys and Girls Club is now meeting at Sam Houston Elementary School,  thus continuing the program after school.

The summer program for children is set to continue as Salvation Army officials seek a new location.

The Nederland Avenue location is vast — a partition separates the front desk area from the warehouse-like back area where food, cleaning supplies, personal hygiene products, clothing and more are stored.

Will they be ready for the next big storm?

The Salvation Army has signed a six-month lease for their temporary location with an option for another six months.

“The 25th Street building has to be torn down,” Higdon said. “One thing the board has looked at is what does the Salvation Army look like next. Yes, we want to be back in Port Arthur if a place is available. We may not be in the same place but never say never.”

Higdon said the Salvation Army is dedicated to serving and helping Port Arthur neighbors. Through it all they found alternate ways to do things and currently, nine out of 10 of their services are Harvey-related.

With a community hard hit by a disaster, donations are not steady but come from outside the area. So when the next big storm hits, they will be ready, she said.

Working a plan

The UBM worked with a disaster plan when the storm struck so when the next big storm hits, they will once again rely on the plan.

“We could do services right if a catastrophe hit right now,” Terro said. “People could step right in and we could continue services.”

Donations to UBM never ceased although many locals were affected. UBM also had to purchase numerous items that were lost in order to go forward.

“Mentally, at first we were overwhelmed then realized we needed to take it one day at a time and started doing what we were supposed to do,” she said. “God gives us strength. He doesn’t give us anything we can’t handle.”

The United Way of Mid and South Jefferson County folks are making it work for now and the future. While they are currently in “360-square-foot trailer of Heaven with four people” they are excited and looking forward to being back in their offices soon at 7980 Anchor Drive.

“Our services are continuing. To date we received just over $550,000 in donations for Harvey and those funds are either distributed already or still in the process,” Johnson said.

In the immediate aftermath the United Way also helped partner agencies get on their feet. In addition, they helped Communities in Schools so affected students could get uniforms and backpacks and return to normal.

They worked with Nutrition Services for Seniors, knowing some seniors were splitting their meals with pets. A small grant helped so those seniors no longer have to share their food.

There was also a rental assistance program for rent for those still paying their mortgage, a pop-up Halloween event in Port Arthur and more than $250,000 in help to other agencies who in turn help others.

Will they be ready for the next big storm?

“Yes ma’am,” Johnson said. “The unfortunate side of responding to a disaster is that you find out your weaknesses early. We will improve our plans and response to the best of our ability.”

This story appeared in Volume 1 of The Port Arthur News Profile, April 8, 2018