ON THE GROUND: RESPONSE & RECOVERY EFFORTS AFTER HISTORIC WINDSTORM

On May 16, Harris County experienced one of its worst wind events in more than four decades. The storm, known as a derecho, brought winds estimated at 100 mph to the area, knocking down tree branches, breaking windows, and crumpling powerlines. The storm left almost 1 million homes and businesses without power, costing more than $160 million in damages and causing eight people to lose their lives.

Within minutes after the storm cleared, Precinct 4 Road & Bridge crews mobilized to move fallen trees and debris, as well as assist residents. The crews even extended their massive cleanup efforts into the City of Houston.

Since May 16, Precinct 4 has helped clear more than 138,000 cubic yards of debris (as of June 17, 2024) — that is more than 9,860 dump trucks worth of material off the streets.

In the following days, Precinct 4 also provided supplies for people in need. In partnership with the City of Houston, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, the Houston Food Bank, the Gulf Coast AFL-CIO, various private partners, Harris County entities, Texas Department of Emergency Management, and other emergency personnel, Precinct 4 provided supplies to more than 10,000 households in the five days following the storm. The Precinct’s Community Assistance Division also delivered pallets of water, ready-to-eat meals, and battery-powered fans to two mobile home communities hit especially hard by the storm.

RECOVERY RESOURCES:

Federal Emergency Management Agency

800-621-3362 • fema.gov

Small Business Administration

800-659-2955 • SBA.gov/disaster disastercustomerservice@sba.gov

As recovery continues, FEMA individual assistance may be available to all who experienced damage or loss. The Precinct 4 website has compiled a list of resources for residents and their businesses, including support from the SBA.

Temporary Disaster Exemption

713-957-7800 • hcad.org • Help@hcad.org

Property owners who suffered damages to their homes due to the windstorm can apply for a temporary disaster exemption from the Harris Central Appraisal District, which could exempt them from a certain percentage of their property taxes. The deadline for filing is September 3, 2024. For more information, visit hcad.org.

By The Numbers

100 MPH WINDS

$160 MILLION IN DAMAGES

138,000 CUBIC YARDS OF DEBRIS CLEARED AS OF JUNE 17, 2024

10,000+ HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED SUPPLIES DISTRIBUTED AT FOUR SITES