CRWRC Completes Repairs on 104th Home in Texan Town

CRWRC Newsroom | January 8, 2010

As volunteers pounded the last nail into the last home being repaired in Port Arthur, Texas, the mood was ecstatic.  “I feel like a kid in a candy store,” said Annette Johnson, the homeowner, “and the candies are all mine.”

Four years ago, Annette’s home had been severely damaged when Hurricane Rita tore through Port Arthur and neighboring towns.  The high winds of the storm, knocked down trees, tore off roofs, and caused millions of dollars of damage.  While the US government did provide temporary trailers to families like Annette’s, many families lacked the ability to properly repair their homes.  Year’s later they were still waiting for assistance. That’s where CWRC stepped in. 

CRWRC first went to Port Arthur in late September 2005, hours after Hurricane Rita had made landfall.  At that time, CRWRC’s Rapid Response volunteers cleared debris and brought the first signs of hope back to the devastated community.

Soon after, local churches and non-profits asked CRWRC to return to Port Arthur to determine what needs remained in the community.  CRWRC volunteers went door to door to more than 2,300 homes, talking to homeowners to ask them about damage, levels of insurance, and the ability of the homeowners to address needs on their own.  Those who would need additional help were referred back to the local community organization.

Given the high level of needs identified, the community asked CRWRC to return once again, this time to help repair and rebuild homes.  CRWRC Disaster Response Services set-up a construction site in Port Arthur in October 2006.  Since then, teams of volunteers have come for one to three weeks at a time to work on damaged homes.

Annette’s home was the last of 104 that CRWRC repaired in Port Arthur. Its roof, walls, and floors had been severely damaged by Hurricane Rita. Annette, who was recently widowed and is now the sole caregiver for a daughter with Down’s Syndrome and a teenaged son, was unable to make the repairs on her own. CRWRC volunteers took it down to the studs and then started to rebuild.

“The second last team of CRWRC volunteers stationed in Port Arthur began in earnest to restore Annette’s home in late November,” recalls Clarence Damsma, CRWRC volunteer site manager in Port Arthur. “They knew it would be impossible for them to finish all the necessary repairs on their own, but they trusted that the final team would be able to do it. I went back a few weeks later for the last nail ceremony and felt God’s presence. He made sure that we would not leave Port Arthur until this house was repaired. We were used by our Lord to make a difference in the life of a dear sister in the Lord and her children. How good is that?”

While CRWRC's work in Port Arthur is complete, we have recently begun work in nearby Galveston.  To support this effort, please  donate online:  US | Canada

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- by Kristen deRoo VanderBerg, CRWRC Communications