After nearly five years of existence, the Hardin County Strong (HCS) long-term recovery group has come to an end, according to an announcement issued by its Board of Directors to their stakeholders.
The group was formed in April 2018 with more than 500 cases from Hurricane Harvey. HCS closed out their last Harvey case in August 2020, according to their website.
In the announcement, the board cited that, in the “absence of financial support from the county to maintain a dedicated individual to oversee the responsibilities necessary for successful recovery preparedness and response and to uphold the high standard of the organization, we cannot properly maintain the quality of service or level of performance that we know is required and necessary should the county be impacted by a major disaster.”
“As an organization, we do not have funding to support this position on our own, despite our efforts over the last 14-plus months to try to do so. Please know this decision was not made easily or with haste,” the board wrote.
In the announcement, the board noted HCS successfully repaired more than 250 homes, built nine new construction homes and replaced 19 mobile homes.
“We have provided 93 households with replacement furniture and 41 households with replacement appliances. We purchased homeowners and flood insurance for 15 households, provided nine households with new sewer systems, and provided transitional housing and meals to more than 10 households, (and) awarded new construction homes through the General Land Office Homeowner Assistance Program (HAP),” according to the board.
The HCS board noted the group built multiple wheelchair ramps, held multiple food and supply distributions, including three Thanksgiving meal and frozen turkey events, and provided Christmas gifts to dozens of children impacted by Harvey.
“In addition, we have had the pleasure to work with and support more than 3,000 recovery volunteers, to which we credit for much of our success,” the board stated. “We humbly thank each of you for the extraordinary role you played in our county’s disaster recovery efforts following Hurricane Harvey and the tremendous support you lent to the Hardin County Strong organization. We are who we are because of each of you. We thank you for all you continue to do to support the Hardin County community and all you will do moving forward.
“It has been an honor to serve our county. We will never forget this experience or this life-changing opportunity to lead the charge in disaster recovery locally, while representing Hardin County proudly and strongly across our region and state.”
County Judge Wayne McDaniel said he regrets the board’s decision to dissolve.
“I certainly respect it, and again, express my sincere gratitude for Hardin County Strong’s many great accomplishments during their existence,” he said. “Hardin County residents impacted by the Harvey disaster recovered much faster and better due to the tremendous efforts by the entire HCS team and I am forever grateful for them all.”
Pct. 2 Commissioner Chris Kirkendall added that, in the event of a future disaster, he is hopeful that those same directors will step up to form another long-range recovery group.
“Hardin County Strong was an amazing group of people to work with. They help secure private funding that helped many of our citizens,” Kirkendall said.
— Dannie Oliveaux, Staff Reporter