< Previous10 HARVEY: ONE YEAR LATERHarbour’s home was at the epicenter of local flooding. Her family started to evacuate after water from the nearby bayou entered the house and started popping the electrical outlets. The family set up tents on the roof until boaters came to the rescue.They salvaged very little from the home, Harbour said. On the upside, the family’s free-range chickens and guinea pigs managed to survive, she said.The current state of the home is dismal. Harbour, who did not have flood insurance, said FEMA had rejected a claim for housing repair assistance because the estimated damage to her house didn’t reach a $17,000 threshold.Her house was assessed to have $15,000 in damage, she said.STRESSED AND FRUSTRATED“I stay stressed, and it gets frustrating,” she said. “But I feel good, because there are still people out there in worse shape than I am.”Harbour thinks her house will have to be torn down, she said. Case managers stop by to ensure she’s getting along. But firm answers about when her home might be in line for repair are hard to come by, she said.“It’s like they’re scattered-brained,” Harbour said. “I don’t think there’s any organization to it at all.”Harbour might eventually get help rebuilding, but when that might be is unclear. She will likely need federal assistance through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Devel-opment and the Texas General Land Office to tear down and rebuild the house, assuming she qualifies for the assistance.A year after the storm, Galveston County residents are still waiting for any sort of details about long-term recovery pro-grams that will result in rebuilding, renovations or buyouts.In late June, the federal housing department approved a $5 billion plan for Harvey-related housing aid in Texas.Of that amount, $2.3 billion will go to Harris County and Houston, while the remainder will be divided between all the other counties where Harvey wrought damage.D.J. Mann and his sister, Skylar, hug their dog, Puppy, in a bedroom of their grandmother, Earlene Harbour’s, flood-damaged house in Dickinson.STUART VILLANUEVA | THE DAILY NEWSWe’re taking the opportunity during the rebuilding efforts to not just put things “back together”, but we’re taking the time to truly IMPROVE the beauty and FUNCTIONALITY of our clients’ kitchens, using high-end custom cabinetry by Wood-Mode, high-end appliances by Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove, and other exceptional products and materials.17306 Highway 3, Webster, TX 77598(Appointments Recommended)(281) 338-2737 • www.BayAreaKitchens.com17 Harvey victims rebuilt so far, and not just “good as new”, but “Better Than Ever”BeforeAfterBay Area KitchensKen RossState Farm® Agentwww.kenross.comState FarmThere When You Need Us Mostwww.facebook.com/Kensellsautowww.statefarm.comPhone: (409) 935-5891Fax: (409) 938-4968Toll Free: (888) 359-42601108 Bayou Rd.,La Marque Tx, 77568Auto, Home, Renters, Condo,Motorcycle, Life Banking & More.Providing Insurance and Financial Services THE DAILY NEWS 1112 HARVEY: ONE YEAR LATERHARDEST HITGalveston County, by most accounts, was among the most heavily damaged areas outside of Houston.Of the 40 counties that will split the $2.7 billion pot, Gal-veston County’s 20,619 approved FEMA applications ac-count for 10 percent of the properties that were damaged.State officials said in early August that information about who can apply for housing funds and how the program would work will be released by early September.That’s on schedule, officials say, while at the same time cautioning that the work that comes might not be ev-erything people hope for.“This has been far quicker than in previous events,” said Brittany Eck, a spokeswoman for the Texas General Land Office. “There are limited funds and in no hurricane event will there ever be sufficient funds to restore everything to pre-storm conditions.”But, lacking any news, housing advocates believe that federally funded housing contractors won’t start their work until early 2019.SOBERING PROSPECTThe extent of the work those crews will face is sobering.“There’s still a lot of people that need help,” said Gary Scoggin, chairman of the Galveston County Recovers Long Term Recovery Group, a network of social work groups and government agencies that is coordinating local recov-ery plans.The recovery group has identified 46,210 people in need of rebuilding help. Of those, 10,960 have specific vulnerabilities — they’re elderly or have children or deal with a disability. In early August, the re-covery group had 242 cases open and contacted by case managers, and more than 1,700 cases waiting to be assigned a case manager, Scoggin said.“It’s been pretty slow,” he said. “That’s been like pretty much everything in Harvey, slower than expected.”Even outside the strictures of federally subsidized hous-ing rebuilding programs, Harvey survivors are cognizant of the time that has passed and the change that has been wrought on their communities.Jim and Deborah Flex continue to repair damage from Hurricane Harvey in their home on Pinecrest Drive in Dickinson. The Flexes had flood insurance; however, contractors are not close to finishing.KELSEY WALLING/The Daily News“THERE’S STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT NEED HELP.” GARY SCOGGINStay Safe: Stay Away From Power LinesEven if you don’t touch a line, getting tools or equipment too close can be deadly.• Keep tree-trimming saws or other tools far from lines.• Always look up, then set ladders well away from lines.A power line that’s down still can be energized and deadly, even if power is out nearby.• Call 911 if you see a downed power line.• Keep kids, pets – and adults – far away.• Avoid water on the ground near a downed line.Report power outages or get updates: 888-866-7456How you can prepare:• Medical equipment users should evacuate and return after power has been restored. • Don’t try to power your entire house with a portable generator and read all manufacturer safety warnings before operating.• Before the storm, unplug unnecessary or sensitive electronics.• Electric garage doors won’t open without power; don’t forget a key.Than yo!To our neighbors, family, friends,volunteers from near and far,You are why our mission is:HELPING TEXANSBUILD TEXASThank you for helping our community heal after Harvey.You are why we do what we do.You are why we come to work each morning.You are why we are a community bank. We’re dedicated to you. www.texasf irst.bankWe love being a part of your community. In good times or in bad, please know that we’re here. Whether it’s a helping hand, f inancial support, or just a shoulder to cry on, we stand ready to help. THE DAILY NEWS 1314 HARVEY: ONE YEAR LATERMORE CHANGE TO COMEJim and Deborah Flex, a married couple on Pinecrest Drive in Dickinson, were well positioned to recover from the hurricane. Flex was a disaster preparedness consultant in Washington, D.C., for more than a decade before he re-turned to Texas to start his own contracting company. The single-story house they’ve lived in for more than 20 years was insured against flood damage.Yet a year later, contractors were just finishing work on the master bed-room of their home.Personal items were still piled in the middle of their dining room, wait-ing for a place to be stored. Another 50 containers were being stored at their daughter’s house, filled with the things they managed to salvage from the home in the days after Harvey. It was the “ultimate decluttering project,” Jim Flex said.Flex estimated renovations wouldn’t be complete until January.“We’re used to doing things very quickly, as a contractor,” Jim Flex said. “This is killing me that it’s taken me almost a year to get to this point.”Even after that, he didn’t think the house would feel like a home.Many neighboring houses are empty, he said.The house next door had been par-tially repaired and rented to a small family. They haven’t yet introduced themselves, Flex said. He was uncer-tain whether the neighbors had elec-tricity or running water, he said.Another neighbor across the street disappeared after the storm, and showed up for the first time at the end of July with a crew of volunteers. As the group cleaned out the house, they removed a refrigerator.The stench from the job reminded Flex how much change is still left to come.“We don’t know what their intentions are, or what they intend to do,” he said. “THIS IS KILLING ME THAT IT’S TAKEN ME ALMOST A YEAR TO GET TO THIS POINT.” JIM FLEXDeborah Flex walks through her kitchen past a pile of belongings in her house in Dickinson. Nearly 50 containers are being stored at her daughter’s house as well.KELSEY WALLING | THE DAILY NEWSThe UFCU Insurance Services® team is committed to helping you find just the right insurance company and policy for you.Flood and WindstormHomeowner and RenterCondominium and Mobile HomePrepare and protect your home before a hurricane strikes. Our experienced professionals can help you assess your unique situation, guide you through the process, and provide exclusive coverage for coastal residents.Get a free, no obligation quote at UFCU.org/Insurance or call (888) 353-8042.UFCU Has You CoveredUFCU.orgGalveston • Dickinson3727 BroadwayGalveston, TX 77550(409) 762-7821Mon - Fri: 10AM - 7PMSaturday: 10AM - 6PMSunday: Noon - 5PMNEW LOCATION! 3503 Gulf FreewayDickinson, TX 77539(281) 678-8295Mon - Sat: 10AM - 9PMSunday: Noon - 6PMTEXANS Never Give In.We Rebuild. We Restore.We Help Each Other!SPECIAL OFFERS for Harvey victims still available.Ask a Sales Associate. THE DAILY NEWS 15Legislators: Harvey at top of list in coming sessionSTORY BY JOHN WAYNE FERGUSON | FILE PHOTOS BY KELSEY WALLING | THE DAILY NEWS‘FOCUSED ON FUNDING’16 HARVEY: ONE YEAR LATERof state leaders. The next session begins Jan. 11. Legislators can begin filing bills in November.As the anniversary approached, local representatives said Harvey, and securing disaster funding for the communities they represent, will be at the top of the list in the coming session.“We’ll be focused on funding to help the communities that will be impacted and to help the people return to some sense of normalcy,” said state Rep. Greg Bon-nen, a Republican whose district includes Dickinson, League City and Friendswood, the three county cities most damaged by Harvey.For the past year, Texas Gov. Greg Ab-bott has steadfastly refused to call for emer-gency spending out of the state’s Rainy Day Fund, a $10 billion reserve account fed by oil and gas taxes that’s meant to be used for economic stabilization.With local cities looking to be reimbursed for the costs of GREG BONNENLARRY TAYLORThe most recent Texas legislative session seems so long ago now.When the Texas House of Representatives declared Sine Die — called it quits — on its special session Aug. 15, there was a sense of frustration in the air.The state’s education fund-ing system hadn’t been fixed. A Republican feud between House Speaker Joe Straus and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had stymied proposed changes to state property tax law. One of the most talked-about bills ended up being a proposal that would have forbidden local tree preservation ordinances.It was a different time.On the day the gavel fell in Austin, Hurricane Harvey was still a tropical wave off the west coast of Africa. It didn’t have a name. Come next January, Harvey might be the name heard most often from the floor of the capitol.The year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey comes as the next Texas legislative session begins to weigh on the minds post-Harvey cleanup, lawmakers likely will seek to tap into the fund in 2019, Bonnen said.There are other costs to consider as well.Because Harvey caused families to move from their home cities, some school districts might be in serious need of more money to deal with increased enrollment, said state Sen. Larry Taylor, a Friendswood Republican and chairman of the Senate Education Committee.That likely will be an is-sue as legislators try to find reform for the state’s school finance system, Taylor said.The atmosphere of the next session will be different than the one that followed Hurricane Ike, Taylor said. For one, more time has passed between Harvey and the start of the session than the legis-lature had after Ike.For months now, legislative committees have been meet-ing to discuss topics related to Harvey. The committees were issued with dozens of interim charges to review after the storm — from the hurricane’s effect on the state’s live-stock supply to its effect on the tax base.The storm also devastated a much larger area of the state than Ike did. People filed Federal emergency Manage-ment Agency claims in 41 Texas counties in Texas. Har-ris County accounted for the most claims. Galveston Coun-ty accounted for the third-most claims, according to a FEMA summary.The shared experience probably will mean a lot of shared goals during the leg-islative session, Taylor said.“There’s a lot more of us working on this one than there was last time,” he said. “It’s a large number of people in-volved, I think we’ll be able to handle it.”Local leaders also will probably take outstanding issues to THE DAILY NEWS 17“THERE’S A LOT MORE OF US WORKING ON THIS ONE THAN THERE WAS LAST TIME. IT’S A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE INVOLVED, I THINK WE’LL BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT.” LARRY TAYLORGov. Greg Abbott visits with a Dickinson family whose house was devas-tated by Hurricane Harvey.18 HARVEY: ONE YEAR LATERAustin during the session.Galveston County Commissioners had hoped the state would allow the county to run its own housing program, as it did after Hurricane Ike.A $5 billion housing recovery plan the Texas General Land Office finalized earlier this year calls for state manage-ment of the program, however. County leaders aren’t satisfied their concerns about the program’s management have been addressed.“It’s frustrating and we’re disappointed that the GLO wants to run it out of Austin,” Galveston County Judge Mark Henry said. “I will continue to talk about it.”Elsewhere, some north county leaders have begun orga-nizing to form ideas about how to advocate for flood relief during the next session.The group of Clear-Lake area mayors includes League City Mayor Pat Hallisey, Dickinson Mayor Julie Masters, Ke-mah Mayor Carl Joiner and leaders from Nassau Bay, Mor-gan’s Point, Seabrook, La Porte, Webster and Pasadena.The group has discussed, among other things, petitioning the state to create a drainage district to address and manage flood mitigation projects in the Clear Lake area.Flood protection will be on legislators agendas, Taylor said. He said he intended to continue leading a committee research-ing a coastal barrier, although it’s unclear how much more state leaders can do to push for the multibillion-dollar project.The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still reviewing vari-ous options for a storm-surge barrier.Local hearings about the barrier are supposed to begin in November. Gov. Greg Abbott shakes Mayor Julie Masters’ hand after a conversation about recovery in Dickinson.Dickinson Economic Development CorporationWE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY AND LOCAL BUSINESSESS #shopdickinson#shoplocal#eatlocalwww.ci.dickinson.tx.usFacebook @dickinsonedcDickinson EDC218 FM 517 WDickinson, TX 77539281-337-0466The Texas Department of Insurance can help. We can answer questions about your insurance policies and coverages. We can also help you resolve complaints against insurance companies, agents, and adjusters.For insurance questions, complaints, or to report insurance fraud, call our toll-free Consumer Help Line or visit our website.Have an insurance question or problem?We are a state agency. We don’t sell insurance.1-800-252-3439 | tdi.texas.govShopping for home, auto, or renters insurance?• Ask several companies and agents for price quotes. View sample rates on our website at HelpInsure.com. • Consider a company’s financial rating, complaint index, and license status. Get this information on our website or by calling our Consumer Help Line. THE DAILY NEWS 19Next >