KRSM Project Manager Stephen Coyle recently visited Houston, Texas with his Disaster Response Team (DRT) through Southbrook Church in Miamisburg, Ohio where they partnered with Samaritan’s Purse U.S. Disaster Relief to help those who were affected by Hurricane Harvey. A DRT is a group of volunteers who are prepared and trained year-round to respond to any natural or man-made disasters locally, across the U.S., or abroad. Stephen and his team partnered with several different disaster relief agencies to be dispatched to a disaster area. Altogether, there were a total of 16 people sent to Texas with Stephen’s DRT to help victims of Hurricane Harvey.
Throughout the week, Stephen and his team worked on gutting and cleaning houses that have been abandoned by families and ones that have been quarantined since the flooding occurred. Some of the houses were only affected by a couple feet of water while others were swallowed by flood waters up to their roofs. Altogether, the team successfully gutted and cleaned 10 houses during their five days of work.
Even though Stephen and his team are back home, hundreds of other volunteers are still working in Texas each week. Samaritan’s Purse plans to continue working throughout the month of November and then start the rebuild process which is expected to take a total of two years.
This is not Stephen’s first trip to help others in need, but it was his first trip through a deployment agency. “The most rewarding part of the experience is meeting the homeowners that we are working for, to encourage them and let them know that above sending much needed funding, there are people willing to help,” Stephen said. People from all across the country have come to help with relief efforts. Some volunteers have even come from as far away as Alberta, Canada. “I am grateful for the time off to have had this opportunity to help,” Stephen added.
We sincerely appreciate Stephen, and we are proud to call him a member of the Kalkreuth team. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to those affected by the flooding, as well as all of the volunteers helping with clean-up.
