US: Wrapping Up after the Winter Storm

July 15, 2021

Working with local partners in Texas, IOCC provided plumbing supplies to help families repair their homes. Local partner Liberty County Long-Term Recovery Committee (pictured) helped distribute the supplies to people whose houses were damaged by Winter Storm Uri and its aftermath.

It’s midsummer now, but since February, IOCC has been hard at work cleaning up after Winter Storm Uri. When extreme weather hit parts of the US south, it caused massive power outages and widespread freezing — causing plumbing problems, which resulted in flooding and water damage in homes. IOCC Frontliners offered emotional and spiritual care through Care Calls to parish priests across Texas, and coordinated with local partners to help families rebuild and recover.

In addition to emergency response mucking out damaged houses early on, IOCC, with support from the National Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, provided plumbing supplies to help families repair their homes — basics like repairing toilets, hot water and cold water supplies, and kitchen plumbing. With this help from IOCC, local partner Liberty County Long-Term Recovery Committee was able to help 136 families, including 96 senior citizens, 20 veterans, and 20 residents with disabilities. IOCC also worked with Mennonite Disaster Service, Houston Responds, and St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church to reach those in need.

This is just another example of your faith in action through IOCC. Thank you for making this work possible!