Two Storms Later: How Endeavors Helped Jennifer Rebuild
Last Updated: 08 Dec 2021
Disaster Relief & Emergency Services
From an unlivable home to a brand-new build—how Endeavors helped Jennifer recover from two devastating storms.
It’s hard to quantify the scope of what’s lost in the wake of a hurricane or tropical storm.
Of course, there’s the property damage—trees sunken into living rooms, roofs destroyed, mold creeping through ceilings. Recovering from this type of damage can be financially devastating and can take years, if it happens at all.
Then, there’s the emotional toll—a family home torn to shreds, memories lost, and a sense of hopelessness and loss that can leave families and individuals reeling long after the storm is over.
And that’s the after-effects of just one storm. When we met our client Jennifer, she was living in a home damaged by two storms: both Hurricane Harvey and Tropical Storm Imelda.
A resident of Beaumont, Texas, Jennifer had watched both Harvey and Imelda ravage the contents of her then three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom home. By the time she connected with an Endeavors Disaster Case Manager, she had almost nothing left.
Though her home was almost completely destroyed, her FEMA claims were denied. Try as she could, she was only able to make small repairs to the home with her own funds.
That’s where Endeavors comes in. Our Disaster Case Management (DCM) department connects people in crisis with specialized case managers who work to connect the person in need with the right community or national resource groups.
Whether a client needs construction and repair or health services, Endeavors wants to help people find their footing after a disaster. Overall, we want to provide a strong connection between people in crisis and organizations and businesses willing and ready to meet their needs.
“I would say Disaster Case Management is a collaboration between the case manager and the client with the community resources,” explained Annie Derry, a DCM case manager.
In Jennifer’s case, the case manager began strategically applying for various reimbursement and assistance programs. This case was tricky. She didn’t just need a few chairs or a wall repair. She needed an entire rebuild…at no cost to her.
Amazingly, with Endeavors’ help, Jennifer was approved for a completely brand-new home! Demolition to her old home began a few months later, and the builders were on the scene within weeks.
This process began in June, and by mid-October, the home was completely constructed and inspections cleared. Jennifer received the keys to her newly built $265,000.00 two-bedroom, two-full-bathroom home.
But the process didn’t stop there. Jennifer was also approved for new furniture and appliances through the Jefferson County Long Term Recovery Committee and accepted delivery of an amazing array of items—two queen sized beds with headboards and frames, a living room set, a dinette set, and washer and dryer.
At the end of the day, Jennifer expressed her gratitude for the assistance she received from Endeavors and thanked the DCM for all the hard work and for completely following through with the case from beginning to end.
If you find yourself facing issues after a disaster or emergency, we urge you to contact Endeavors! We are passionate about serving vulnerable people in crisis, improving their quality of life in innovative, personal ways.
In addition to providing Disaster Case Management and other Emergency Services, we also help connect military families to clinics, provide emergency staffing services, create long-term recovery plans, and far more.
About Endeavors
Endeavors is a longstanding national non-profit that provides an array of programs and services in support of children, families, Veterans, and those struggling with mental illness and other disabilities. Endeavors serves vulnerable people in crisis through innovative personalized services. For more information, please visit www.endeavors.org.