Hello,
When disaster strikes, Precinct 4 steps up. Throughout the week since Friday’s severe wind event, my Precinct 4 team and I have been working day and night to lead in the recovery efforts and get our community back on its feet. I wanted to take a moment to recognize the incredible work from my team of over 450 public servants, as well as the partnership and collaboration we have seen between the city, county, state, and federal government.
Our teams have been on the ground since the storm hit, addressing emergencies, clearing debris, and assisting residents. The Precinct 4 Road & Bridge crews mobilized within minutes after the storm blew through the County to move fallen trees and clear debris, even extending their massive cleanup efforts into the City of Houston.
As of yesterday, over 150 of our Road & Bridge and Parks team members from our three service centers had hauled over 6,200 cubic yards of debris — that’s over 400 dump truck loads off our streets. This work has helped make our roads safer while also speeding up efforts to get power back on for the hundreds of thousands of families across the County.
To support those families, we also stood up multiple distribution sites and cooling centers in hot weather conditions. Our team members, who were themselves affected by the storm, collectively worked over 425 shifts, totaling more than 2,000 volunteer hours, to distribute water and other essential supplies to fellow residents. We served over 10,000 households from Saturday through Wednesday at our distribution centers.
Our Community Assistance Division also identified neighborhoods that were hit especially hard, delivering pallets of water, ready-to-eat meals, and battery-powered fans to a pair of mobile home communities. For our most vulnerable residents, including our low-income and elderly neighbors, we are advocating for additional resources and seeking the justice they deserve to ensure recovery is equitable across the County.
I am especially proud of the partnerships that we forged with community organizations to deliver for our residents. Our recovery efforts were supported by numerous partners, including the City of Houston, HEB, Houston Food Bank, Ash Britt Inc., Walmart, the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Harris County Public Health, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Harris County Flood Control District, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, the Houston Humane Society, Coca-Cola, Frito-Lay, Kroger, Chef Kiran Verma, Hearsay Gastro Lounge, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, Mercy Chefs, various fire departments, the AFL-CIO, churches, and many individual volunteers.
As we continue our recovery, it is crucial to apply for FEMA assistance if you experienced any damage or loss. We have also compiled a resource guide for you, your family, and your businesses. Please reach out to me and my team at 832-927-4444 for additional assistance.
Heading into hurricane season, know that Precinct 4 will be here to support you before, during, and after storm. This major weather event served as a test of our disaster response, and I am confident that my team is prepared to quickly and effectively overcome anything that comes our way.
Thank you for your strength, resilience, and partnership during this challenging time. Together, we will continue to recover and support our neighbors who are still dealing with the aftermath of this storm.
All my best,
Lesley Briones
Harris County Commissioner, Precinct 4
