Hurricane Beryl made landfall July 8 as a category one hurricane, bringing 80 mph winds and nearly six inches of rain and causing more than $28 billion in damages across Houston.
Over 2 million residents in Harris County lost power, leaving residents without air conditioning or refrigeration for days. As soon as it was safe, Precinct 4 teams mobilized to clear debris from roadways and streets and provided critical resources and services to constituents.
Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Brionesemphasized the dedication of her team in helping communities recover.
“It is really important that we’re here to serve,” Commissioner Briones said. “Ultimately the government works for the people, and we owe it to our families to show up and help and support in every way we can.”
Precinct 4’s Director of Community Engagement, Najat Elsayed, also remarked how committed the Precinct’s Community Assistance team was even in the face of their own challenges in Hurricane Beryl’s aftermath.
“During the storm, just like all our residents, our team had so much going, my fence was down, none of us had power,” Elsayed said. “Some people were working out of their cars and using their gas to make sure they could still take calls and requests from constituents. We worked for days like this—putting aside our own needs temporarily—and it just shows our heart and dedication to serving everyone around us.”
The Precinct opened five cooling centers and two distribution sites at its community centers. Across five days of distribution, the Precinct gave out ice, water, food and more to over 20,000 people.
Deanna Dorsa, a Precinct 4 resident, visited Bayland Community Center and expressed gratitude for the relief provided during the natural disaster.
“My husband and I spent several hours [at the community center] on Wednesday after being without power since early Monday,” Dorsa said. “The center’s level of organization was excellent, and the staff members were extremely kind...It was truly a lifeline for the community.”
Precinct 4’s recovery work included:
• Precinct 4’s Road & Bridge team cleared over 1,500 dump trucks of debris from roadways and streets across the Precinct.
• Precinct 4’s Community Assistance Department provided life-saving supplies to those with medical needs, in addition to conducting wellness checks for vulnerable residents and even helping some find shelter.
• Commissioner Briones partnered with H-E-B, the Houston Food Bank, the Boys and Girl Club, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and others to provide ice, water, ready-to-eat meals and fresh produce to residents.
• Commissioner Briones championed the approval of additional funds to support Hurricane Beryl recovery efforts at Commissioners Court in July.
With the storm season still underway, Commissioner Lesley Briones said that continued collaboration is critical to speed up recovery in the short term and make all of Harris County more resilient in the future.
“It’s a shame that in the energy capital of the world, so many were without power and struggling to find food, water, [and] to escape the heat,” Commissioner Briones said. “Our residents deserve better. I’m looking forward to programs like Solar for All that will improve our grid’s stability during extreme weather and collaborating with all levels of government to continue improving our infrastructure, so our communities are safe and protected beyond any storm.”
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For residents still recovering, please call the Precinct 4 Community Assistance Department at 832-927-4444 for support. Below are additional resources:
• Debris cleanup for Harris County residents: 832-509-2977
• Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance
• Apply for an SBA Disaster Loan
• Find additional recovery resources at cp4.harriscountytx.gov/disaster-resources