TYLER COUNTY – Disasters are more expensive than they’ve ever been. Between the years 2010 and 2019, nearly 50% of all billion-dollar disasters in the country impacted Texas in some way, and the increased costs of recovery have necessitated a more creative approach from emergency management leaders to meet the needs of communities.
To that end, John Settlocker, who serves as Tyler County’s emergency management coordinator, is looking to establish a long-term recovery group for the county.
“We’ve had back-to-back disasters, and some folks are not getting the help they need,” said Settlocker.
From catastrophic hurricanes, like Rita (2005); Ike (2008) and Harvey (2017) to Winter Storm Uri in 2021, the region has been heavily impacted by disasters. Although federal response has been good, statewide, to these events, the pandemic heavily impacted many organizations that were able to help out in the past.
A long-term recovery group, locally, would be overseen by Settlocker, and would be able to include any and all non-profit volunteer-based organizations, as well as churches and businesses able to pool resources. The group would fall under the heading of a VOAD, or a Voluntary Organization Active in Disaster, a group that has members who may provide local emergency response and recovery services, following a disaster.
Long-term recovery groups (or LTRGs) are collaborative networks of partners who work together to provide money, volunteers and materials needed to meet unattended disaster survivor needs. They work in collaboration with local governments.
A meeting is scheduled for 5:30 on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at the Nutrition Center, located at 201 Veterans Way, for anyone interested in the group.
Settlocker said he is looking for community volunteers, as well as organizations, churches and businesses that may be interested in assisting. The concept, Settlocker said, would be a method to bring a “whole community” concept to life through collaboration.
“We build a team, and once we get recognized by the state, we can expand out, connect with the bigger VOADs and get funding,” he said.
Settlocker said that when local governmental entities and LTRGs can partner, the recovery process from a disaster is faster, cleaner and easier.
In Jefferson County, which was hit especially hard by Hurricane Harvey, County Judge Jeff Branick said that the county missed out on millions in available rebuilding funding since 2017, due to the fact that there was not a long-term recovery effort established early on.
In neighboring Hardin County, County Judge Wayne McDaniel said that LTRGs are important to the most vulnerable of people who “will give up, move away, or live in unsafe and unsanitary conditions.” “An LTRG steps in and makes sure this doesn’t happen,” he said.
Neighboring Polk County also has an LTRG.
Settlocker said that his first experience at seeing LTRGs in action was when he worked with the Forest Service. He saw how LTRGs would come in and get things done
“In the long term these folks have needed some help. They’re getting it, but not all of what they need, and we need to build our community back,” Settlocker said. “They give up.”
Settlocker encouraged anyone interested to come and attend the upcoming meeting, or to contact his office at 409-331-0874, or via email at tylercountyemc@co.tyler.tx.us.
