Sign of Recovery: Last FEMA Trailer Leaves Kings Forest

David Burress, head of the Kings Forest architectural review committee, sent me this picture yesterday. It shows what he believes to be the last FEMA trailer leaving Kings Forest. It’s a modest, although important sign of recovery.

Kings Forest lies north of Kingwood Drive, 1.5 to 2 miles from the San Jacinto River. Despite the distance and a marked elevation change, 108 out of 250 Kings Forest homes flooded during Hurricane Harvey – 43%.

Burress snapped this with his cell phone from across the street. “This was the last remaining trailer that I am aware of,” he said. “Most people didn’t even know it was there.”

While symbolic, the absence of trailers does not mean the recovery is behind us.

Many Still Struggle with 3 Cs: Cash, Confidence, Contractors

Many still live in part of their homes while the remainder undergoes repairs. The most common reasons cited for the lengthy repairs? The 3Cs: cash, confidence, and contractors.

Some thought they didn’t need flood insurance because they lived outside the 500-year floodplain. They now find themselves trying to pay out of pocket for repairs costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Still more struggle with the lack of reliable contractors. Many of those have elected to do repair work themselves. For them, life has become an endless string of 16-hour days. They hold down jobs during the day and spend the remainder of their waking hours on do-it-yourself repair projects.

Others are intentionally delaying repairs until they see more progress on flood mitigation. They lack confidence in government to protect them.

Looking Forward to Fall Elections

Some tell me that they look forward to November elections. They’re tired of promises and want performance. For these people, casting their votes will be another small, but symbolic victory.

Posted by Bob Rehak on March 13, 2019

561 Days after Hurricane Harvey