Information on
Hurricane Restoration
in Southeast Texas

Below are a list of information resources on restoration efforts in Southeast Texas after Hurricane Rita.

See this site for current FEMA centers for Hurricane Rita aid.

see photos of SE Texas damage below
more pictures

still more pictures

Jasper/Newton aid group formed

November 28, 2005

Citizens Organized for Rita Relief (CORR) held their second organizational meeting November 22, 2005 in the conference room of Believers New Life Ministries International in Bleakwood. This group of local pastors, non-profit organizations, public officials and school administrators has formed to coordinate a united and dedicated coalition to provide a central point of intake and referral for people who suffered damage as a result of Hurricane Rita. CORR will provide focus and generate support of local agencies to provide housing, health care, and other services necessary to recover from the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Rita.

CORR has established an intake center at 107 Court Street in downtown Newton. People who have needs that will not be covered by insurance or FEMA should call (409) 379-4663 or come by the office of Self Help Housing of East Texas to apply for assistance. They will open a second office in Kirbyville in the near future for Jasper residents.

CORR will solicit funds and support from private foundations, corporate donors, and private individuals, to support the efforts of the Mennonite volunteers and other groups who will help repair and rebuild damaged homes. They will also make referrals to East Texas Health Access Network for medical care.

CORR will address the UNMET needs of citizens of Newton and Jasper County. If you have resources available to meet your needs, please do not apply.

The Board of Directors of CORR consists of: Associate Pastor Alton Scott, Rev. Ted Williams, Lee Holbert, Rev. L.D. Matthews, Rev. Joe Miller, Linda Dickerson, Commissioner Willie Stark,  and Superintendent Gene Isabell.

For more information contact Kim at 379-4663

CORR Brochure

CORR Overview

New Tool to Increase Loans to Small Businesses in the Gulf Coast Area

The U.S. Small Business Administration is initiating a one year Gulf Opportunity Pilot
Loan (GO Loan) Program to expedite small business financing to those communities severely impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Under this unique initiative, the
Agency will provide its full guaranty and streamlined and centralized loan processing to qualified lending partners that agree to make expedited SBA 7(a) loans available to
small businesses located in those disaster areas.
Brief Summary
SBA Policy Notice

New Home is goal of Newton
hurricane recovery group

Citizens Organized for Rita Restoration is coordinating the construction of a new home for Brenda Fay Adams and her family in the Belgrade Community of Newton County Texas. The home will be constructed by a Habitat for Humanity affiliate from South Bend Indiana.

Ms. Adams home was completely destroyed by Hurricane Rita.

Citizens Organized for Rita Restoration is an umbrella organization formed by local churches, individuals, governmental, and non-profit organizations to coordinate, and facilitate the long term recovery from damage caused by Hurricane Rita.

Through a family connection with the Habitat for Humanity (HFH) group in St. Joseph County Indiana, plans are underway to build this family a new home. The HFH is building the new home in South Bend Indiana and raising the money for material and shipping through donations from local individuals and businesses in Indiana. They will ship the home’s components to Ms. Adam’s land in Belgrade where the house will be assembled and finished by local volunteers and volunteers from Indiana.

The Habitat build will begin January 7, 2006 and will last two weeks. We are hoping that local organizations and individuals will turn out and help with the construction.

Citizens Organized for Rita Restoration has made a commitment to securing donations sufficient to clear the lot, repair the septic tank, and pour the foundation with plumbing roughed in. It will cost about $11,000 to accomplish this part of the project and we need help to make this happen. Currently, we have received an anonymous $5,000 donation, so we need $6,000 in additional funds. We hope to have the slab finished before Christmas, so time is critical.
This is a great example of people reaching out to strangers during a crisis.
Contact Lee Holbert for more information and photos.

Send your pictures, links, information etc. to sbuser@setx.org
and we will post it here.