restoring hope after beryl

Stephanie Konvicka is the Executive Director of Hesed House in Wharton County, Texas, a non-profit focused on improving the well-being of underserved residents in the Wharton area. In July 2024, Hurricane Beryl, the first named storm of the record-breaking Atlantic hurricane season, devastated her community.

Our team on the ground spoke with Stephanie about the Wharton community’s experience partnering with AHAH in Beryl’s aftermath.

“In Wharton County, Texas, disaster recovery has become a familiar and exhausting process. Located in the rural outskirts of Houston, our community often struggles to receive timely aid after storms. Hurricane Beryl marked yet another devastating chapter in our story, following five federally-declared flooding disasters. With every disaster, our sense of resilience feels weakened and our social vulnerability seems to grow, particularly because of the high number of children and elderly, as well as our high poverty rate. For many survivors, recovery feels not only constant but unreachable.

When All Hands and Hearts (AHAH) arrived in our community, there was a palpable shift in morale. People were surprised and touched that AHAH chose our county when they could have gone anywhere in the hurricane-affected area. Their compassionate presence made community members feel seen and worthy of help. It wasn’t just about the physical aid — it was the emotional support that came with it.

With multiple major floods, drought and the threat of more hurricanes this season, debris removal is essential for our safety. It’s a relief to know that AHAH stepped in to remove dangerous trees and limbs, preventing further devastation in the next storm. Their work has made us feel safer, knowing that we’re better prepared for whatever comes next.

It can be discouraging to constantly ask for help and be told we’re too far away or that other areas need more aid. Our community is resourceful and creative, but sometimes a little help makes all the difference. It lifts the spirits of weary survivors and the community members walking alongside them, reminding us that we are not forgotten.

There’s one moment that stands out, a testament to our community’s resilience.

A flood survivor from a previous hurricane found herself overwhelmed again when a large tree limb crushed part of her roof and a tree damaged her fence. She was at her breaking point, until AHAH arrived. They removed the debris together, mother and daughter working alongside the volunteers, determined to take control of their recovery. Touched by the help she received, she brought the staff ice cream, tears streaming down her face as she shared how no one had ever helped her like that before.

Thanks to AHAH, she found the strength to keep going, and we continue to walk through the recovery process with her.”