CENTRAL TEXAS WILDFIRES: ONEYEARLATER
For extensive coverage of the 2011 wildfires, Central Texans have turned to the Statesman. Today, we continue a series of special anniversary reports on the people and communities affected. Go online any time to find past coverage at view a special interactive gallery of then-and-now photos and watch videos of the survivors of the wildfires at
Files said.
An investigation into the long and ambitious ecological restoration efforts in Bastrop County. Plus, a return to Spicewood and revisiting some familiar people and places.
A Bastrop man whose home burned writes of hope lost and found.
Volunteers are key
Inside the office of the recovery team, a map with stickpins indicating where a home has been rebuilt shows progress. But the lesser-known story of the disaster is that nearly 500 people who were not insured or were underinsured are still without homes and are staying with friends and family or living on their properties in travel trailers or small outbuildings.
The recovery team’s backbone in the rebuilding is the faithbased groups that provide volunteers. They have contributed more than 250,000 hours, or about $2.5 million in services, a lot of it cleaning debris, removing dead trees, building fences, storage sheds, decks, handicap ramps, and adding skirting around the base of mobile homes.
The team knows how to stretch dollars.
Assuming the homeowner can contribute 25 percent of building materials and volunteers in building the home, the recovery team estimates that in its upcoming work it can build a 1,000square-foot home for $50,000.
The team is also helping low-income homeowners and renters apply for a home pro- gram funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that will build 150 homes. That would leave about 350 homeowners still without homes, and they would probably turn to the recovery team.
High-energy staff members view their work as a contribution to their community and in some cases, a ministry.
Webb, who coordinates construction of homes, and Johnston, who organizes volunteer work for faith-based groups, have been there from the beginning. Friends before the fire, the two work together to help the neediest of survivors, those who have little or no money to rebuild.
Webb, who is not paid and prefers it that way, makes no secret of her motivation.
“It started with me just contributing labor, but it’s The anniversary of the Bastrop County Complex fire will be marked with several events.
Noon to 2 p.m. today. Free lunches will take place throughout Bastrop County, sponsored by area churches.To find a participating location, call 512-3327201 or check with your local volunteer fire department.
5 p.m. today. Premier of‘Bastrop: A Community in Recovery’ benefiting All About Families, a nonprofit organization that helps families affected by the wildfires. Bastrop Opera House, 711 Spring St. $5. 303-0558,www. bastrop-documentary. com.
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. Event includes barbecue, live music, silent auction; fire survivors can enter drawing to win a variety of home products. Bastrop County Fire Relief Distribution Center, 201 Childers Drive, www. bastropchamber.com/ custom2.asp?pagename =calendar&a=view&eid =98552. become a ministry where you see miracles all the time. I’ve had situations where I will be desperate for the services of an electrician during the construction of a home. Then the phone rings and some guy on the other end says he’s an electrician and wants to help.
“I tell you, I operate on the feeling that God has this, and he’ll keep finding us funding to help people,” she said.