It only took Harvey a few hours to make a mess of the Coastal Bend.
Now, a year later, we are realizing complete recovery will take years.
Refugio is known for its tough championship football teams.
But Hurricane Harvey hit the town hard. Real hard. Harder than the Bobcats’ players hit on the field.
Today, there are still vivid reminders of what Harvey did to this town along Highway 77.
“It’s pitch black, so you don’t know what’s going on. You can’t see anything. So not knowing, not being able to see, that was scary,” one lady told us.
“Whenever one’s coming again, I am leaving town. And I’m not coming back till it’s over. It was horrible,” said another.
The high school auditorium and cafeteria and both gyms damaged so bad they still can not be used.
In fact, some students will have to go to the elementary school for lunch.
For perspective, only Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, has had a bigger economic impact in than Harvey, in US history.
“I would like to thank everybody who came today. And I thank god. Amen.”
That was Adelia Resendez right before she cut the ribbon to her rebuilt home.
Her claim had been denied by FEMA, but a group of volunteers from the Coastal Bend Disaster Recovery Group rebuilt her home.
So just like Bobcats’ player, Casey Henderson walked again after an injury last football season.
Just like volunteers rebuilt his family’s home after Harvey…
Just like the Bobcats have their sights set on winning another state football championship this season.
Refugio is strong !
