In July of 2020, Hurricane Hanna landed in Rio Grande Valley, Texas, and caused destruction as it touched down. With sustained winds of 93 mph and up to 12 inches of rainfall, Hanna forced many families into storm shelters. This occurred in the midst of a pandemic that required people to social distance and mask while they absorbed the first moments of shock, pain, and disbelief from the hurricane.

Among those sheltering were Jorge and Juanita Torres and their four children, who fearfully huddled in a small bedroom as Hurricane Hanna blasted their home. After the hurricane, they found the roof pulled up and the windows shattered, allowing 10 inches of rain to fall into their home. The rain not only destroyed their belongings; but their doors, walls, and flooring ─ along with their hope. The Torres’ did their best to clean up what they could, but the destruction prohibited them from staying in their home.

For 18 months, the Torres family lived with Jorge’s mother while waiting for help to rebuild their home. Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions, few were traveling, including volunteers from World Renew Disaster Response Services (DRS). And while the Torres’ waited, their despair mounting, it was revealed that Juanita had thyroid cancer and Jorge was diagnosed with early on-set Alzheimer’s. It seemed as though their challenges were piling up as high as the debris left from the hurricane.

After managing these continuing trials along with feelings of hopelessness, the Torres’ were encouraged when a team of World Renew DRS volunteers showed up at their door. The team came armed with tools to help repair their home and compassion to heal their broken hearts.

The Torres’ were incredibly grateful when they could finally settle again in their home and feel inspired about the future. They have since enrolled three of their children in college while they faithfully continue to rebuild their lives.

Thanks to your gifts, time, and prayers toward World Renew Disaster Response Services, families like the Torres’ look with hope to what lies ahead, rather than be trapped by the destruction from natural disasters of the past.