World Renew, a faith-based aid organization, has begun meeting with residents of Guadalupe and Hays counties to determine unmet needs for those affected by flooding Oct. 30-31. According to a Jan. 19 news release, the organization is helping flooded residents by providing homeowner damage assessments and construction cost estimators. By March, World Renew will begin providing skilled construction teams to help residents rebuild. The organization has partnered with the Blanco River Regional Recovery Team, or BR3T, the federally designated disaster recovery organization for Blanco, Caldwell, Guadalupe and Hays counties, which was created after the Memorial Day weekend flood in May. James Gabriel, executive director of the BR3T, said flood survivors are eligible for help from the BR3T and World Renew whether or not they have received aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Small Business Administration or their insurance company. “Once FEMA comes in, SBA comes in, insurance kicks in, then the survivors need to identify what their unmet needs are once they have received—and if they have received—any help from those organizations,” Gabriel said. “Our case managers will work with the owner of the residence to find out what unmet needs still exist for the survivors. In some cases it’s very small stuff like debris in the yard. In other cases it’s a total rebuild of their home.” Gabriel said World Renew and the BR3T are hoping to speak with low-income survivors and survivors with small children, elderly or disabled people in their family to assess the unmet needs. The information gathered will help BR3T know what grants to apply for, among other things. The information that is gathered is confidential, he said. “Delving into that information takes a certain amount of sensitivity,” Gabriel said. “World Renew is really good with that. They do it all over the nation after disasters. They’re really good about doing it and [good with] their interactions with those survivors.” Two assessment intake centers have been established in San Marcos and Buda. Residents who need assistance with damage assessments, construction, emotional and spiritual distress or case management are encouraged to visit the centers. Gabriel said the BR3T is still in need of volunteers and donations of money and materials. World Renew assessment teams will be going door to door in some neighborhoods speaking with residents. The teams will typically be wearing green pullovers with the organization’s logo printed on it.