About Blanco River Regional Recovery Team
Born from the resilience of our community after the devastating Memorial Day floods of 2015, the Blanco River Regional Recovery Team (BR3T) is a dedicated 501(c)(3) organization committed to comprehensive disaster recovery. We proudly serve as the Long-Term Recovery Group for Blanco, Caldwell, Hays, and Guadalupe counties, ensuring our neighbors have the resources they need when disaster strikes.
Responding to Community Needs
For over a decade, BR3T has been on the front lines of local crises, coordinating efforts and providing assistance during events such as:
2015 Memorial Day Flood
2015 October Flood
2017 Flood
2018 Iconic Apartment Fire
2020 COVID-19 Pandemic
2021 Winter Storm Disaster
2022 Kingsbury Tornado
2023 Winter Freeze
2024 May Storms
From Emergency Aid to Lasting Stability:
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, BR3T was tasked with administering critical Rent, Mortgage, and Utility Relief programs. We successfully managed city, county, and state grants totaling over $7.5 Million, keeping thousands of residents housed during an unprecedented time.
When the pandemic emergency funding ended, the need for housing stability assistance remained clear. Witnessing the persistent housing challenges faced by many residents, we transformed that temporary aid into our permanent Housing Stability Services program. We continue to help qualified households avoid homelessness by providing financial assistance for security deposits and rent, turning immediate crisis into long-term stability.
Our Mission
To strengthen community resilience in Blanco, Caldwell, Hays, and Guadalupe counties by sharing information, supporting preparation and education, coordinating disaster response, and providing essential housing stability services to ensure all residents have a safe, secure place to call home.
Our Vision
Safe, Secure, and Stable housing for all our residents.
We partner with both government, secular and faith based organizations to bring all of the pieces together to address unmet needs of those affected by disasters. Our clients are often elderly, low income or disabled and might otherwise be missed in recovery efforts. BR3T is a local organization who can proudly say that 100% of donations made to us, stay here in the BR3T service area helping our communities. We are proud to be a part of the community and our hearts will always put the needs of our communities first.
LONG-TERM COMMUNITY RECOVERY IS:
• Community-driven and locally controlled
• Project-oriented focused on projects that most contribute to community recovery and that mitigate future disasters.
• A partnership among local agencies, jurisdictions, officials and the state and federal government.
The Blanco River Regional Recovery Team aims to help communities develop sustainable, ecological, simple, easy-to-maintain systems to get assistance to everyone who needs it. The length of time for recovery will depend on the resources available and the amount of damage sustained. In most cases it takes years.
BR3T Long Term Recovery Committees
CASE MANAGEMENT
Case management uses a collaborative process to assess, investigate and evaluate the options available to individuals affected by the Floods. Case managers approve and monitor the services required to meet individual needs. Case management works with World Renew Disaster Response Services whose members went door-to-door to conduct an assessment of unmet needs in each community. Case management is characterized by advocacy, communication and resource management and promotes quality and cost-effective interventions and outcomes.
DONATIONS COMMITTEE
Donations are responsible for soliciting, cataloging, managing, warehousing and distributing donated materials and resources. The Committee works closely with the Case Management, Construction Services and Public Information to determine the donation needs for the Blanco River Regional Recovery Team and seek out those materials. Resources sought include building materials, home furnishings, and financial donations, and the Committee researches and seeks public and foundation grants to assist in the long-term recovery process. Additionally, Donations works closely with local vendors, such as McCoy’s and HEB, and aid organizations including St. Vincent DePaul and their “House in a Box” program and Good360, a nonprofit that connects donating companies and individuals with recovery non-profits. Donations operate the building material donations warehouse in San Marcos.
VOLUNTEER SERVICES
Volunteer Services recruits and organizes individuals and groups to help families and individuals affected by the Floods. The Committee provides a variety of volunteers at all skill levels throughout the area with help in cleaning properties and removing debris, rebuilding damaged houses, sorting donations of materials and products, distributing information leaflets, helping with data entry and office task and other needs.
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
Construction Management works closely with Case Management and the Donation’s materials in constructing, rebuilding and restoring family homes damaged or destroyed by the Floods. They also coordinate with many of the non-profit organizations providing volunteer construction services such as the Austin Disaster Relief Network (ADRN), an organization composed of 158 churches, the Mennonite Disaster Services and Texas Baptist Disaster Recovery (TBDR)
SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
Emotional and spiritual care during recovery is different from the care that pastors, ministers, and the clergy may provide on a day-to-day basis. Members of this Support Committee work in partnership with mental healthcare practitioners to help the survivors recover their mental and emotional well-being. Committee member provide emotional care to survivors regardless of faith, denomination, religion, culture, or lack of faith and respect the survivor’s wishes and beliefs. Emotional counselors make referrals to mental health counselors and provide information on the resources available
PUBLIC INFORMATION
Public Information disseminates all vital Information and requests funds, volunteers and materials through the press, social networking, the various member agencies, and other sources. Public Information works with all Committees to ensure that all information is accurate and builds trust and confidence in the Blanco River Regional Recovery Team and its activities. Up to date information can be found on the BR3T website and on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BR3Volunteers.
Executive Director
Elizabeth Wills
Board of Directors
Earl Bolls
PRESIDENT
Rowe Ray
VICE PRESIDENT
Simone Sanborn
TREASURER
Jordan Russo