MDRT member experiences Hurricane Harvey

Houston flooding

Debris in some Houston areas reached as high as 10 to 20 feet.

Hurricane Harvey is one of the most devastating storms to hit Texas in years. What started out as a tropical storm intensified to a Category 4 hurricane, dumping more than 50 inches of rain and producing winds up to 130 miles per hour. In its path, Hurricane Harvey has left more than 70 people dead, and thousands of families without homes, electricity or water. 

Robert W. Waddell, RICP, a 25-year MDRT member from Houston, Texas, found himself and his wife in the heart of the turmoil left behind by the hurricane. 

“The devastation is unfathomable, and everyone is scrambling to repair their homes,” Waddell said. “The debris in some areas is reaching as high as 10 to 20 feet and consists of mattresses, furniture, molding, sheet rock and flooring. My wife’s cousin and her three children are currently displaced and are staying with her parents because her home is inhabitable.

“Right now, there is a new sense of normal here in Houston,” he continued. “I haven’t been to work since late August and have only had one appointment, versus my typical 15 to 18 appointments a week.”

“Thankfully, my wife and I had a plan in place; our emergency funds were ready and flood insurance was available, just like I teach my clients.”

“With all that said, I’m hoping to be able to be back at work by September 18. Hurricane Harvey has disrupted everything at the moment, but we will be OK. Everyone is truly coming together as a community. I have no doubt — we will persevere!”

As a sign of commitment to helping those affected by Hurricane Harvey, MDRT and the MDRT Foundation have donated funds to two charities in Texas:

  • $50,000 donation: The Houston Food Bank; providing food, water and supplies to children, families and seniors in southeast Texas.
  • $50,000 donation: Clean the World; providing hygiene kits to Houston and the greater south Texas region.

The MDRT Foundation has also extended its annual grants deadline to December 31, 2017, for members or charities in these hurricane-affected areas to provide additional disaster relief in the coming months. For information on this extended grant opportunity, please contact Angela Allegretti, grants coordinator, at aallegretti@mdrt.org.

Written by Erin Leyden, MDRT’s Corporate and Foundations Relations Manager

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