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Disaster Description

Cheek is located seven miles southwest of Beaumont in central Jefferson County, Texas. While the population in Cheek is quite small, surrounding Jefferson County has a diverse population of 250,000.

Hurricane Ike struck Galveston, Texas September 13, 2008 and continued north into the Galveston and Trinity Bays before making landfall just west of Cheek. By some estimates Ike was the third most costly storm in US history. Its huge size caused massive flooding from Galveston eastward affecting almost the whole Louisiana coastline. Galveston and other coastal areas were devastated. Cheek had large numbers of fallen trees and damaged roofs, and the nearby town of Oak Island, situated on the bay, was largely destroyed.

MDS Response

A portion of the Ford County Park, approximately nine miles west of Cheek, will serve as the MDS RV camp. An office trailer will be pulled in with facilities for meeting, laundry and office space. County officials have helped secure the location. MDS is partnering with the Southeast Texas Interfaith Organization for Disaster Recovery, a local organization that identifies clients in need and secures funding for the rebuilding projects. Most of the work in Cheek will consist of small home repairs.

soffit-at-second-project

Installin soffit at second project in Cheek.

Miss-Lorettas-tub-showing-t

Walls around Miss Loretta's tub show the damage termites inflicted.

Miss-Loretta s-house-comple

The outside of Miss Loretta's house is completed.

John-guarding-the-tools-ove

MDS volunteer, John, taking a break at the worksite.

17-Agnes -Doreen-and-Annett

Agnes, Doreen and Annette spruce up the outside.

3-Camp-at-Ford-Park

The RV camp at Ford Park.

2-Bernie-setting-up--office

Bernie sets up the office trailer.

16-Coffee-time

Break time at the Cheek project.

10-Bernie-and-John-time-to-

Bernie and John get ready to hang the new wall board.

9-Annette -Linda-and-Agnes

Annette, Linda and Agnes start working on the siding.

11-Jim-fixing-window-frame

Jim fixes the window frame.

15-Jim-making-door-frames

Jim is making new door frames for the house.

12-New-drywall-on-hallway-c

The new drywall is up in the hallway at the RV project in Cheek.

14-Bert-putting-in-front-do

Bert installing the new front door at the Cheek, Texas, RV project.

7-Old-patio-door

This old patio door needs to be replaced.

6-Getting-acquainted

The RV group at Cheek.

8-Scraping-the-siding

The ladies scrape the siding.

13-John-fixing-rafters

John fixed the rafters.

MDS Cheek RV Program

Physical Address: Ford County Park, 5115 Interstate 10, Beaumont, TX 77705

Mailing Address:  Box 21402, Beaumont, TX 77720-1402

Phone: (409) 679-8276

Fax: (409) 679-8267

e-mail: cheekrv(at)mds.mennonite.net

Project Directors: Bert and Doreen Warms

Project Start Date: November 2, 2009

Project End Date: TBA

Volunteers to Date: 8

Jobs Started: 1

Jobs Completed: 0

Volunteer Information:  Please download and read the files listed below if you are planning and preparing for travel to work in Cheek.

Volunteer Information

Cheek Information