“The floods have gotten worse. We lose more and more each time.” These are the words of Alisa Anthony, a Hurricane Harvey survivor, reflecting on the one-year anniversary of the storm that brought more than 50 inches of rain to some parts of Houston and the Texas Gulf Coast.

In a video interview with V&M Productions (a local multimedia storytelling company based out of Austin), Alisa explains that even though it’s been a year since the storm, the devastation is still fresh.

“If you just drive through this subdivision, this neighborhood… you’ll see some people just starting to get in their home, you’ll see some people haven’t even started work on their homes and here it is, hurricane season again.”

To better reflect on the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey, this week we’re showcasing stories from frontline communities in the Houston area who can shine a realistic light on what the recovery effort has been like for those most affected by the storm.

First, we’d like to share with you…

…nine video interviews produced by V&M Productions that highlight not just the environmental impacts of the storm, but the ways in which it exacerbated preexisting equity issues in the region.

“You’ve got a lot of communities that were devastated before Harvey came,” said Rodney Ellis (Precinct One Commissioner of Harris County) in one of these video interviews. “I mean let me tell you, they were inundated with problems before the flood. And for far too long, unfortunately, we just never focused on those issues…”

Hurricane Harvey Recovery – Rodney Ellis from V&M Productions on Vimeo.

Hurricane Harvey Recovery – Emily Barriere from V&M Productions on Vimeo.

Hurricane Harvey Recovery – Anita Guevara from V&M Productions on Vimeo.

Hurricane Harvey Recovery – Felicia & Greg from V&M Productions on Vimeo.

Hurricane Harvey Recovery – Flood Bond Proposal from V&M Productions on Vimeo.

Hurricane Harvey Recovery – Edwardo Rodriguez from V&M Productions on Vimeo.

Hurricane Harvey Recovery – Gloria from V&M Productions on Vimeo.

Hurricane Harvey Recovery – Pasadena from V&M Productions on Vimeo.

And second, we’d like to share…

…the work done at the People’s Tribunal on Harvey Recovery this past weekend. Hosted by the Houston Organizing Movement for Equity (HOME) and Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School for Public Affairs at Texas Southern University, the event offered a space for listening, learning, building relationships, and establishing the common foundation for a just recovery for all Houstonians. You can learn more about the event with this guest blog post from the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club (which was a supporting organization of the tribunal).

Special thanks to the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club and to V&M Productions for sharing this material with us.