Disaster Project Week in Wimberly, TX

We returned to Wimberly, TX for the Disaster Recovery project as a result of flooding in the fall of 2015.  This is the same area we worked in last winter.  The difference now is that there are 13 of us NOMADS volunteers but no single project large enough to accomodate all of us so we are working on 3 or 4 houses at the same time.  Thus, we have very few pictures of the other work. 

This is the home where we started our week.  The rear porch to the left had been previously dismantled and new framework installed.  On Monday, we added new steel roof panels to the porch.

Next, we takled the garage roof  and removed all the shingles on the right side.  A big mess to clean up.

Levina, Paula, Stel and Jeff are reviewing the sheeting under the shingles and determining what needs to be replaced.

Stel, Levina and Paula are repairing one of the seams in the sheeting.

Jeff and Don are cutting away the rotted sheeting for replacement.

Don is making new 2x4 pieces to replace the damaged rafters at the eaves.

Levina and Jeff are cutting replacement pieces for the roof sheeting.

Sara and Lavina have joined Jodi in cleaning up the mess we made previously.

Stel, Don and Paula are replacing the sheeting.

Since we don't have any roofing material yet, Don, Stel and Paula set out to repair the eaves and facia boards.

We finally got some tar paper and are busy covering the roof before rain and the weekend.

Don, Levina, Stel and Paula are busily trying to remove all the damaged shingles on the other side of the roof before we run out of time for the week.  We managed to replacing some of the sheeting and cover that side with tarps before the weekend.

Meanwhile, at one of the other houses this week, Herman and Levina are installing final touches to this house by finishing the vanity and installing a new light fixture.

At another house, Chic is artfully painting this exterrior door.

Joyce is touching up paint in the kitchen.

Jim is installing the exterrior door.

Don  stops by to "steal" some 1x4 material for the garage we are working on and Jeanne even lets him.

Since we have the big dumpster, Jim, Jeanne, Larry and Jeff bring all the trash from the other houses to dispose of it at the end of the week.

As the week is over and Stel and Jodi, Jim and Chic are leaving for other areas, the whole group gathers for dinner.  We finally have everyone together.  In front, Jodi and Paula.  Second row from the left are Chic, Sara, Stel and Don.  Back row from the left are Jim, Herman, Levina, Joyce, Jeff, Larry and Jeanne.

Finally, our campground host and owner of  Quest Ranch, Corky was able to join us for dinner.

For Stel and Jodi, it's vacation time and they are headed to Big Bend National Park for a few days and then they'll head toward Tucson for the next work project.  

3rd Week in Falfurrias, 2017

As we begin the week, we want to share some local info with you.

This "colony" is about 1/4 block from the church and our campground.  There are lots of fireants in the south but everything is bigger in Texas.

Early this week, Roger joined Bob and Paige at Nellie's houe to finish the work there.

"Monkey" Roger scoots up on the roof to replace corrugated sheeting.

Bob hands the new sheets up to Roger and

removes the old sheets.

Some final views of Nellie's house:

Front (only trim -siding painted by owner's brother)

Side off carport with new trellis

Meanwhile, back at Robert and Mary's house:

Virginia adds prime coat to facia

and so does Ralph

and then the final coat of paint to the facia.

Bev paints the trim pieces

and Judy applies the second coat on the siding.

This white dog tried to drink from Judy's paint pan and got a paint brush it's head for his troubles.

Gary, Robert and Avis continue with cutting siding for the front

and Roger and Al do the same on the side.

Inside Stel installs a new vanity in the bathroom

and connects the plumbing

resulting in this final product.

Now that the siding is installed, Stel prepares to move the Direct TV cable

and attach it under the eaves

and finally run the cable into a recepticle instead of through the glass in the window as before.

Avis and Gary install corner trim as Ralph and Virginia continue painting the facia and siding.

The front door is a real team project

Stel tackles the rusted and rotted wood from door by first removing all the rotted wood,

cutting a replacement part from treated lumber

spraying the rusted areas with primer

then Bev applies a final coat of paint

Jodi installs a new kick plate to cover the damaged metal

Joel (Project Coordinator from the church), Robert and Stel reinstall the door

and the final product looks good as new.

Now we can reinstall the front door light.

On Tuesday evening, the church honored the NOMADS with a potluck dinner.

Next day, back to work.

Al gets in under the kitchen sink replacing leaking drains and then rebuilding the floor of the cupboard damaged by the leak.

That day, we threw an ice cream social for Robert, Mary and Nellie.

From the right are Bev, Nellie, Mary and Robert.

After lunch, Al had built a small deck for the front door and Bob and Robert help prepare the foundation for the deck.

Mary and Robert celebrate their new front entrance.

As the week is drawing to an end, Judy cleans all the windows, old and new.

Stel and Bob are preparing to install the new security screen door.

Are we holding this thing up or is it holding us?

How many NOMADS does it take to measure this thing?

Meanwhile, running low on wood trim, Roger and Bev are making due by making other trim out of siding.

but it works.

Stel measures and cuts trim for the new window in the kitchen

and Al installs it.

The last day is a flurry of activity everywhere by everyone.

And now, the final product speaks for itself.

This project is over and it's on to the next.