My name is Rod Gray and my wife, Amie and I live in the Barker Lake Community in Cypress, Texas a suburb of Houston.

On Monday, November 24th, a catastrophic tornado tore through Barker Lake leaving devastation in its wake. Several families which are my neighbors and friends have now been displaced from their homes, facing urgent repairs and overwhelming expenses. While most residents can still live in their homes and have homeowners insurance, the high deductibles and out-of-pocket costs for tree trimming, stump grinding, debris and trash removal, cleaning, and yard repair are more than many can afford.

This is not the first time our resilient community has faced disaster. In 2017, Hurricane Harvey flooded many homes without warning or flood insurance. The winter freeze of 2021 brought burst pipes and more flooding, and a massive hailstorm in 2023 caused major damage to roofs and cars. Despite these relentless challenges, the residents of Barker Lake have always come together, helping each other and working with trusted contractors to rebuild. However, with insurance premiums and deductibles skyrocketing, and no assistance yet from local churches or nonprofits, our neighbors are financially and emotionally weary.

Your financial support will help cover the needs of families insurance does not cover such as tree trimming, stump grinding, debris removal, trash removal, fence clean up and yard repair.

I am a resident and neighbor to those affected and will ensure every donation will be personally vetted and distributed to those who still need these basic services yo help them and our community get back to our normal lives.

Thank you for opening your hearts and wallets to help the residents of the Barker Lake community this holiday season.

Your kindness brings hope and relief when it’s needed most.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!