Team of 23 Lawyers Mobilized, Helping Hurricane Victims in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico

"Less than a month after lawyer Carla Krystyniak moved with her family to Houston, she witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey as it slammed into Texas in August 2017. She is channeling that experience into a new job helping hurricane victims.

Krystyniak, who did environmental law for the city of Philadelphia before moving to Houston, recently started a two-year fellowship as one of 23 lawyers in Texas and Florida assisting victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. The lawyers are fellows with the new Disaster Recovery Legal Corps launched by Equal Justice Works, a nonprofit that aims to mobilize public interest attorneys. The fellows are assigned to various legal aid organizations in Texas and Florida.

Krystyniak said her passion is working on sustainable city initiatives, so her two-year assignment working with Lone Star Legal Aid in Houston helping hurricane victims is a good fit. She said she likes “being a part of something that’s going to help service those vulnerable populations and helping make Houston be the most sustainable city.”

In Texas, the fellows are working in Houston, Corpus Christi and Austin at a variety of organizations, including Lone Star Legal Aid, Boat People SOS-Houston, Houston Volunteer Lawyers, Disability Rights Texas, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Equal Justice Center, YMCA International Services and Catholic Charities-Cabrini Center. In Florida, lawyers are working at Community Justice Project in Miami and Florida Legal Services and Community Legal Services Mid-Florida, both in Orlando..."

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