When the Fourth of July floods tore through Ingram, many residents found themselves suddenly without the basic things: homes, cars, paperwork and even shoes.

While federal and county aid have been promised, Ingram artist Darrin Potter has been filling the gap in the meantime—not as a formal relief organization, but as a neighbor with a phone.

Potter is a property owner in Ingram. He’s also an artist and a connector.

He learned quickly that the money meant to assist survivors wouldn’t arrive overnight, and that the path to federal help can be full of confusing requirements.

“I went to FEMA, and even though I had five houses with water, I wasn’t qualified for anything because they only cover your primary residence,” Potter said. “The other end of the coin would be like, oh, you don’t own

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