MEDICAL AND MORAL CRISIS IN THE INNER-CITY POOR COMMUNITIES. The COVID-19 Hurricane Surge in Fort Worth • Tarrant County • Texas. By Rev. Kyev P. Tatum, Sr.

 

MEDICAL AND MORAL CRISIS IN THE INNER-CITY POOR COMMUNITIES. The COVID-19 Hurricane Surge in Fort Worth • Tarrant County • Texas. By Rev. Kyev P. Tatum, Sr., Pastor of New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church of Fort Worth and President of the Ministers Justice Coalition of Texas. 

A Storm Before the Storm

Long before the current rise in COVID-19 cases, the inner-city of Tarrant County was already battling what could only be described as an economic hurricane—one that has quietly battered poor families for decades. High unemployment, unstable housing, food insecurity, and limited access to quality healthcare created a storm of inequity where many families were barely staying afloat.

Now, with the statewide surge of the new COVID-19 variant, that storm has escalated into a heartless and heartbreaking hurricane crashing down on Fort Worth’s most vulnerable neighborhoods. Families are being battered on all sides—struggling to pay utilities, scrambling for housing, desperate for food, and in urgent need of medical assistance. The numbers are rising at unprecedented levels, creating a crisis that demands immediate attention.

The Inner-City Disaster Within the Pandemic

This is not just another storm. It is a pandemic-fueled inner-city disaster. Without swift and decisive intervention, the economic storm surge will rise even higher, sweeping families past the breaking point and leaving devastation that could last for generations.

That is why we are urgently calling on government leaders, corporate partners, and caring citizens across America to step in with compassion, courage, and resources to stabilize inner-city communities before it is too late.

Texas on the Frontlines

Texas is home to the largest African-American population in the United States, and here in Fort Worth, Black Texans, brown Texans, and struggling families of every background are standing on the frontlines of this crisis.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the DFW Hospital Council have both issued warnings: COVID-19 cases are climbing sharply in Texas, driven by the highly contagious Stratus variant, summer travel, and low vaccination rates. Texas positivity rates are already well above the national average, and emergency room visits are rising—especially among children.

For the poor, this is not only a medical emergency—it is a moral emergency. This is our moment to act with urgency and humanity, to ensure families remain safe, housed, fed, and healthy during this unprecedented storm.

About Rev. Kyev P. Tatum, Sr.

Rev. Kyev P. Tatum, Sr. is a recognized voice in emergency management and disaster response for inner-city communities.

• In 2008, he and his wife Tonya were invited to the White House Emergency Preparedness Summit, where national experts gathered to prepare strategies for future crises.

• During the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, Pastor Tatum served on the frontlines of response, helping distribute more than $25 million in emergency relief from USDA, FEMA, state, local, and corporate partners between 2020 and 2025.

• A proud graduate of the School of Community Service at the University of North Texas, Pastor Tatum has dedicated his ministry and professional career to leading disaster response, community resilience, and emergency management for vulnerable populations.

Today, as Pastor of New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church and President of the Ministers Justice Coalition of Texas, Rev. Tatum continues to advocate for underserved communities while coordinating urgent relief efforts in Fort Worth’s inner-city and beyond.

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Contact

Rev. Kyev P. Tatum, Sr.

Pastor & Mediator, New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church

President, Ministers Justice Coalition of Texas

2864 Mississippi Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76104

📞 817-966-7625 | ✉️ kptatum1@gmail.com

🌐 www.newmountrose.com

#BlackTexans #FortWorthStrong #ThisIsOurHurricane