Texas
Interagency Interfaith Disaster Response
e-Buzz
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25 July 2007
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Update
on Texas Flooding - 2007 Summer of Rain
Rain continues across Texas leaving
us in the middle of one of the coolest and wettest summers
on record. Important for all of us to be aware of
is the fact that our soil is saturated, so continued rain
puts our communities at higher risk for flooding. Here
are some current statistics that reflect disaster situations
in communities across our state:
Since June 16 (and continuing) the following federal disaster
designations have been made:
Individual Assistance (Assistance
to individuals and households):
Archer, Bell, Burnet, Cooke, Coryell, Denton, Eastland, Grayson,
Hood, Lampasas, Parker, Starr, Tarrant, Victoria, Webb, Wichita,
and Williamson Counties.
Public Assistance (Assistance
to State and local governments and certain private nonprofit
organizations for emergency work and the repair or replacement
of disaster-damaged facilities):
Archer, Baylor, Bosque, Brown, Burnett, Callahan, Coleman, Collin,
Comanche, Cooke, Coryell, Eastland, Erath, Fannin, Grayson, Hamilton,
Jones, Lampasas, Llano, Mason, Mills, Montague, San Saba, Webba,
Wichita and Wise Counties.
Denton and Tarrant Counties for Public Assistance Category B
(emergency protective measures), limited to direct Federal assistance.
This information gives you a sense of the incredible size of
this disaster that encompasses corners and pockets of counties
across our state. The nature of this disaster is precise
and hidden as we find neighborhoods affected right next door
to ones that are okay. Many of these affected families
are experiencing disaster and recovery for the first time;
many were living paycheck to paycheck before this disaster and
life is even more difficult now. Here are a few statewide
statistics to help get a handle how many families are affected:
In the declared counties approximately 4437 families have registered
with FEMA and in the un-declared counties as additional 509 families
(as of last week). The following is a breakdown by county:
DECLARED COUNTIES
Bell - 140
Burnet - 377
Cooke - 670
Coryell - 329
Denton - 281
Eastland - 202
Grayson - 811
Hood - 112
Lampasas - 122
Parker - 73
Starr - 299
Tarrant - 538
Victoria - 51
Webb - 27
Wichita - 317
Williamson - 88
It is easy to deduce from these statistics that it will take
an effort from all of us across the state to join hands and hearts
to help families recover. Skilled work teams from our faith
communities, non-profits, and businesses will be needed. TIDR
will keep you informed as opportunities to assist become available.
And remember to thank those responders in your
community: your local police and emergency personnel, the American
Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Texas Baptist Men, Presbyterian
Disaster Response, United Methodist Committee on Relief, Catholic
Charities, the Society of Saint Vincent De Paul, Mobile Loaves
and Fishes, Food Banks, and many others. Thanks to the
many VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) who stay
ready to respond in these events! Read the story of a new
group that formed in April and has found a way to serve and assist! There
are others, thank you!
Across all these communities financial assistance
is going to be a number one priority. If
you would like to contribute, TIDR has a fund to assist flooded
communities or you may contact individual counties and or local
organizations. To contribute to TIDR, please make checks
payable to TIDR and note "floods" on your memo line; mail checks
to 5207 Airport Blvd., Austin, TX 78751. |
Blanco
County Disaster
Response Group Provides Assistance in Granite Shoals
Blanco County's new Disaster Response Team,
organized just this spring, was one of the first responders
to the catastrophic flooding suffered by our neighbors
last week. They opened the doors to Johnson City's
First United Methodist Church as a possible shelter on
two different occasions, first at the request of the Blanco
County Sheriff's Department and then by the American Red
Cross; however, with the waters quickly
receding, the shelter was not  needed.
Wednesday the team
was on the phone checking with folks in the flooded areas to
assess need. A plan was put into place to send aid and
assessment teams as quickly as the Marble Falls area was ready. Thursday
found the group "on the ground" in Marble Falls and Granite Shoals,
examining the damage first-hand and lining up resources and volunteers.
Saturday morning, more than three dozen volunteers
hit the streets of Granite Shoals to canvass the flood area for
the city and report back on where they found flood damage and
what assistance residents needed. In addition to local volunteers
from Granite Shoals and Marble Falls, walkers came from Blanco,
Wimberley, Round Rock and San Antonio. Johnson City team members
included JoAnn and Galen Routh, Irma and
Gus Sanchez, Larry Martin, Nell Wimbish,
Bill Swiss, Bunny Johnson, Judy Baskin, Betty
McNallen, George Cofran, Carol Summy and
George Barnette. Syble and Robert Goodwin
and Betty and Jim Scott of Bethany UMC in Austin also participated. By
the end of the day, the volunteers produced a complete report
on the city's flood aftermath for the mayor to use in applying
for aid from state and federal authorities. They also
quickly secured a food collection for a family they found who
had lost all their food in the water and who had absolutely nothing
to put on the table.
One task that the team took on was mapping and
measuring the extent of the damage for
the city of Granite Shoals. Working through Grace United
Methodist Church, volunteers from Johnson City and Blanco, supported
by teams from Wimberley, Austin and Round Rock, went door-to-door
on two weekends to identify which houses
were flooded, how badly, and what the residents needed to put
their lives back on track.
The next step was to meet those needs found during the initial
assessments.
Rev. Judy Baskin, pastor of First United
Methodist Church in Johnson City, worked the telephones to recruit
churches to provide food, clothing and bedding for the residents. The
response was -- literally -- overwhelming. The local volunteers
processing the donations in Granite Shoals quickly ran out of
storage space, especially with several
of their churches flooded. In 48 hours the call
for clothing and beds was so well answered it had to be canceled.
Answers to the call came in from beyond Blanco
County, too. Mobile Loaves and Fishes from Austin brought prepared
meals and went from house to flooded house, providing an unexpected
dinner. A United Methodist Early Response Team from San Antonio spent
two days sweating in steamy houses and trailers, ripping out
musty carpet and hauling ruined belongings to the curb for trash
pickup. Many churches called with the same question: "How can
we help?"
In Burnet County, the big
breakthrough came Thursday morning, when the mainstream relief
agencies "discovered" Granite Shoals -- with a strong push from
Reverend Brewster. The previous meeting for responders at Rev.
Brewster's church had included six people, representing three
churches and the United Methodist Church's Kerrville District.
Thursday, there were 32 people in the room, representing virtually
every agency working in flood relief in the county, and they
committed to addressing the needs of the flooded residents of
th e
city.
"
Blanco County's help was a true blessing at a time when we all were
still in shock," said Rev. Cheri Brewster, pastor of Grace UMC. "Your
volunteers were here when no one else was, and it made the difference
between getting our response off to an
immediate start and floundering, waiting for someone else to
come help."
"We won't forget what you did
for us."
As the new assistance began flowing in, Blanco County's volunteers
were able to take a well-earned breather, to step back and let
someone else take the lead, and to begin training and preparing
for the next call for help.
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Killeen
Rebuilds
A tornado ripped through
Killeen in Bell County just 3 weeks ago and dislodged the
steeple on First Presbyterian Church. The
movement of the steeple has resulted in ongoing
leakage due to the continued rain. The congregation may
find the water problem a bit ironic
since the old church building was completely destroyed by
fire in 1989.
However the strength of that congregation
was reflected by Rosalee Cunningham, Clerk of the Session,
who performed double duty during
the storm and subsequent multiple power outages. First
Presbyterian Church has a Deaf Ministry, and Cunningham
was constantly on her cell phone, equipped with special text
messaging capability, to communicate
with her many deaf members/visitors
who were otherwise without communication. Meanwhile, Cunningham's own
daughter Lisa and husband Chad Blackman's
home, 2 blocks from the church,
was flooding.
Finally, as shown in the
photos, numerous homes need new roofs. FEMA
reports that 72 homes were affected in Killeen as of
July 21.
The Mid-TX VOAD
will meet in Belton, today Wednesday, July 25, 2007 @ 1:00 PM.
They regularly meet the 4th Wednesday of each month
at the First Baptist Church in Belton (506 N Main St., Belton,
TX 76513) at
1:00PM. Contact Chair Martha Burchett, Salvation Army, (254)
774-9996, for more information. |
Call
for Flood Buckets
Can you donate?
Flood Buckets are in short supply and are needed to help
families clean out their homes in times of flood. If
you would like to donate a Flood Bucket, please contact
TIDR at 512.458.8848 for more information on where to deliver
them. All items in the bucket must be
new.
What's in a Flood Bucket?
- 5 gallon bucket with a resealable
lid
- Bleach (two 1-quart or one 82 oz.
bottle)
- 5 scouring pads
- 7 sponges
- 1 scrub brush
- 18 cleaning towels (reusable wipes)
- Liquid laundry detergent (two 25 oz.
or one 50 oz. bottle)
- 1 household cleaner, 12-16 oz. bottle
- Disinfectant dish soap, 16-28 oz.
bottle
- 50 clothes pins
- Clothes line (two 50 ft. or one 100
ft.)
- 5 dust masks (preferably N-95)
- 2 pair of latex gloves
- 1 pair of work gloves
- 24-bag roll of heavy duty trash bags,
33-45 gallon (remove roll from box before placing
in bucket)
- 1 insect repellant spray, 6-14 oz.
can (if aerosol, cans must have protective caps)
- 1 air freshener, 8 or 9 oz. can (If
aerosol, cans must have protective caps)
Please help your neighbors as they begin
the disaster recovery process!
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Vital
Stats
Numbers to put it in perspective
The American Red Cross has responded and
continues to respond across our state. The Central
Texas Chapter served the families of Burnet, Llano, Williamson,
Travis and Milam Counties and provided services to:
- 191 Families
- 533 People
- 420 Mental Health Contacts made
- 10,028 snacks provided
- 1,214 clean-up items distributed
Families
who need assistance from the American Red Cross should call
1-877-929-1224.
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FEMA
Disaster Recovery Centers
Families who have not registered with FEMA
should call 1-800-621-FEMA/3362. The schedule of Mobile
Disaster Recovery Centers may change slightly, please go
the Governor's
Division of Emergency Management website for the most
up-to-date information.
FEMA offices are open to assist those who have been flooded:
- Cooke
County, Gainesville. Gainesville
Factory Stores, 4321 N IH 35
Suite 500 Gainesville, TX 76240
- Grayson
County, Sherman. Shafer
Crossing, 2918 Hwy 75 Ste.
400 Sherman, TX 75090
- Denton-Tarrant
Counties, Haltom City. Old Ready-Mix
Admin. Bldg. 5517 Denton
Hwy. Haltom City, TX 76148
- Burnet
County, Marble Falls. Marble Falls Elementary
Gym. 1909 Broadway St. Marble Falls, TX 78654
- Eastland
County, Eastland. Siebert Elementary Gym.
100 Little Maverick Trail Eastland, TX 76448
- Wichita-Archer
Counties, Wichita Falls. 3rd Floor, Old Post
Office Federal Bldg. 1000 Lamar St. Wichita Falls,
TX 76301
FEMA
Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers
- Lampasas-Coryell
Counties, Copperas Cove. Human Resources,
1012 North Drive Copperas Cove, TX 76552. Will
be open August 1-5.
- Williamson
County, Leander. Fire Hall, 701 Leander
St. Leander, TX 78641. Will be open August 7-11.
- Hood
County, Granbury. County Annex 1, 200 N. Gordon
St. Granbury, TX 76408. Will be open August
13-17.
- Bell
County, Salado. Salado Civic Center,
601 N. Main St. Salado, TX 76571. Will
be open July 24-26.
- Parker
County, Weatherford. Weatherford Fire Station
#3, 122 Atwood Court, Weatherford, TX 76086. Will
be open July 28-30 and August 25-29.
- Star
County, Roma. Roma Community Center, 502 6th
Street, Roma, TX 78584. Will be open July 26-28.
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Interfaith
Security Conference: Keeping Your Institution Safe
Every Day
August
15, 2007, 9:00am-12:00pm
Hosted by the Austin Cornerstone Church
Sponsored
by the Anti-Defamation League, Austin Area Inerreligious
Ministries, Austin Police Department, and Travis County
Sheriff's Office
This high level security awareness conference has been developed
to meet the immediate security needs of religious institutions. Security
is a long-term process that typically cannot be efficiently
or effectively deployed only when there is an emergency. This
conference will assist clergy, other professionals and lay
leaders directly responsible for assessing, developing, implementing
and evaluating security policies and procedures.
Registration will be limited
to clergy, other professionals and lay leaders who are- or will
become-directly involved in the assessment, planning, implementation
and evaluation of security policies and procedures for religious
institutions.
For more information, please contact Roberta Clark of the Anti-Defamation
League at 512.735.8012 ext. 18 or via e-mail at rclark@adl.org. Copies
of the announcement and an application for the workshop can be
found at www.tidr.org.
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