Texas
Interagency Interfaith Disaster Response
e-Buzz
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2 August 2007
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Wednesday,
August 1, 2007, we were reminded that life is fragile. The
bridge over the mighty Mississippi River in Minneapolis,
Minnesota collapsed. Concrete crumpled like tissue. Cars
dove into the muddy water. Lives were lost, and some
were miraculously saved.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are affected
by this tragedy.
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Federal
Disaster Declarations Continue for Texas
Bee and Medina Counties Added to List
As of July 31, 2007, 2 additional counties
were also designated by FEMA. Texas
now has some 27 counties that are declared eligible for
Individual Assistance. They are: Archer, Bee,
Bell, Brown, Burnet, Cherokee, Comanche, Cooke, Coryell,
Denton, Eastland, Grayson, Hamilton, Hood, Lampasas, Llano,
Medina, Parker, Runnels, Smith, Starr, Tarrant, Travis,
Victoria, Webb, Wichita, and Williamson Counties.
Some 40 counties are now eligible for Public Assistance; they
are: Archer, Baylor, Bosque, Brown, Burnet, Callahan, Coleman,
Collin, Comanche, Cooke, Coryell, Denton, Eastland, Erath, Fannin,
Grayson, Hamilton, Hunt, Jones, Kaufman, Lamar, Lampasas, Llano,
Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Mills, Montague, Parker, Runnels, San
Saba, Smith, Starr, Stephens, Tarrant, Victoria, Webb, Wichita,
Williamson and Wise Counties.
As communities are still being assessed for flood damage, it
is likely that more counties will be designated. This
summer of rain continues to be unprecedented in the amount of
destruction caused in a unique pattern among our towns and neighborhoods. Across
the Lone Star state, Long Term Recovery Committees are being
formed to help families come to terms with the destruction and
to create avenues for them to receive long-term recovery assistance. As
theses committees are developed, with the assistance of FEMA,
Church World Service, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, TIDR,
the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Texas Baptist Men,
Food Banks, and many others, there will be opportunities for
many of us to volunteer or donate. Please watch for these
opportunities in subsequent newsletters.
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Emergency
Financial Assistance Available for Flood Victims
Catholic Charities is assisting those who
have been affected by the flooding. People who live
in Burnet, Bell, Coryell, Lampasas, Travis, and Williamson
Counties can contact Catholic Charities representatives
for more information. Help is offered to those whose homes
have sustained damage from the flooding, and those who
are currently out of work because of the flooding. Limited
rent/utilities emergency financial assistance is available
to families who have been affected by the flooding.
Representatives are assigned by county:
- Bell
County
- Kamau Richard, 512-450-4328
- Burnet
County
- Coryell
County
- Toni Donley, 512-450-4324
- Lampasas
County
- Kamau Richard, 512-450-4328
- Travis
County
- Lesli Tre'gre, 512-450-4327
- Williamson
County
- Lesli Tre'gre, 512-450-4327
For
general information, please call 1-866-464-9494 or visit
the Catholic Charities website at www.ccctx.org.
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Ongoing
Predictions for the 2007 Hurricane Season
While
we should be thankful that the first two months of hurricane
season were uneventful, according to LCRA chief meteorologist
Bob Rose, this inactivity is not surprising even for a
season forecasted to be much more active than usual. In
fact, 95% of major hurricanes and 90% of all hurricanes
form after August 1.
Among the factors influencing the 2007 hurricane forecast is
the developing La Nina phenomenon, the counterpart of El Nino
characterized by unusually cold temperatures in the Equatorial
Pacific. La Nina causes the sub-tropical jet stream, which would
normally serve as a hurricane buffer to the Eastern Seaboard,
to recede, leaving the Atlantic and Gulf states more vulnerable.
When one looks at tropical disturbances that occurred in years
similar in condition to 2007, one can make predictions for the
rest of the storm season. According to Mr. Rose, a hit
on the Texas coast this year is likely. Are you prepared
to respond if a hurricane strikes?
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Two
Years Since Hurricane Katrina
August 29th will mark the two year anniversary
of Hurricane Katrina. Two years seems like a long
time, and for survivors it has been two long and difficult
years. The years have been filled with successes
and setbacks, excitement about new life events and sadness
over all that was lost. How do you measure a disaster
that still leaves New Orleans struggling to rebuild? How
do you measure the scars left from those early days of
rescue and confusion, of being placed on airplanes and
separated from family members, and landing in a new city
that is now called home?
Katrina survivors in our communities are truly now our neighbors. They
have grocery stores and doctors and places to worship; they are
our friends. And like every other population, some have
had successes and some are wondering if the pieces of their life
will ever "come together."
Where do we go from here? I think one important piece is
that we don't forget a disaster that has forever changed us. We
also must continue to find resources for families whose needs
are great even as they transition into local social services.
And we must celebrate the wonderful and incredible gifts that
these individuals have shared with us.
TIDR is putting together more information for a special Katrina
Edition of the eBuzz Newsletter. Please watch for that
newsletter later this month.
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To
donate, please mail checks to:
TIDR
5207 Airport Blvd.
Austin, TX 78751
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