Texas Interagency Interfaith Disaster Response
e-Buzz
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9 November 2007 |
Flooding
in Texas: Recovery Continues
The cooler temperatures and incredible rainfall
of the summer months seem like a long time ago, however many
communities across Texas are in the middle of repairing and
rebuilding homes. The damage caused by storms and floods
have left a significant mark across our state. The work
in these communities is virtually un-noticed by media or those
of us not directly affected. Sometimes when we don't
see the drama of a disaster we forget about the work of long-term
recovery.
In Burnet and Llano
Counties alone (2 of the 49 federally declared
disasters in Texas), some 646
families made application for assistance to
FEMA; 131 of those making application were over the
age of 62. 204 homes need repair, 13 homes
and 6 mobile homes were destroyed. 65 homes
were considered uninhabitable. As families
work through the paperwork, deal with the loss of
home and often income, and put back together the
pieces of their lives, they need to know that they
are supported! TIDR
is reminding Texans that your support is still needed
in many communities tasked with rebuilding. If
you have a way to assist, whether with volunteering
or with financial assistance, please contact TIDR. If
sending a check, please note "Texas floods" on the
memo line. For your help and continued support,
thank you.
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Manage Holiday Financial Stress By Improving
Budget & Credit Management Skills!
The holidays are quickly approaching. How
will you manage regular household expenses plus stretch
your budget for the holidays? Take a class to improve
your Financial Fitness!
Catholic Charities of Central Texas is offering two workshops
in December to help individuals and families improve their
budgeting skills and avoid or get out of debt.
The classes will be held at 1817 E. 6th Street (corner
of Chicon and E. 6th Streets)
Tuesday, December 4, 10:30 am to noon
Money Matters! Participants
will learn how to develop a personal or household
budget and how to set financial goals for the New
Year.
Tuesday, December
11, 10:30 am to noon
Credit Matters and
Charge It Right! Participants
will be able to understand the positives and negatives
of using a credit card and develop strategies to
get out of debt.
Classes are free and a drawing will be held at each class
for gift cards at local stores. Sign up Today! Call Catholic
Charities at 651-6100 to
enroll in the class.
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Salvation
Army Deploys Four Mobile Units to Barrett Lake
Tent City
The Salvation Army is sending its largest mobile
kitchens to the San Diego's most impoverished area where hundreds
of residents lost homes in the wildfires. The Army's "canteens" or
mobile feeding units are geared up to help an anticipated 200
people offered shelter in a tent city set up by State Senator
Dennis Hollingsworth. The tent city is at the intersection
of the Highway 94 and Barrett Lake Road and will include bathroom
facilities, showers and generators.
Key to this operation will be the Army's newest 30'
Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) mobile kitchen,
capable of serving up to 3,000 meals and snacks a
day and brewing 27 gallons of coffee per hour. This
canteen and its team of four arrived from Las Vegas,
Nevada several days ago for its first use at a disaster.
The EDS units will also provide shovels, rakes, sifters
and other items to help people sift through the ashes
where their homes or trailers once stood. Salvation
Army Emotional and Spiritual Care two-person teams
will be available to provide comfort and support. The
teams will drive through burned-out areas providing
water and snacks as well as their willingness to "just
be there" and to listen.
To date, The Salvation Army has served meals and
snacks to more than 120,000 persons as well as 150,000
drinks for thousands of first responders and survivors.
As of Oct. 31st, The Salvation Army has provided
gift cards and vouchers to more than 1,000 people
at Local Assistance Centers in Ramona, Fallbrook,
Rancho Bernardo and Rancho San Diego with a monetary
value of $442,150. Gift cards are for Wal-Mart and
Albertson's and vouchers are for Salvation Army thrift
stores.
Monetary donations are barely keeping pace with need
and The Salvation Army is asking for cash donations
only at this time.
Those wishing to help may call 1-800-SAL-ARMY or
donate on line at www.salvationarmyusa.org.
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Southern
California: You Can Help!
Are you looking for a way to assist families
rebuild and meet unmet needs following the devastating fires
in Southern California? Go to this website for a great
list of giving opportunities, including monetary, volunteering,
and in-kind donations: www.oes.ca.gov. Also remember that your
own faith group or denomination may have disaster response
outreach through which you may respond.
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The American
Red Cross Responds to Flooding in Mexico
Since October 28, torrential rains have provoked unprecedented
flooding in the southern Mexican state of Tabasco and have
caused landslides in the southern-most state of Chiapas. Relief
efforts are ongoing and the latest reports estimate:
- More than 1 million people affected
- An estimated 1 million people temporarily
reside in approximately 300 shelters
- Destruction of agricultural crops and
livestock
Movement Response:
- American Red Cross - is providing an additional
$250,000 for relief supplies for 2,000 families through
a grant from USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance
(OFDA). The American Red Cross is also contributing
an additional $200,000 in financial assistance and mosquito
nets for 3,000 families. To date, contributions total
more than $500,000 in support of the Mexican Red Cross
and International Federation's relief operation. The
American Red Cross President, Mark Everson, and the Sr.
Vice-President of International Services, David Meltzer,
will visit affected areas on November 9. An information
and communications delegate, Winnie Romeril, remains
in-country supporting the operation as well. The American
Red Cross continues to coordinate with operational leads
in Mexico and is evaluating additional response options.
- Mexican Red Cross (MRC) - staff and volunteers-more
than 6,000 in total-continue to conduct activities in
ambulatory and medical services, family linking, and
transport and distribution of relief supplies. To date,
the MRC has mobilized and distributed more than 800 tons
of relief aid.
- International Federation - allocated an
initial US $173,500 from the Disaster Response Emergency
Fund. The International Federation's Pan-American
Disaster Response Unit (PADRU) is supporting the MRC
relief activities; the Head of PADRU and the Information
Officer from PADRU remain in Mexico.
For more information on the flooding in Mexico,
visit www.redcross.org or www.ifrc.org.
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To
donate, please mail checks to:
TIDR
5207
Airport Blvd.
Austin,
TX 78751
TIDR is
committed to helping communities Prepare before disaster,
Respond in disaster, and Recover following disaster.
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