How to help Central Texas flood victims
With the ongoing severe weather and flooding currently impacting parts of Texas, especially Central Texas, I want to urge everyone in affected areas to stay vigilant and always remember to take seriously any warnings or instructions from your local officials. The Governor’s Office and all relevant state agencies are actively monitoring the situation and deploying needed resources to respond to the current disasters. Earlier today, Greg received a briefing and then held a press conference on the state’s response, saying:
“With so many already seriously impacted by the rain and flooding across the state and as severe weather is expected to continue, it is very important that Texans monitor the ongoing threats and heed warnings from local officials. We will continue deploying state resources across all regions to make sure local officials have what they need to address these challenges as quickly as possible. Texas will work with local and federal officials to ensure all the needs of these affected communities are adequately and swiftly addressed.”
Additionally, I know there are many Texans wondering how they can help those here in Central Texas affected by the recent rain and flooding. Below are a few ways you can help that I gleaned from a recent KXAN article as well as other resources:
The American Red Cross: To learn how to volunteer or to donate to the American Red Cross, visit redcross.org.
Austin Disaster Relief Network: The Austin Disaster Relief Network is accepting monetary donations for Central Texas flood victims.
Central Texas Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) website has information and resources that individuals and organizations who want to help will find useful.
Volunteer Texas now has a section of their website dedicated to the Central Texas Floods that includes resources and volunteer opportunities.
Many local churches are collecting donations for victims of flooding along the Colorado and Llano rivers, including:
The Central Collection Point for volunteers, clean-up crews and people wanting to help or needing help with cleanup is: Marble Falls First Baptist Church at 901 La Ventana in Marble Falls.
A central collection point for donated new supplies in Burnet County has been established at the First United Methodist Church at 1101 Bluebonnet Dr. in Marble Falls.
UPDATE
Two additional collection points for supplies have been established in the Marble Falls area:
Granite Shoals Baptist Church, 505 S. Phillips Ranch Road
Church at Horseshoe Bay, 600 Hi Ridge Road
The following are the only supplies being accepted at this time (new Items only):
- Bottled Water / Gatorade (Primary Need)
- Cleaning Supplies (Gloves, Bleach, Cleaners with Bleach, Laundry Soap, Utility Rags, Paper Towels, wipes, Hand Sanitizer)
- Tools (Shovels, Rakes, Wheel Barrows, Large Fans, Work Gloves, Buckets, Sorting Bins)
- Garbage Bags – Commercial
- Gift Cards (Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart, HEB)
- NO USED Clothing or Furniture