Flood Relief Information
floodrelief@umcswtx.org

Southwest Texas Conference counties
in federal disaster area
Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Comal, Duval, Frio, Gillespie, Goliad, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Hays, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, La Salle, Live Oak, McMullen, Medina, Nueces, Real, San Patricio, Travis, Uvalde, Wilson, Zavala.

• Disaster-recovery efforts to cost $470,000
• Bishop sees damage from wind, new flooding in Corpus Christi
• Corpus Christi UMs deal with twisters, flooding
• Retired officer starts directing flood recovery
• UMs across conference continue flood recovery
• UMs look for ways to help neighbors hit by 2nd flood
• Tropical Storm Fay causes new flooding
• FEMA gets 23,000 applications for flood assistance
• Recovery from July storms continues
• UMs join efforts to start interfaith recovery groups
• UMs continue to help victims of July floods
• UM volunteers pitch in to help with flood cleanup
• Southwest Texas UMs deal with aftermath of flooding
• UMs prepare to help with flood recovery
• Bishop hears stories from flood victims
  in Comfort, Kerrville
  

New flooding hits South Texas
Flooding from Fay expected to be worse than in July
Heavy rains from Tropical Storm Fay are causing new record flooding along the Frio and Nueces Rivers in south central Texas. These rivers were already hit by severe flooding in July. Live Oak County officials predict that flooding from Fay will be worse than in July. Flooding was expected to continue through at least Sept. 16 as high waters move past Three Rivers and George West along the Nueces River to the Gulf of Mexico at Corpus Christi. Volunteer cleanup teams won’t able to move into the flooded areas until after Sept. 16. Six to 15 inches of rain fell over the Frio River watershed near Pearsall and Dilley from Sept. 7 through Sept. 9.
Pearsall experienced street flooding.
Downstream in Tilden, floodwaters briefly cut off the town and reached the McMullen County courthouse Sept. 9 and 10. Levels matched the July crest, the sheriff said.
Choke Canyon Lake along the Frio hit a record level Sept. 11—223.19 feet. That was 1.1 feet above the old record. Water in the lake was expected to rise another one-to-two feet before dropping.
Floodgates at the lake were open Sept. 11, releasing 22,500 cubic feet per second of water. Water from the Frio River was coming into the lake at 34,000 to 35,000 cfs.
The Frio River was expected to crest Sept. 12 downstream from Choke Canyon Lake at Three Rivers at a record 44 feet—about six inches higher than the highest July level. Flow, supplemented by water from the Atascosa River, was expected to top 35,000 cfs. Flow was 13,500 cfs in July.
Live Oak County officials ordered residents along the Nueces, which joins with the Frio near George West, to evacuate Sept. 10 and 11. Floodwaters higher than July levels were expected to re-inundate homes starting late Sept. 11. Water was expected to remain in homes until at least Sept. 16.
Some properties that weren’t flooded in July should be underwater this week, said the Rev. John Alsbrooks, pastor of First UMC, Three Rivers.
“The difference in this flood from July is volume and velocity,” Alsbrooks said. “Before we had three weeks to prepare (for water from far upstream). This time we have 12 to 24 hours. People just don’t realize how fast the water is coming up and how fast it’s flowing.”
One blessing, Alsbrooks added, was that many homes along the Nueces River downstream from George West had already been stripped of damaged drywall and carpet and were still empty.
“We’ll probably just have to clean up the debris and wash them out,” he said.

Volunteers needed for George West, Corpus Christi
The Southwest Texas Conference Flood Relief Office thanks all those who were quick to offer aid to victims of July flooding in South Texas. From what we understand at this time, no more basic cleanup assistance is needed in the Guadalupe, Comal, Medina, and Bandera counties.
However, if anyone still needs assistance in these areas, the Flood Relief Office is ready to respond. We have work teams lining up to volunteer.
We do need flood-recovery help in George West, Three Rivers and Corpus Christi.
For more information on both needed assistance and volunteer opportunities, please call (210) 408-4500, Extension 562, or toll free (800) 476-0752.
Bonnie Terry
Disaster Response Coordinator


Flood relief phone line established at UM Center
The Southwest Texas Conference has set up a special flood relief phone line at the UM Center in San Antonio.
The number—(800) 476-0752—which will be answered primarily by disaster-response volunteers, allows church members to report flood-recovery needs and offer to help flood victims with donations or work teams.
Callers from San Antonio can reach the number through the main UM Center switchboard at (210) 408-4500. Callers can dial Extension 562 or ask for the flood recovery line.
When volunteers can’t answer the extension—or the line is busy—callers can leave voice-mail messages. Disaster-response volunteers will return calls as soon as they can.