Conference begins
collecting flood bucketsBy Rachel L. Toalson
Staff Writer
The Southwest Texas Conference has begun collecting flood buckets for cleanup after flooding in at least five communities.
Downpours July 2 caused floods in Victoria, Nursery and Rio Grande City. Storms dumped up to 10 inches of rain around Victoria and Nursery.
Officials ordered mandatory evacuations in Rio Grande City after 12 inches of rain caused the river to rise three feet above flood stage, said George Barnette, Kerrville District disaster-response coordinator.
Heavy thunderstorms June 27 and 28 dumped up to 19 inches of rain on Marble Falls and Granite Shoals in less than 24 hours. That cause widespread damage from high water in Burnet County.
Nearly 150 homes in Burnet County were affected by rains June 27 and 28. Gov. Rick Perry declared Burnet County a state disaster area June 29.
Officials don’t yet know how many homes or families were affected in Rio Grande City or Victoria.
Flood buckets can be delivered to San Antonio and McAllen, said Susan Hellums, conference Volunteers in Mission and disaster-response coordinator.
Flood buckets should be 5-gallon buckets with a re-sealable lid, Hellums said. Items to place inside the buckets include:
Bleach (two 1-quart or one 82 oz. bottle. Do not include the bleach if you are shipping the bucket through the U.S. Postal Service, UPS or Fedex)
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
2 paid 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)
All items included in the kits must be new, Hellums said. It’s important that kits contain only the requested items. Don’t include any personal notes or money in the kits.
