UMs respond to floods in 5 communities
Three members of an early disaster-response team from St. Matthew’s UMC, San Antonio, load a water-damaged television onto a wheelbarrow outside a Granite Shoals home July 2. Volunteers are (from left) Lacee Evans, Jane Mack and Alice Krejci.
Make contributions for flood recovery through the Southwest Texas Conference treasurer to the Disaster Response Fund (Advance 2050).
Granite Shoals, Victoria,
Rio Grande City see effects
of high water
By Rachel L. Toalson
Staff Writer
Southwest Texas United Methodists were dealing with the aftermath of flooding last week in at least five communities.
Granite Shoals, Marble Falls, Nursery, Rio Grande City and Victoria were all cleaning up damage after high water.
United Methodist volunteers from San Antonio, Austin and other nearby communities spent July 7 walking blocks in Granite Shoals to gather information for a citywide needs assessment.
A group of about 60 United Methodists and others completed a similar assessment June 30. City officials used that data in applications for state and federal aid. But the American Red Cross found additional blocks previously not surveyed, said George Barnette, Kerrville District disaster response coordinator.
Storms June 27 and 28 dumped up to 19 inches of rain on Granite Shoals and Marble Falls. High water damaged 25 to 30 homes in Granite Shoals and another 116 homes in Marble Falls.
Gov. Rick Perry declared Burnet County a state disaster area June 30.
A Long-Term Recovery Committee was formed July 5 to help guide flood relief and recovery efforts in Burnet County—primarily Granite Shoals and Marble Falls.
The committee, composed of local residents, is to supervise the flow of goods and services to flood victims and is to help move disaster efforts from the emergency stage to the recovery phase, Barnette said.
The Southwest Texas Conference Disaster Response Fund (Advance 2050) issued a $5,000 grant July 2 to Grace UMC, Granite Shoals. The money was to help with initial flood recovery work. The church planned to provide food, bedding and clothes to some displaced families, Barnette said.
First UMC, Marble Falls, received 236 flood buckets filled with cleanup supplies July 3 from the United Methodist Committee on Relief depot in Baldwin, La. Granite Shoals received 35 of those buckets but needs more, Barnette said.
A Southwest Texas Conference early disaster-response team from St. Matthew’s UMC, San Antonio, cleaned up flood damage in Granite Shoals July 2. A second team from First UMC, Pflugerville, moved in July 3.
More rain July 2 and 3 caused flooding in areas around Rio Grande City, Nursery and Victoria. Rio Grande City faced mandatory evacuation after getting up to 13 inches of rain July 1 and additional rain July 2. Up to 10 inches of rain was reported around Nursery and Victoria July 2 and 3.
Officials don’t yet know how many homes or families were affected in Rio Grande City or Victoria.
The Salvation Army from McAllen served about 150 meals to flood victims in Rio Grande City, said Susan Hellums, Southwest Texas Conference Volunteers in Mission coordinator.
St. John’s UMC, Rio Grande City, received some water damage from the rains, but officials feel it’s
manageable, Hellums said.
Additional rains caused more flooding in Granite Shoals, too, Barnette said
The Ministerial Alliance of Granite Shoals met July 3 to sort out which churches would do what, Barnette said. Churches in Johnson City provided 14 single beds for flood victims. The beds were delivered to Grace UMC July 3.
The Red Cross is managing response in Marble Falls.
The biggest need of Granite Shoals residents, besides cleanup help, is transportation, Barnette said.
“The flooded residents had their cars parked in the flood zone, and many of them went under and no longer run,” he said. “The nearest grocery store is four miles away, as is the Red Cross distribution center.”
Volunteers from First UMC, Johnson City, answered phones at Grace UMC following the storm June 29 and 30. Granite Shoals officials designated the church the flood relief information contact point.
Those volunteers freed up Grace Pastor Cheri Brewster to canvass the community and make arrangements for her home, which sustained water damage.
Many homes in Granite Shoals were rental properties, Brewster said, and the residents have gone somewhere. She and city officials are working to account for everyone.
Barnette said he has been pleased with the church’s response so far.
“The church that is seen as being a valuable member of the community is not the one that sits back having services in the air conditioning,” he said. “It’s the one out there getting its hands dirty.”
