wfn.org | PDA sends $10,000 to waterlogged Texas

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Note #7344 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

17-July-2002
02253

PDA sends $10,000 to waterlogged Texas

Presbyterians among homeowners routed by surging floods

by Evan Silverstein
 
LOUISVILLE - Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) has sent $10,000 to presbytery officials in flood-ravaged Texas to assist with relief efforts.

The One Great Hour of Sharing money was sent to the Presbytery of Palo Duro in northwest Texas, which includes the rain-drenched Abilene region, where some homes owned by Presbyterians were among those damaged in recent flooding.

"We did have several Presbyterian families impacted in Abilene," said Stan Hankins, the PDA's associate for U.S. disaster response. "I know some of our funds will be used to help them. I don't think they lost their homes, but I think they had a lot of water."

Earlier this month, south-central and northwest Texas were doused by heavy rains for more than a week, which created surging floods that ripped homes off their foundations and forced thousands of people to leave their homes.

More than 200 homes in the Abilene area were damaged, half of them damaged severely. Hankins said the homes of about 17 Presbyterian families and one Presbyterian-owned business had significant damage. 

A swimming pool and fencing at a Presbyterian camp in Buffalo Gap, south of Abilene, were damaged, according to Hankins, but no Presbyterian churches came to harm. The Rev. Richard Schempp, executive presbyter of Palo Duro Presbytery, was on vacation on June 16 and could not be reached for comment.

Hankins said members of the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Team (PDAT) will be sent to Mission Presbytery, based in San Antonio, to help plan its response. Some areas near San Antonio got as much as 42 inches of rain over several days. Water surged over spillways and caused the Guadalupe River to leave its banks.

At the peak of the flooding, the Red Cross was operating 37 emergency shelters.

Texas officials said at least eight people were killed.

On June 15, the Hill Country, San Antonio and points south and southwest, already waterlogged, were hit by a new series of storms.

Hankins said he believes PDA funds and workers eventually will be sent to Mission Presbytery to help officials assess damage and needs.

"So their response is really going to be reaching out and helping other folks who have been impacted," he said, referring to Mission Presbytery. "This is like most other natural disasters: We expect it to hit the more vulnerable populations harder than others. And I'm sure there will be needs among some of the migrant farm worker communities, and maybe other marginalized folks."

Tary Snyder, Mission Presbytery's disaster response coordinator, said images of houses floating down the Guadalupe River were not uncommon on local TV.

"Number one, we have to assess the damage, assess the needs," Snyder said. "... Then we have to determine whether they have the organization to help with the recovery. If they don't ... then that organization has to be built in that community."

Texas Gov. Rick Perry has declared 29 counties disaster areas, making them eligible for state relief. He said in a radio address that property damage could reach $1 billion. President Bush has made 13 counties eligible for federal assistance. 

Flood-relief contributions for Texas can be made online at http://pcusa.org/pda/givenow/accounts.html, sent through normal mission-giving channels, or mailed to Central Receiving Service, Section 300, Louisville, KY 40289. Designate gifts for account #9-2000015.
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