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US-WEATHER-FLOOD

Source: AARON M. SPRECHER / Getty

Texas Governor Greg Abbott requested individual assistance for Harris, Fayette, Grimes and Parker counties from the federal government. If the request is granted by President Obama, affected citizens in Houston and the surrounding communities may be eligible for grants of up to $33,000 and low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The latest report submitted to the Texas Department of Emergency Management pegs damage to public facilities in the City of Houston at $616,000 and estimates approximately 2700 single-family homes and multi-family units suffered some sort of damage in the Tax Day floods. These numbers do not include the cost of storm debris collection, which is currently estimated to be about $2 million.

Caseworkers have completed basic intake assessments to determine the immediate needs of 1,329 individuals. This includes nearly 400 residents who were moved from the M. O. Campbell Center shelter to hotels Friday evening. Students who are at the hotels will be back in the classroom tomorrow with transportation being coordinated by the City and Aldine School District. Notices about this process are being slipped under the doors of those staying in the hotels. Catholic Charities is providing food, baby formula and diapers for the residents. Tomorrow’s lunch is being donated by the sponsors, golfers, and volunteers of the Joe Moreno Charity Classic presented by AT&T and the Mostyn Moreno Foundation.

At least 67 debris collection trucks have been out all weekend in the hardest hit areas. A total of 125 loads were hauled away on Saturday. Residents are asked to remove parked vehicles from the street to facilitate easy access of the heavy equipment during debris collection. Debris should be placed not in the road, but rather close to the side of the road away from mailboxes, trees, meters, fire hydrants and other structures. In addition, agencies assisting with the recovery effort are asked to identify off-street parking for their volunteers. If heavy trucks are unable to pass safely along the streets, the City will not be able to remove the debris.

Donations to the Greater Houston Storm Relief Fund are still being accepted at http://www.houstonrecovers.org. New or gently used items may be dropped off at the following five distribution sites:

  • Bethel Heavenly Hands Church

    12660 Sandpiper Street

    Houston, TX 77035

    Monday – Saturday: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

  • Cornerstone Baptist Church

    14314 Walters Rd.

    Houston, TX  77014

  • Lamik Beauty

    2610 Greenbriar Drive

    Houston, TX 77098

    Tuesday – Saturday: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm

  • Loving Word Fellowship

    170 Rittenhouse Street

    Houston, TX 77076

    Monday – Saturday: 8:00 am- 5:00 pm

  • World Harvest Outreach Seventh-Day Adventist Church

    10800-A Scott Street

    Houston, TX 77047

    Monday – Friday: 9:00 am. – 6:00 pm

    Saturday: 12:00 – 5:00 pm

There is one site for in-kind donations:
  • Community of Faith

    1024 Pinemont Dr. Houston, TX 77091

    Monday – Saturday: 8:00am – 6:00pm

Food & Water donations may be left at the Houston Food Bank, 535 Portwall St. at any time during the following hours:
  • Monday 8:00am – 5:00pm 
  • Tuesday – Friday: 8:00am – 9:00pm 
  • Saturday 8:00am – 4:00pm