By ANDY HOGUE, Register Staff Writer
With about 300 people run out of house and home by Monday’s flash flooding, an army of volunteers came together to search for missing people, rescue residents from flooded buildings and search debris for valuables.
Those displaced by the flooding were directed to temporary Red Cross shelters throughout the city, also manned by volunteers.
For short-term assistance, the American Red Cross has shelters at a civic center and a local church building.
Sharon Watson, executive director of the Texoma Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, said donations of money to the Red Cross would do more than food, clothing or supplies.
“At this point the cash donations are the most important thing, as that can help us help people replace lost items,” Watson said.
Some items are being donated in excess, she noted.
“We do not need more used clothing!” Watson said. “All canned food can go to VISTO.”
VISTO (Volunteers In Service To Others) is located at 1401 Southland Drive (former Petroflex Building), located off the Interstate Highway 35 southbound access road, south of U.S. Highway 82. The group maintains a supply of essential items such as food, clothing and hygiene products for the needy.
VISTO itself received some flood damage on Monday morning. Three to five inches of standing water was found in the building, according to Michelle Baldwin, executive director of VISTO. None of the food in the warehouse was affected, but anything on the floor in the office was ruined, she said.
Baldwin said some produce was lost when a refrigerated trailer outside the building lost power.
“We’re trying to suck up water and salvage anything we can,” Baldwin said.
VISTO may be contacted at 668-6403.
Watson said at the Civic Center 45 persons stayed overnight and about 100 people were fed. She said the shelter will be moving to Whaley United Methodist Church’s building, 701 Rosedale Drive. Watson said there are no shower facilities at the Civic Center and Whaley UMC is better equipped for an overnight stay.
Watson said it is important for those displaced by the flood would be to let loved ones know they are okay.
The Texoma Red Cross may be contacted at 1(903)465-1330.
American Bank of Texas is accepting donations to the Red Cross at its branch at 111 E. Broadway, according to T.J. Eddleman. Interested donors may direct money to account No. 1016375901.
What next for victims?
For a more long-term solution, First Baptist Church Pastor Mark Denison said he is organizing a meeting at 7 p.m. tonight at the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce for area ministers and Dallas Victim Relief Ministries.
Denison said Dallas Victim Relief Ministries travels around Texas to work with various disaster relief efforts as they happen. He said the ministry group plans to offer showers and bedding for those who had to evacuate their homes, and may even offer cleaning services for residents wanting to move back into their houses.
“Obviously, the Red Cross and these other disaster relief agencies can handle short-term relief. But I’m interested in the long-term effort,” Denison said.
He noted of about 300 families displaced by the flooding, 30 churches could take care of 10 families each and help them all.
Denison said the ministers hope to have a more accurate count of how many Gainesville residents were displaced tonight.
As an even longer term solution, Congressional action may help Pecan Creek to not overflow its boundaries ever again.
According to a press release from the Army Corps Fort Worth District, $4.02 million was requested from the federal budget for rechanneling of Pecan Creek, which was responsible for much of Monday morning’s flash flooding.
“Pecan Creek in Gainesville has overrun its banks at least a half a dozen times the last 50 years and caused extensive damage,” the release said. “The Army Corps has estimated that if action is not taken to mitigate flooding from Pecan Creek, economic damages will average $783,300 per year. Flooding in 1981, for example, resulted in an estimated $19 million in damages, well above the Corps current estimate as described in their current analysis.
“... To ensure the availability of local funds, the citizens of Gainesville approved the issuance of $7 million in municipal bonds in February 2002. Immediately following the bond election, the city entered into a Section 205 contract with the Corps for the preliminary engineering and design phase of the project. The (fiscal year) 2008 request would completely fund the federal portion of construction costs through completion, removing this project from the Corps backlog.”
According to a March 23 Register article, U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Lewisville, indicated that $389,000 in the Army Corps of Engineers’ Fiscal Year 2007 Workplan was secured to complete plans and specifications phase of Pecan Creek rechanneling project.
Burgess’ Communications Director Michelle Stein indicated the Congressman is in Washington D.C. this week for votes at the Capitol, but hopes to make it to Gainesville this weekend. No travel plans have been made yet.
Stein said her office is in touch with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and officials are aware of the situation in Cooke County.
Reporter Andy Hogue may be contacted at andyhoguegdr@ntin.net
