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Severe Weather Onslaught Continues in Texas
Written by
Bonnie Gillespie
, Staff Writer and Photographer, Redcross.org
Wednesday, June 09, 2004 — After an onslaught of wicked weather, some residents in the Ft. Worth, Texas, area are still three-feet-deep in floodwaters while others are picking up after damaging windstorms.
A Red Cross volunteer distributes clean-up kits to flood victims near Ft. Worth. |
American Red Cross volunteers and staff, though many affected themselves by the storms, are operating a shelter and cooling centers for residents, in addition to delivering emergency relief items, food and water to hard-hit areas.
“The situation began last week when we had a massive windstorm with 80 mph winds,” said Anita Foster, with the Chisholm Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross in Ft. Worth. “Those are hurricane force winds, and they left over 500,000 families without power and seriously damaged more than 50 homes.”
But even before the Texas families picked up the pieces, the forces of nature struck again with drenching rains.
“Power came back for almost everyone by Sunday, but then it started raining with 9 to 12 inches falling in one day,” Foster said. “And it hasn’t stopped since.”
Ongoing downpours have become devastating for residents of White Settlement, a Ft. Worth suburb that flooded under similar conditions only four years ago. The normally placid but flood-prone Farmers Branch Creek burst its banks and completely inundated the community, surging from four feet to nearly 30 feet in only a matter of hours.
Rescue crews pulled stranded residents from the swirling waters, as cars floated down swamped streets, piling into growing mounds of debris. The deluge damaged more than 200 homes, but no one was seriously injured.
A young Texas flood victim loved her new Mickey Mouse from the Red Cross, donated by DisneyHand. |
“The neighborhood the Red Cross is working in now is the exact same one we were in during the 2000 flood, but even more homes are flooded this time,” said Foster. “We even had one flood victim come up to us on the street and ask for her Red Cross volunteer by name. She remembered exactly who and how we helped her four years ago and knew she would see us here again.”
Four Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) are canvassing the affected areas, distributing clean-up kits, comfort kits, food and water. Red Cross Family Services are also in full swing, and vouchers for clothing and other essential items are being given to those in need.
“We’re providing a lot of emotional support to victims as well because so many of these people have been through this before,” said Foster. “It’s very hard for them. Many are afraid it’s just going to get worse, too, since it’s still pouring down rain.”
Scattered thunderstorms are forecast for the region through Thursday, with heavy rainfall, high winds and hail. Continued flash flooding is also possible, according to the National Weather Service. The agency has already tracked 223 warnings of tornadoes, severe thunderstorms or flash floods in North Texas since May 30.
What You Can Do To Help
You can help the victims of this and of thousands of disasters across the country each year by contributing to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. Donate online or call toll free 1-800-HELP NOW (1-800-257-7575 for Spanish speakers) or you can mail in your gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
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