July 10, 2007

As of Monday, 44 Texas counties are eligible for state disaster aid. President Bush declared six of the counties federal disaster sites, eligible for individual assistance. Damage is extensive across a broad swath of the state, from the coast to the Oklahoma border. Boil orders remain in effect in several areas where flood waters polluted municipal potable water supplies.

Vulnerable Communities Watch

Mobile home parks appear to be particularly hard hit, and displaced families continue to populate at least six shelters.

Texas' migrant population may have limited proficiency in speaking English and navigating government assistance programs and may have no recourse for assistance.

CWS Response:

Shipment to Catholic Charities, Austin: 135 CWS Health Kits, valued at $1,800

CWS will coordinate communication and information among partner agencies.

CWS will research the disaster impact on community and identify potential beneficiaries of denominational support.

Emergency Response Specialist Heriberto Martinez will gather data on damage impacts in order to target a neighborhood, community, or county for ERS training possibilities to new long-term recovery groups.

Gathered data will be evaluated for possible referral to an ERS Project Developer.

Long-Term Recovery Activities And Meetings

A newly-formed long-term recovery committee in Burnet County (Marble Falls) has elected the Rev. Frank Goldsmith as interim chairperson and is supported by the Central Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

Texas Interagency Interfaith Disaster Response, Austin, is planning to deploy a VISTA worker

Media Contact: Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676; lcrosson@churchworldservice.org