San Augustine's neighbors send help

Volunteers gathering everything from drinking water to building supplies to assist flood victims

NACOGDOCHES — After Sunday's flood left many people in San Augustine without ordinary conveniences, those affected are turning to volunteer organizations for food, shelter and especially water.

Christy Wooten/The Daily Sentinel (enlarge photo) A Red Cross volunteer unloaded water and supplies from a trailer Monday for victims of flooding in San Augustine. Several Nacogdoches agencies are collecting donations to be taken to the victims.

Although many of those affected have running water, the city is asking residents to boil the water before using it.

San Augustine Mayor Leroy Hughes said the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality will be testing the water Wednesday and should give it the "OK" to no longer needing it to be boiled.

"Everything should be okay with the water (Wednesday) or the latest Thursday," Hughes said.

While the lack of potable water may no longer be an issue later in the week, it's the other basic necessities that are needed.

The American Red Cross has been set up at the First Baptist Church in San Augustine since Sunday, and while monetary donations are needed most, other donations are being accepted as well, according to Glenna Harkness, Red Cross director.

"We need bug repellent, hand sanitizer, non-perishable food items and bottled water to give to the clients," Harkness said. "We also need toiletries; anything from napkins to toothbrushes and toothpaste."

Donations can be dropped off in Nacogdoches at Tipton Ford, 1115 North St. daily between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

All items donated will immediately be made available to those in need, Harkness said.

"Building supplies are greatly needed to help people repair their homes," Harkness said. "That is a big need right now."

Monetary donations, which are used for everything from replacing prescription medication to temporary shelter, should be mailed to The American Red Cross, 1905 E. Denman, Lufkin, Texas, 75901.

The Salvation Army is also collecting monetary donations to buy supplies needed to help people rebuild their homes, according to LuVenia Owens, region 1 representative for the Salvation Army Texas Division.

"About 35 homes in San Augustine had major damage," Owens said. "Seven mobile homes were destroyed, and three houses were destroyed."

Carpet and sheetrock are some of the items the Salvation Army plans to purchase, Owens said.

"The sheetrock will need to be torn out of the houses and replaced," Owens said. "There was roof damages to many of the houses."

As of now, clothing donations will not be collected because of the lack of space to house them, she said.

Owens encourages people to donate to this cause.

"The area that was hit the hardest is mostly working-class people," Owens said. "They don't have extra money allotted in their income for a disaster like this. Many people don't have flood insurance."

Donations can be mailed to: Salvation Army San Augustine, P.O. Box 367, Broaddus, Texas, 75929. Checks should be made payable to the Salvation Army.

For more information, contact Owens at 936-414-8991.

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The East Texas Food Bank sent 108 emergency pantry packs, one pallet of water and 600 meal breaks — which are "ready-to-eat" meals — to flood victims in both San Augustine and Sabine counties Tuesday, according to press release issued by the food bank.

The emergency pantry packs will provide food for a family of four for four days, the release said.

Robert Bush, executive director of the East Texas Food Bank, said the food bank keeps pre-packed food products and water on-hand "during disaster-prone" times of the year.

When disasters strike, Bush said the East Texas Food Bank works with the state and other food banks to make sure victims have what they need to survive.

"This is very consistent with how East Texans operate every day," Bush said. "(They) step up to the plate to meet unmet needs of their friends and neighbors."

The meal breaks were donated to the American Red Cross in San Augustine.

"At any point in time, someone is going to need some sort of help," Bush said.

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On Thursday, those who lost everything in the flood, will have the chance to attend a "one-stop shop," where they will be able to get additional disaster relief help, according to Jay Hall with the Governor's Division of Emergency Management.

"This is geared toward those who had their homes destroyed in the flood or had major damages," Hall said. "We're trying to get to the people who were hit the hardest."

As of press time Tuesday, a time and location for the event was still in negotiation.

"We are going to go to individual homes and personally invite people to attend," Hall said. "We're going to give them a place and time of where it will be so they can get the assistance they need."

The Red Cross and Salvation Army are among the organizations to be set up at the event.

"All of the main players in a disaster will be there," Hall said.

Michael Rodden contributed to this report.