County to distribute flood supplies in Riverside

June 23--Emergency officials will be handing out supplies today in Riverside to aid county residents affected by flooding along the Trinity River.

Emergency Management Coordinator Butch Davis told the Walker County Commissioners Court on Monday that a distribution center will be set up at Riverside United Methodist Church, located at 2341 FM 980. Today and Wednesday, people who need supplies will be able to pick them up from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church.

"Riverside United Methodist Church is centrally located to all the impacted areas," Davis said. "Red Cross sent more supplies Saturday, so we are going to have (the Community Emergency Response Team) set up there so people can come by there and get what they need. That way we don't have to try to get (volunteers) out there to (distribute) because there is still areas you can't get in and out without boats."

The Office of Emergency Management and the First United Methodist Church of Huntsville are currently accepting donations from citizens to help flood victims. Supplies can be dropped off today through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the church's Youth Building at the corner of 10th Street and Sam Houston Avenue.

Items needed are first aid kits, blankets, wash clothes, bleach, laundry and dish detergents, buckets, mops, dust pans, gloves (latex and leather), cat and dog food, bed linens, towels, personal hygiene supplies, disinfectant, sponges, brooms and trash bags.

People who would like to make donations but are unable to do so during the designated times can call the Walker County Emergency Operations Center at (936) 435-8035 to arrange a dropoff.

"These are items that we need to get brought in to get out to these people," Davis said. "It doesn't include clothing. People need to go to the COME Center or Good Shepherd Mission for that."

The Office of Emergency Management urges residents who have not already done so to apply for disaster assistance recovery with the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA). To register over the phone, call (800) 621-3362 or apply online at www.fema.gov. Those with speech or hearing impairments can call (800) 462-7585.

"We have not been given a cutoff date for when people can no longer register, but I'm hearing it could be around the 28th of June," Davis said. "Our big push is to get everybody to register with FEMA because if they don't register before that cutoff date, they're not going to be able to get registered for assistance from FEMA."

The Trinity River water level in Riverside had decreased about a foot Monday to 136.1 feet, which is 2.1 feet above the flood stage. The National Weather Service is predicting that it will continue recede to 135 feet later this week.

Davis told commissioners the water level could go back up as flood waters continue to come down the Trinity River from North Texas.

"The (Trinity River) gauge at Riverside is beginning to move down into minor flooding and hold until Sunday," Davis said. "That is just a prediction. If you look at the gauges north of Riverside, except for Crockett, they are all still minor to moderate flooding. Dallas is going to major flooding sometime this week.

"We still have water coming our way, so I don't want people to get a false sense that the water is going down because it is going to come back up in that area."

In other business Monday, the Commissioners Court:

--Approved out-of-state travel for an employee with Juvenile Services to visit two facilities in Iowa.

--Approved paying for overtime accrued for certain employees due to flooding.

--Approved treasurer's disbursement report for June 4-16 in the amount of $462,548.30.

--Approved order 2015-27 amending the budget for the fiscal year Oct. 1, 2014 to Sept. 30, 2015, approving interim funding of operating budget increases for repairs related to the declared disaster that are expected to be eligible for FEMA and grant reimbursement funding in an amount up to $500,000 to be transferred from the contingency-special grant fund, money to be distributed monthly as needed.

--Approved claims and invoices submitted for payment by the county auditor.

--Approved the purchase of a copier for Adult Probation to be funded from Adult Probation budget.

--Approved renewal of interlocal agreement with the Texas Association of Counties for the health and employee benefit plan for the period Oct. 1, 2015 to Sept. 30, 2016 to be paid from budgeted funds.

--Approved Texas Association of Counties risk management pool for 12th and 278th Judicial District courts.

--Approved Texas Association of Counties risk management pool Walker County renewal application.

--Approved variance request for Luther H. Wilson 30.14 acre tract on Stewart Road in Precinct 4.

--Approved the re-plat of lot six of Huntsville Country Estates on Marjorie Lane in Precinct 1.

--Approved plat of Mark D. Norris 198.273-acre tract on High Oak in Precinct 2.

--Approved variance request for Larry Watch for wet flood proofing of a structure in Wildwood Shores Subdivision in Precinct 4.

--Presented the Walker County Historical Commission with a Distinguished Service Award from the Texas Historical Commission for exceptional service and dedication to the state.

--Approved an amendment to an interlocal agreement for improvement and lease of a parking area at the intersection of Avenue M and 12th Street.

--Approved tax sale trust properties.

--Approved the re-appointment of Clara Malak, Amelia Thorn and Barbara Sapp as members of the Walker County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners.

--Approved resignation of Glen R. Reader from the Emergency Services District No. 1 Board.

--Approved request of use of the Walker County gazebo by David O'Neil on July 2 to read the Declaration of Independence.

--Approved request for Crime Stoppers to use the Walker County Annex parking lot July 18 for a car wash fundraiser.

--Approved the purchase of a used Gradall not to exceed $50,000 for the Precinct 4 road and bridge department.

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