H-E-B to donate $100,000 to American Red Cross

May 26--WIMBERLEY -- Hays County officials said in a news conference Tuesday that two people are confirmed dead in Wimberley flooding search.

One body was found in San Marcos and the other was found in Caldwell County, within the last few hours of the 1 p.m. news conference Tuesday in Wimberley. Both individuals who were found haven't been identified, Smith said.

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UPDATES

4:57 p.m.: H-E-B announced Tuesday it will donate $100,000 to the American Red Cross and accept donations for flood and tornado victims at all its stores.

As of Tuesday, customers can opt to add donations in increments of $1, $3, or $5 to their grocery bill with tear pads at the checkout counter, according to a news release. All funds will go toward "assessments, clean drinking water, food and temporary housing."

H-E-B employees also are giving more than 5,000 disaster relief cleanup kits -- which include trash bags, gloves and inspect repellant -- to residents returning to their homes.

"H-E-B is committed to supporting our customers across Texas. We are diligently working to provide relief to the communities affected by the recent floods and tornadoes," Winell Herron, group vice president of public affairs and diversity for H-E-B, said in the release.

4:51 p.m.: The State Bar of Texas is offering free, limited legal help to low-income people who have basic legal questions following flooding and other severe weather.

Qualifying callers can leave a message through the hotline at (800) 504-7030 to be connected with Texas lawyers who have volunteered to "help with such issues as replacing lost documents, insurance questions, landlord-tenant issues, and consumer protection issues such as price-gouging and avoiding contractor scams in the rebuilding process," according to a news release. The hotline will be answered in English and Spanish.

More information is available at texasbar.com/floodresponse and texaslawhelp.org.

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid also is offering free legal assistance with insurance claim denials, problems with landlords or mortgage companies, price gouging and replacing important legal documents. Callers can leave a voice message at 1-866-757-1570. The hotlines is staffed Monday-Friday, and messages will be returned as soon as possible.

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid also posted free legal fact sheets on its website at www.trla.org/centexfloods.

4:33 p.m.: Dr. Charles Rogers, a former Corpus Christi resident who now lives in Dripping Springs, has asked U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold to research creating a law that would require the emergency broadcast system to include a signal warning of flash floods.

In an email to Farenthold, Rogers wrote pulsed sirens could indicate flash floods and continuous sirens could indicate tornadoes. He also suggested any resulting legislation be named after members of the McComb families still missing following weekend flooding in Wimberley.

Rogers said he is concerned about people who vacation in Central Texas but who may not know how to react during flash floods. Having a specific siren would at least warn of danger, he said.

"You cannot match the pressure of water when its moving 10 to 12 mph, and this water roars," he said. "The water is very violent and very deadly."

4:20 p.m.: Incarnate Word Academy will hold a vigil Thursday for students Leighton McComb, 4, and Andrew McComb, 6, who are missing after the Wimberley home they were in Sunday was swept away by flood water. Academy spokeswoman Dominique Damian said the two children attended the school and counseling has been made available to all students. The vigil is not open to the general public.

3:40 p.m.: Former Nueces County Commissioner and Corpus Christi Councilman Joe McComb spoke to the Caller-Times Tuesday afternoon from San Antonio where his son Jonathan was recuperating from his injuries. McComb said his son suffered bumps and bruises to his head in addition to the broken sternum and rib and collapsed lung, but never lost consciousness and has full memory of the ordeal. McComb said his son is doing well physically but, understandably, is distraught. The former county commissioner sounded in good spirits as he described his outlook as optimistic but realistic.

McComb gave more details about the rescue of his son's dog, a golden retriever named Maggie. Maggie was seen in a tree from a rescue helicopter. The dog was identified as Maggie and belonging to Jonathan McComb by the information on its collar.

3:20 p.m.: U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued a statement regarding the flooding throughout Texas: "My thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by the terrible flooding and storms, especially for those who have lost or are missing loved ones. While the trouble is far from over, I am heartened by the courage of our first responders and the number of Texans coming together to help their neighbors in need during these difficult times."

3:02 p.m.: The families of the missing release a statement: "On behalf of the Carey, Charba, and McComb families who were lost in the flooding in Wimberley on Saturday night, we want to make it clear that the search remains an ACTIVE search. As we speak, 22 volunteer search teams comprised of more than 250 people are working closely with state and county agencies to canvass the area for signs of our loved ones. Thankfully, the weather is on our side today and should enable significant progress.

We are asking landowners along the Blanco River to please search the debris field on their property and to grant access to search parties. Any potential information should be shared with local authorities.

We have been overwhelmed and strengthened by the outpouring of support from our family members, friends, and the Corpus Christi community, as well as the city of Wimberley, Hays and Guadalupe counties, and all the volunteers who have come from across the state to help. To you, we extend our deepest gratitude and ask that you continue to pray for the safety of our loved ones, as we are hopeful they will be found."

2:52 p.m.: Hays County officials lead the media on a tour of the most devastated areas hit in Wimberley.

2:35 p.m.: Families and friends who are volunteering to search for Corpus Christi families stress that they need access to area landowners' property in Wimberley area as part of search efforts, Caller-Times multimedia journalist Julie Garcia reports.

2:29 p.m.: Caller-Times multimedia journalist Julie Garcia reports Clayton Duncan, a family friend of one of the missing families, says volunteers are working with landowners to search properties and asking for access to search those lands. Garcia also reports that family and friends remain hopeful.

2:07 p.m.: Caller-Times multimedia journalist Julie Garcia, who is in Wimberley covering the search and rescue efforts with Caller-Times photojournalist Gabe Hernandez, said a tour of the most devastated areas in Wimberley is set to occur about 3 p.m. We will continue to provide updates as the tour is ongoing.

1:50 p.m.: Active search and rescue continues for the 12 missing in Wimberley area, officials said. Command center for Corpus Christi families is at First Baptist Church of Wimberley, 15951 Winters Mill Parkway, Wimberley, Texas.

1:30 p.m.: Hays County Emergency Management Coordinator reports two confirmed dead in Wimberley flooding. One found body found in San Marcos and the other in Caldwell County just a few hours ago.

1:08 p.m.: Hays County Commissioner Will Conley says there are 30 people unaccounted for after the significant flooding along the Blanco River in Central Texas, The Associated Press reported.

1 p.m.: Hays County officials hold news conference to update the public about search and rescue efforts in Wimberley.

12:30 p.m.: Caller-Times multimedia journalist Julie Garcia reports that Hays County Food Bank and Wimberley Crisis Bread Basket have a distribution from 11-1 at Wimberley Community Center.

12:20 p.m.: Dozens of volunteers who have come to Wimberley to assist in a search and rescue efforts to find 12 missing people and cleanup the area were redirected because of an unexpected bridge closure at Farm-to-Market 12.

The Texas Department of Transportation is closing the Ranch Road which crosses the Blanco River until further notice for repairs. Another bridge at Spoke Hollow and FM 3237 completely washed away in the flood.

12:17 p.m.: Caller-Times reporter Nadia Tamez-Robledo reports that monetary donations can be made to the Barnabas Connection, a community organization in Wimberley, at PO Box 737, Wimberley, Texas, 78676. Information: www.barnabasconnects.org

12:20 p.m.: Residents along the Guadalupe River near Tivoli are starting to evacuate as the water is expected to rise again when the wave of water upstream comes. Some already have water up to their houses.

Noon: The Guadalupe River is cresting at 40.3 feet in Cuero, according to the National Weather Service. Flood stage is 24 feet. The Blanco River, which flooding Wimberley is a tributary in the Guadalupe River Basin.

10:20 a.m.: Former Nueces County Commissioner Joe McComb was interviewed by CNN on Tuesday morning. McComb said in the TV interview that he is not losing hope, but reality "is setting in that it may not be the outcome that we are hoping for."

A search and rescue effort is underway in the Wimberley area after eight Corpus Christi residents have been missing since Sunday when the vacation river home they were staying in was swept away by flash floods in Wimberley. There is a total of 12 people missing in that area, officials said. The search and rescue effort continues for all 12, officials said.

Former Nueces County Commissioner Joe McComb was interviewed by CNN on Tuesday morning. McComb said in the TV interview that he is not losing hope, but reality "is setting in that it may not be the outcome that we are hoping for."

Joe McComb, whose daughter-in-law, Laura McComb, 33, and his two grandchildren, Leighton, 4, and Andrew, 6 have been missing since the Wimberley home they were in Sunday, celebrating Memorial Day weekend, was swept off its foundation by the rain-swollen Blanco River. Joe McComb's son Jonathan McComb, 36, survived and was found Sunday on the shoreline about 10 miles from where the house originally stood. He remains in a San Antonio hospital.

The search also continued for retired Corpus Christi dentist Ralph H. Carey; his wife, Sue; daughter Michelle Charba; son-in-law Randy Charba; and grandson, Will.

HOW TO HELP

For volunteer and flood victim info, call 512-754-2275.

Donations of water, non-perishable food, paper products, first aid items and cleaning supplies for Wimberley flood victims can be dropped off at the office of Dr. Bryan Gulley at 6421 Saratoga Blvd. or Apollo Towing at 6342 Harwick Drive. Information: Shannon Gulley 361-816-3030 or Dorsey Shedd 361-290-0933

Bay Area Title Services is accepting donations at 5926 S. Staples St., Suite A, to be delivered to Central Texas flood victims. Items needed include water, large storage containers with lids, trash bags, flashlights with batteries, can openers, tools, laundry baskets, gift cards, first aid items, toiletry items, paper products (plates, towels, cups) and cleaning products. High protein canned goods including chicken and tuna, peanut butter and single-serving snacks also are needed.

FOUND PHOTOS

Caller-Times reporter Nadia Tamez-Robledo said people in Wimberley are posting on Facebook photos of recovered property and pets (LINK: https://www.facebook.com/groups/534074653398741/) and found photos (LINK: https://www.facebook.com/groups/948003525230011/).

The University of Texas at Austin's School of Information is offering to help flood victims restore papers and photographs, textiles, scrapbooks, books and other sentimental objects recovered from the flood. The items should be frozen if possible and not thrown out, according to a news release. Salvage workshops in the nearby areas affected by flooding also are planned within the next few weeks.

For advice on document conservation or to host a salvage workshop, contact the school at 512-903-9564 or [email protected].

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