Rio Texas Conference Responds to Storm Damage

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Rio Texas Annual Conference Disaster Response Coordinator, Gene Hileman, met via conference call with district disaster coordinators, pastors, and District Superintendents from areas damaged by recent storms on Saturday, Oct. 31. Members of the Rio Texas Mission Vitality Center also joined the call. Response plans were made accordingly.

In the Capital District, the Onion Creek area was hit the hardest. Flood buckets, stored in the Bishop Jóel and Dr. Raquel Martinez Disaster Response Center Warehouse in Kerrville, have been delivered to Oak Hill United Methodist Church in Austin. These supplies will then be delivered to Onion Creek. Meanwhile, Oak Hill is gathering response teams while Dripping Spring United Methodist Church has teams awaiting assignments.

Flooding in Wimberley is reported to be more extensive than the Memorial Day Flood.

Flooding in Wimberley is reported to be more extensive than the Memorial Day Flood.

Flooding is widespread in the Hill Country District. Buda, Kyle, San Marcos, Wimberley and New Braunfels have all experienced flooding. Flood buckets have been delivered to the area. The small community of D'Hanis (outside of Hondo, TX) experienced damage from a possible tornado that touched down there early Friday morning. Most of the damage was confined to businesses in the downtown area.

The Crossroads District continues to evaluate the situation in Martindale, an area that was heavily damaged by the Memorial Day flooding.  One member of First United Methodist Church, Seguin had their home destroyed by the storm. 

Damage for the possible tornado is Floresville

Damage for the possible tornado is Floresville

In the Las Misiones district, there was extensive damage from the tornado that touched down in Floresville. According to Peter Aguilar, Pastor of Floresville United Methodist Church, “cleanup began immediately.” Authorities in Floresville were able to lift the nighttime curfew in time for Halloween trick-or-treating. 

The Coastal Bend district did not see much damage from this storm system. However, they are still working on long-term recovery efforts from the May flooding.

In the El Valle District, damage was confined mostly to the Weslaco area. There is a shelter open at Weslaco First Baptist Church. There is damage from flooding due to a previous storm event earlier this year. While things are in motion for long-term relief, some families are still in need of early response teams.

Weslaco saw extensive damage from this round of flooding.

Weslaco saw extensive damage from this round of flooding.

Your help is needed. At this point disaster response coordinators are asking help from trained ERT teams and individuals.

Register Your ERT Team

Register as an Individual or Small Group (3 or less.)

Only trained ERT Team Members with current background checks (up to five years) will be accepted.

Disaster Response Responds to Eagle Pass Flooding

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Disaster Response is currently responding to the floods that occurred in Eagle Pass last week.

According to Conference Disaster Response Coordinator Eugene Hileman, 150 homes were flooded and an additional 200 suffered water damage when nearly 10 inches of rain came through leaks in roofs and windows.

209 flood buckets and 80 health kits were delivered to the area immediately.  The supply of flood buckets is still more than adequate due to the great response following the Blanco River Flood last May. 

People wishing to respond to either the fires or the floods near Smithville should send gifts to the Rio Texas Conference Disaster Fund.