Waco Area Hurricane Relief Update

Larry Holze’s September 13th update of Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort.

Status Update as of September 13th at 2:30pm from

Waco-McLennan County Emergency Management


As of today (Tuesday) at 2:30 pm, we have confirmed that Central United
Methodist Church is still housing 9 individuals in their shelter, Waco
Christian Fellowship is housing 29 individuals...Both Waco Christian
Fellowship and Central United Methodist Church are requesting monetary
donations and gift cards to assist the families. They continue to request
that donors specify "Disaster Relief" in the memo section on checks written
to the churches. For more information, call Central United Methodist Church
at 420-2862 or Waco Christian Fellowship at 772-9768.

The number of families staying at Parkside Village apartments is still
eighteen (61 people). They still need about 5-7 mattresses and bed frames as
well as and dining room tables with chairs.

Any other churches or individuals who are providing for the needs of
hurricane Katrina evacuees are asked to please contact Emergency Management
at 750-5911 so we can properly register and provide for their needs and any
additional resources that become available.

The Executive Committee of the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District
Board has voted to approve the waiver of all fees for services to Hurricane
Katrina victims. This waiver is effective immediately. ID will be requested
prior to services rendered. A driver's license, shelter ID, or letter
indicating current place of residence will suffice. In the event that ID is
not available, staff will work with individuals and families to assist with
their health and medical needs.

From the Waco office of Social Security: Social Security cards, change of
addresses, information about claim status, immediate payments of lost
benefit checks can be made locally by calling 254/741-2333(local) or
800/772-1213.

The Waco Tribune Herald has some leftover school supplies that could not be
included in a big shipment they made to support seven new schools in Iraq.
They have 500 notebooks, 500 yellow lined legal pads, 75 boxes of crayons,
70 pencil boxes, and a few other school supplies left over. Churches or
families supporting Katrina evacuees can call 757-5791 to pickup what is
needed for these school children.

Fellowship Bible Church has offered to assist with transportation needs for
evacuees staying in Waco. The church's phone number is 848-7200.
From Salvation Army: They are helping with prescription medication,
nonperishable food, household items and furniture (when such items are
available), clothing, and linens. Other social services are available. Those
needing assistance call 254-756-7271. Immediate needs include household
items and furniture. They DO NOT NEED any more clothing items.

School Enrollment:
As of today, Waco ISD reports ten new students have enrolled bringing the
total to 48 children enrolled in Waco schools, Reicher Catholic School
reports 2 students, St. Paul's Episcopal School reports one student, and
Midway ISD reports one additional student added for a total of 16 children
in their system. A total of 7 students are enrolled at McLennan Community
College. Baylor University has 25 undergraduates enrolled and one student
is enrolled in Truett Seminary. Baylor's Graduate school has five students
into their program.

A website suggested by Jimmy Dorrell invites church groups or families
interested in sponsoring a family in Louisiana in an apartment for 90 days
to visit www.foundationforhope.org .

Bill Johnson indicates that the Greater Robinson Relief Center has ten rooms
completely ready. Two are spoken for and eight are available. Although they
have not received anyone as of this report he expects the two families
possibly today.

We have received information that evacuees can get free tickets to "An
Evening with Cowboy Legends" featuring Super Bowl Champions Billy Joe Dupree
and Rayfield Wright on September 29 at 6:30 pm at Knox Hall. Call 412-0886
or 799-6802. Evacuees can also receive free tickets for admission to
Baylor's Mayborn museum and Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum by calling
750-5636.

The U.S. Postal Service is encouraging evacuees to fill out change of
address forms in order to restore their mail service. They can do so by
going to the local post office in their current city, or online at usps.com,
or by phone at 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777).

Businesses who have job openings should contact the Texas Workforce
Commission. They are coordinating job opportunities with job seekers.

Donations and Resources:
Cash donations are still one of the easiest ways to help. They are being
accepted at the Waco Water Office at 425 Franklin Ave., and area Extraco
Banks. These funds will be given to American Red Cross to be dispersed as
they see fit. Persons wanting to donate items are asked to contact Caritas,
Salvation Army and other local agencies to see what specific items they are
in need of.

Baylor's Center for Family and Community Ministries has a website that has a
number of resources for caregivers, relief workers, mental health providers
and persons in need of assistance in recovery from Hurricane Recovery. The
site is www.family-ministry.org .
This information and additional local and national resource information for
help are being added regularly to the City's web site. By going to
www.waco-texas.com you will find several links
for information on the communities efforts and the nation. If you will click
on the link called "Resources for Evacuees" on the home page, you will find
contact information for resources to Find family and friends, contact
numbers for FEMA and state Emergency Management offices, American Red Cross,
Local and state Texas Workforce for job help, Green card and immigration,
County Welfare, Salvation Army, Schools, Library and Education, Insurance,
Medicare and Social Security, Key medical, dental, pharmaceutical and family
planning needs, local pharmaceutical stores and more.

Citizen volunteers are invited to print out these resource web pages to
provide to evacuees that they are serving and who do not have web access.
The city will be happy to provide as many printed copies as may be needed by
calling 750-5636. As additional community resources and contacts are
received, they will be added to the list.

Citizens are advised to use caution in responding to some requests for
donations. Several examples have been observed in our area of people
claiming to be evacuees from hurricane Katrina and attempting to gain from
the victims' tragedy. Other potential criminal activity in our area is
being monitored to properly protect our citizens.

Information contained on all these daily updates are archived on the city's
web site. Daily voice updates are provided by phone on the City's Public
Information Hotline 750-5606.

Anyone who comes into our community that needs sheltering, please call
750-5911.

This update is as of September 13th at 2:30pm. These updates will continue
to be issued daily until all known evacuees are placed in permanent housing
and no locally operated shelters are in operation.

Larry W. Holze
Director - Municipal Information
Public Information Officer
City of Waco
(254)750-5636
Larryh@ci.waco.tx.us

Subject: Waco Relief Effort update as of September 14th at 2:30pm
Status Update as of September 14th at 2:30pm from
Waco-McLennan County Emergency Management

As of today (Wednesday) at 2:30 pm, Central United Methodist Church is
sheltering 10 individuals in their shelter and they expect to have them
all in more permanent housing by Friday. Waco Christian Fellowship is
sheltering 29 individuals.They are beginning to place them in more permanent
housing.
St. Jerome Catholic Church reports they are housing six families.

Rumor: "FEMA and the City of Waco will pay for half of the purchase of
a new home". This is NOT true.

Two more families are staying at Parkside Village apartments. They now
have twenty families with 65 people. They no longer have any needs or
requests.

Several other churches throughout the community are providing
apartments and resources to the families they will support for varying lengths of
time.

Today's report will be considerably shorter with only new information
and sheltering status updates included. Previous daily updates are
archived on the City's website at www.waco-texas.com to
assist with on going resources. These updates will focus on sheltering
activities and temporary needs. Once placed in more permanent housing
and proper registration and identification have been accomplished, those
providing the support will respond to needs as they become residents in
our community.

Any other churches or individuals who are providing temporary
sheltering for hurricane Katrina evacuees are asked to please contact Emergency
Management at 750-5911 so we can properly register and provide for their needs and
any additional resources that become available.

School Enrollment:
As of today, Waco ISD reports six new students have enrolled bringing
the total to 54 children enrolled in Waco schools, Reicher Catholic School
reports 2 students, St. Paul's Episcopal School reports one student,
and Midway ISD enrollment remains at sixteen. A total of 7 students are
enrolled at McLennan Community College. Baylor University expects
their enrollment to mostly likely remain the same at twenty-five
undergraduates, five graduate and one Truett Seminary students, due to it being past
the 12th day of class.

The Greater Robinson Relief Center is set to receive from 36-40
individuals in to their "private-efficiency apartments" located at the former
Robinson Elementary school. As of this update they have not received any people
but have been contacted by two families coming up from the Astrodome.
People interested in locating in this facility should contact Jo Schlottmann
at 662-9941 or 662-3188.

From FEMA: FEMA is adding 1,200 additional personnel to work with the
help line. There are 132,000 heads of households registered with FEMA
Residents that have homeowners insurance and/or flood insurance are not
eligible for FEMA funding.

Donations and Resources:
Cash donations are still one of the easiest ways to help. They are
being accepted at the Waco Water Office at 425 Franklin Ave., and area
Extraco Banks. These funds will be given to American Red Cross to be dispersed
as they see fit. Persons wanting to donate items are asked to contact
Caritas, Salvation Army and other local agencies to see what specific items they
are in need of.

A transcript of this report and all other daily updates along with
information and other local and national resource information for help
are being added regularly to the City's web site. By going to
www.waco-texas.com you will find several links for information on the communities efforts and the nation. Citizen volunteers are
encouraged to print out these resource web pages to provide to evacuees that they are
serving and who do not have web access. The city will be happy to
provide as many printed copies as may be needed by calling 750-5636.

Anyone who comes into our community that needs sheltering, please call
750-5911. This update is as of September 14th at 2:30pm. These updates will
continue to be issued daily until all known evacuees are placed in permanent
housing and no locally operated shelters are in operation.

Larry W. Holze
Director - Municipal Information
Public Information Officer
City of Waco
(254)750-5636
Larryh@ci.waco.tx.us