The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) reported last week that 150 homes in Uvalde County had been destroyed or received major damage during the July floods. This week the number grew by five additional structures. Another 100 were wrecked in Zavala County, which includes Batesville, where the Leona River overwhelmed much of the small community.
Initial response to the flooding brought together first responders and dozens of volunteers and non-profits. Their efforts saved lives and brought relief to thousands. Now, however, recovery efforts have slowed, while the need for help continues apace.
The Uvalde Rebuild Account, created by Uvaldeans Sue Ellen Vera and Melissa Alejandro at MG Building Materials and T.J. Moore Lumber yard, has raised $7,203 that has helped 25 families obtain drywall and insulation. Sadly, the demand has far outstripped supply. After the Leader-News ran a story about ladies’ efforts, three new donations emerged but so did an additional 20 families in search of help. The list now contains 80 names.
“My phone keeps going off, but it’s just people wanting to be added to the list. And now we have people out of [the] Batesville area reaching out to us,” Vera said. “I mean, people need tons of this material.”
Homeowners with water damage, knowing that mold starts to grow within 24 to 48 hours on damp paper facings and gypsum, began ripping out drywall and insulation within hours after the flooding.
The alternative for those with no money was to simply leave it in place. They now risk exposure to mold spores and musty odors that may trigger asthma and allergic reactions. The correct remediation, according to contractors, is cut drywall out at a height of four feet and remove it and the insulation. The process allows air to dry out wood studs that may otherwise begin to rot or attract termites.
A larger pool of emergency flood assistance, almost $320,000, is available to Uvalde County residents courtesy of a grant from the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country. The grant is being administered by Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of San Antonio, Inc. through an office at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Assistance is available for building materials, temporary or long-term lodging and income lost due to the disaster.
To qualify for help, residents must complete a needs assessment at forms.connectivetx.org/376 . Charities will make contact and arrange an appointment to help determine funding.
Other Uvaldeans like Rumba Fitness Studio owner Evelin Ortiz have also joined the effort to assist flood victims. She has organized an event on Aug. 22 at Uvalde Memorial Park called Pilates & Lattes. Participants will be treated to a “beginner-friendly outdoor session” of pilates, followed by coffee and visiting.
“Our community has been through a lot, and this event is a small way of reminding one another that difficult moments do not have to be faced alone,” Ortiz said in a story in today’s newspaper. “We move together, we grow together, and we heal together.”
While no donation is required to attend the 9 a.m. gathering, contributions will be warmly accepted.
We encourage Uvaldeans to open their wallets and hearts to the dozens of people who are trying to survive in homes that may soon begin to poison them. A pallet of half-inch drywall will cover over 2,000 square feet (assuming a four-foot cut height) at a cost of about $450. Donations totaling $25,000 would allow Vera and Alejandro to address the 55 families remaining on their list.
Won’t you help?
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