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After the Flood: A Helping Hand for Fellow Texans

I spent some time in Blanco this weekend helping a friend clean up damage left by the Memorial Day weekend flash flood. My friend was lucky, all things considered. The bottom floor of the home was flooded, but he and his family are safe. Others were not so lucky.

It will be quite some time before the damage is totally cleared. Our neighbors need our help. If you are able-bodied, in possession of proper tools and work clothes, and if you have the time, energy, and knowledge to clean and muck out, San Marcos and Wimberley have volunteer centers set up at San Marcos Plaza Park at 206 C.M. Allen Parkway and Cypress Creek Church at 211 Stillwater. The city is asking volunteers to check in there from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bring work clothes, masks, gloves, boots, and tools such as pry bars, box cutters, rakes and shovels. Wear a long sleeved shirt, and bring a change of clothes for when your shift is over. This is info direct from first response team on the ground and those dispatching, but please call and verify this yourself. Thank you.

If, for whatever reason, you’re not able to get down to the affected areas and help in person, over the next several weeks, we will be sharing ways that you can help victims of the flash floods in Central Texas by donating time, money, resources, and more to our fellow Texans.

Right Now:

Hays Food Bank – Donate food and money online or in-person.

United Way for Greater Austin – Donate money and supplies, or volunteer your time to aid in flood relief efforts.

Austin Disaster Relief Network – Sponsor an affected family, donate, or volunteer.

City of Wimberley – Updates and information for flood victims, and opportunities to donate and volunteer.

Austin Flood Assistance – Recovery resources and how to help in Austin.

City of Austin Small Business Program – Disaster preparedness and disaster recovery resources for the small business community. Additionally, if you need access to computers, printing, or phones, visit the Small Business Program’s Business Solutions Center to continue your daily business responsibilities. The center is located at One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Road on the 1st floor, and is open M-F 8:30am – 4:30pm.

Keep us posted in the comments below if you know of more ways to help!

  Long Term:

The impact of the floods won’t simply disappear in a week or two. A friend, Amelia T., recently posted the following to Facebook:

This evening I met a woman named Jill who was deservedly enjoying a margarita and a little bit of time away from the madness going on in her hometown of Wimberley. And she explained a few things/needs to me about the situation and the best ways to help and be of service…

1. As many know, devastating floods create a long term problem, and there are many phases to clean-up. With more rain predicted, things are going to be rough for a while. Consider donating your time in a few weeks— when the buzz has worn off, there will still be a need for help.

2. Many wonderful organizations and individuals have been rounding up and donating supplies, but as needs continue to change, money is one of the best things to donate.

3. The local economy of Wimberley is dependent on tourism, especially in the spring and summer. Once things settle down, the absolute best way you can help is to Visit Wimberley! Do some shopping, eat at their restaurants, help boost their economy.

 The nearby community of San Marcos is in a similar situation. Especially with Texas State University out of session, this summer would be a great time to Visit San Marcos!

Let us know about your favorite places to visit, stay, eat, shop, etc. in the comments section below.