Governor Greg Abbott today declared a state of disaster in Bastrop, Brazoria, Caldwell, Comal, Galveston, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Hays, Hidalgo, Liberty, Navarro, Travis, Willacy, and Wilson Counties in the State of Texas. This declaration comes after preliminary damage assessments were finalized and federal declaration criteria was met. Governor Abbott is also requesting that the President declare a major disaster for individual assistance. If the request is granted by the President, affected citizens in these counties may be eligible for Individual Assistance grants of up to $33,000 from the federal government, and low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
“The flooding that occurred this past October throughout the state forever changed many Texans’ lives,” said Governor Abbott. “Declaring a disaster in the Lone Star State may allow affected citizens across the state to gain access to the resources they need in order to start rebuilding their lives. I have no doubt that the victims of this flooding will build an even stronger future for themselves, their families and the State of Texas.”
Thanksgiving Schedule for Volunteer Reception Centers, BR3T Office
The Volunteer Reception Centers set up to help survivors of the Memorial Weekend and All Saints (October 30-31) floods and storms will be closed for the Thanksgiving holidays from Wednesday, November 25 through Sunday, November 29. Centers are located at 801 W. MLK (Dunbar Center) in San Marcos and at 200 Stillwater Drive, Wimberley.
The Blanco River Regional Recovery Team (BR3T) office at the Dunbar Center will be closed from Wednesday, November 25 through Sunday, November 29.
The VRCs and the BR3T office will reopen at their regular 9 a.m. time on Monday, November 30 and maintain their normal hours, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays until further notice.
Residents of Blanco, Caldwell, Guadalupe or Hays counties or cities within those counties needing assistance from the floods and storms should contact the Center most convenient for them. Those wishing to volunteer to help flood and storm victims can also register at either center.
For more information, call 512-677-9701 or email BR3TVolunteers@gmail.com.
Online donations to the recovery effort can be made at www.BR3T.org via credit card or PayPal, or in person at any Wells Fargo bank. Checks or money orders can be mailed to The Blanco River Regional Recovery Team, P.O. Box 685, San Marcos, TX 78667.
The BR3T is a regional long-term recovery effort supported by Blanco, Caldwell, Guadalupe and Hays Counties and their cities to help disaster survivors recover from storms and floods that affected the region on Memorial Weekend and October 30-31, 2015. Any resident of the four-county region (inside or outside of city limits) is welcome to register for volunteer help, and volunteers are welcome from everywhere.