Posted on 04/22/2013 12:50:32 PM PDT by Kartographer
Can any Texas FReepers give us an idea of what situation is in the town of West Texas. I gotten some e-mails indicating that there is little to no help for the people there. Is it true or just a fund raising gimick?
I have family all around there as well...thanks for the compliment i will let some of those that cook know they are appreciated....
Even though they don’t do it for appreciation but ‘cause they really enjoy helping others.
My husband and I have TONS of clothing that we were going to donate, but by Saturday they were telling people to please not bring anymore, as they had run out of places to store them until people could look through them, so we gave money to the Salvation Army. Our daughter lives in Waco and said many places were collecting water and personal items (soap, toilet paper, etc), so she went on a supply run. I also read that so many people showed up to give hands-on help, that they were starting to turn them away this past wknd.
http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/West-Prepares-To-Bury-Its-Dead-203992381.html
Local News Report
Links..Where to send donations..I heard them announce they are out of room to store more donations ..send mmoney.
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/texas/kxan-teams-up-with-h-e-b-and-red-cross
KXAN is an Austin, TX tv station and HEB is a grocery store chain. They are helping and you can find out how to help on the link.
The students are getting back to school today. The younger ones there in West and the HS are being transported to a nearby district.
Residents are being allowed back in to their homes but only on a type of block by block basis from the less damaged to moderate damaged. There is a 7 pm curfew for those areas and people are only allowed to go in between 7 am and 7 pm. The more damaged area is still closed. It will take some time before all the streets are opened so many are still not able to go home. Some are still without electricity, gas and water. Water may be out for 3 weeks.
Last night’s news was reporting they were still watching some of the burned areas so fires don’t restart.
They don’t know if or when the nursing home will be rebuilt. The railroad tracks have been repaired for thru train passage.
Gov. Perry has stated more state inspections of the fertilizer place wouldn’t have prevented the fire. Still no word on how or why it happened.
On a sad note, hussein and moo will stop in for the memorial service in Waco on Thursday.
Also, to stop building contractor scams, all contractors must go through the city for approval. Thumbs up on that!
Yet our own government and military equate them with Hammas.
I hate my own government but I love my Southern Baptists!
Salt of the earth!
http://townhall.com/news/religion/2013/04/22/church-rallies-to-aid-blast-survivors-n1575426
Lots of praise and info in this article.
They train and go to many disasters..with portable showers, laundry facilities , chainsaws ..They minister and console.
They show the love of Christ.
Church rallies to aid blast survivors
By Jane Rodgers/Southern Baptist TEXAN
Apr 22, 2013
GHOLSON, Texas (BP) — As news broke of the fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas, pastor James Stevens in nearby Gholson contacted local media to offer the use of church facilities to survivors of the catastrophe.
First Baptist Church in Gholson also has hosted various Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and Texas Baptist Men volunteers and chaplains who have responded to the crisis in West, about 10 miles from Gholson.
Stevens was quick to note that plenty of assistance came to First Baptist after the announcement offering to help.
“The community is really banding together,” Stevens said. “I sent an email to KWTX, the local news station in Waco, saying that FBC Gholson was opening our church doors to anyone needing a place to sleep. Without even being asked, the [Gholson] community started bringing us blankets, food and water. Before long we had piles of it in our fellowship hall.”
Some of the donors were church members, but many were simply community residents wanting to help.
After two survivors from West stayed at the church the night of the explosion, a lady from an apartment complex in Waco came by to invite them to stay in a furnished apartment with food as long as needed, Stevens said.
With no displaced persons remaining at the church, FBC Gholson transported several truckloads of water, clothing and supplies to West for distribution to those in need, Stevens said.
For the volunteers and chaplains, Stevens said, “We’ve been cooking breakfast for them. They are on the ground at lunch, but we cook them dinner.”
http://bpnews.net/printerfriendly.asp?ID=40123
No kidding. I thought the explosion was out near El Paso when I heard the first reports.
Yep... they are great...I was talking to an insurance adjuster that was assigned to the big Hurricanes.. Katrina, Rita, Sandy...
He said he is one of few that is allowed by FEMA to be allowed into the disaster site and when he gets there the Southern Baptist are already in there even before the Red Cross or Salavation Army.. he asked me how they do that...
I explained that we have Churches there so we have the “in” if you will.
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