By late Monday, more than 100 people had come to Ascension to wait out the smoke and flames.
Lee Mobley, 73, sat with his wife, Martha, and tried not to ponder what he might not ever see again. The retired chief petty officer in the Navy had 15 minutes to leave, he said.
"It's tough to make a decision in 15 minutes about what you're going to get from your house," he said solemnly.
"We left 22 years of memories from the military there," he added. He also abandoned a car in the garage.
He'd been saving it, he explained, for his grandson.
Others at the church worried about the condition of their wedding pictures and heirloom furniture…..[end excerpt]
2218 Pershing Drive, Austin, 78723
(512) 929-1250
Austin Disaster Relief Network
P.O. Box 3817, Cedar Park, 78630
(512) 331-2200
Capital Area Food Bank
Accepting nonperishable food donations (canned meats, granola bars, peanut butter, bottled water) at 8201 S. Congress Ave., Austin
(512) 282-2111
Catholic Charities of Central Texas
Accepting monetary donations as well as items such as blankets, pillows, toiletries and medical supplies from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1817 E. Sixth St., Austin, and 7-10 a.m. and 4-7 p.m. at 6225 U.S. 290 East.
Catholic Charities of Central Texas
H-E-B
Collecting donations to American Red Cross at its stores' checkout stands. H-E-B is donating $50,000 to the Red Cross and deploying its mobile kitchen to the emergency shelter at Bastrop Middle School.
Old Wind's Dollar General Store
Accepting clothing donations at 210 Main St., Smithville
So tragic.
My friend in Bastrop said they were given 5 minutes to evacuate. She said they loaded up their granddaughter, their pets, and took off in two cars, with the firemen following them out. They lost their home and all possessions.
She said her tragedy is amplified by 500 by seeing friends and neighbors lose everything too. She said they just walk around like zombies hugging everyone in sight.
So much heartache, but she was just so very thankful her family was safe.