Flooding, Storm Damage in Central Texas: How To Find or Provide Help

Update Monday: Another round of storms swept through a large part of Central and South Central Texas Monday afternoon, bringing inches of rain, hail, strong winds and some reports of tornadoes touching down.

For more in-depth information on conditions in Austin resulting from Monday's storms, visit our post here, listen to 90.5 FM, and/or follow @KUT on twitter.

Gov. Abbott visited Wichita Falls and Wimberley Monday to assess damage to the area from Sunday's storms and deliver statements to those affected. The governor gave a total of 24 Texas counties "disaster" declarations. Abbott offered his prayers to residents and called the storm damage "absolutely devastating."

Update Sunday 4 p.m. City of San Marcos officials confirmed one fatality as a result of the storms and flooding. The man's identity has not been released publicly.

The City of San Marcos encourages any displaced people to call the city's hotline: 512-393-7896.

Update Sunday 4:40 p.m. The Red Cross of Central Texas is reporting that they need back-up volunteers to assist in relief efforts. A training session for those willing to volunteer will be held tomorrow (Monday) at 9 a.m. at 11300 Old San Antonio Road, Manchaca, Tx, 78652. If you're interested and have not volunteered before, you can fill out an application online here, or fill one out on site Monday morning if you're without internet access.

The Red Cross also has an app that can provide information on where to find or provide help, in both Spanish and English. Go here to download the app (para descargar la aplicación de Red Cross haga clic aquí).

Up to nine inches of rain and strong thunderstorms Saturday night and Sunday morning caused flooding, power outages and wind- and storm-related damages to areas all around Austin and Central Texas. San Marcos and Wimberley were two of the areas hit particularly hard, and Hays County — where nearly 1,000 people were out of their homes as of Sunday morning — remains under a flood warning Sunday until at least 5 p.m. 

In the Austin area, not as many homes are affected, though both Onion Creek and Barton Creek are expected to rise, but damages to homes and buildings is not expected.

Where to seek help

The Red Cross has opened shelters across the Central and South Texas Region for anyone impacted by severe weather and flash flooding. Anyone in need of shelter is encouraged to go to a shelter listed below or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. Shelters are open at the following locations:

• First Baptist Church, 631 S School St. in Boerne
• Boerne Middle School North, 240 Johns Rd. in Boerne
• Boerne Middle School, South – 10 Cascade Cavern in Boerne
• Cotulla High School - 1034 TX-97 in Cotulla

COMMUNITY SHELTERS

• Camp Wood First Baptist Church, 813 Nueces St. in Camp Wood
• First United Methodist Church, 105 N LBJ Drive in Johnson City
• Gem of the Hills, 2233 Hwy 281 S in North Blanco

Those who need general assistance are encouraged to call the 1-800-RED-CROSS. If you're on twitter you can follow Central Texas Red Cross here. You can check on loved ones and neighbors via the Red Cross's Safe and Well registry here, and survivors are encouraged to register there as well. Donations to the Red Cross can be made online here. Those looking to donate can also do so by phone by calling 512-928-4271 or by texting REDCROSS to 90999 for a $10 donation.

The Austin Disaster Relief Network Call Center is active and taking calls at 512-806-0800. Warehouses for donations are currently being established, the Network says. You can donate to the Memorial Weekend Flood Relief Fund online here or send by mail to: Austin Disaster Relief Network, PO Box 3817, Cedar Park TX, 78630.

The United Way is also providing assistance to flood victims. To give online, visit United Way’s website or text UWATX to 85944 for a $10 donation.

A press release from the Salvation Army says the organization is providing food and hydration for survivors at the San Marcos Rec Center.

Send donations via the Central Texas Salvation Army online here. Donations via mail can be sent to Salvation Army, PO Box 1000, Austin TX, 78767. You can also text HELPAUSTINAREA to 41444 to make donations.  For more information, follow the Salvation Army on twitter or look for updated information on its facebook page.

Hays County is under a boil-water notice. The county has also issued a 9 p.m. curfew for tonight. The City of San Marcos' Facebook page is also offering general updated information, for those who have internet or network access.

Tens of thousands were without power after the storms. With more rains expected, a flood alert is in effect in Central Texas from Monday until Tuesday morning.