By Emily Banks Wooten
[email protected]
Center of Hope Disaster Response, located at 600 S. Washington in Livingston, has extended its hours for flood survivors. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week and will be distributing food, water, clothing, flood clean-up kits and other services as needed. The phone number is 936-327-7634.
Local citizens affected by recent flooding and severe weather events are encouraged to report the damage to their homes and businesses – even if they are insured – using the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) damage survey. iSTAT surveys can be filled out in English and Spanish by visiting https://damage.tdem.texas.gov/ and clicking “April 26-Ongoing Severe Weather Event.” Upload photos of interior damage to your home or business including any flood level waterlines. This survey information aids officials in determining whether the state meets federal requirements for various forms of disaster assistance.
Polk County Recovers, located at 602 E. Church St. in Livingston, assists with long-term recovery. The phone number is 936-933-2735. Polk County Recovers can assist with iSTAT damage reports and cleanup assistance requests.
Texas Division of Emergency Management, Polk County Emergency Management and Center of Hope and Polk County Recovers teams are continuing to assess the damage and gather information to assist local homeowners and businesses. Contact Polk County Recovers or the Center of Hope for assistance in recovery efforts. They are prepared to help homeowners and businesses with the starting phases of clean-up and debris removal.
To expedite the debris removal process, local citizens are asked to follow the following debris removal guidelines for private residential properties. Debris should be separated into the following categories – large appliances, construction debris, vegetative debris, hazardous waste and electronics.
Large appliances include refrigerators, washer/dryers, air conditioners, stoves, water heaters, dishwashers. Do not leave doors unsealed or unsecured. Construction debris includes building materials, drywall, lumber, carpet, furniture and plumbing. Vegetative debris includes tree branches, leaves, logs and plants. Hazardous waste includes oil, batteries, pesticides, paint and cleaning supplies. Electronics includes televisions, computers, stereos, phones and DVD players.
Debris should be placed curbside, away from trees, poles or other structures, and should not block the roadway or access to the property.
Samaritan’s Purse, the disaster response ministry led by Franklin Graham, is in town and using the First Methodist Church of Livingston as its base of operations for the next few months as they work in Polk, San Jacinto and Trinity counties.
Approximately 30 of their volunteers are here presently, although once they are fully ramped up, there will be 100-150 people housed FMC’s Discipleship Building on the first and third floors and using the fellowship hall for meals.
They plan to be here for up to two months and will offer free assistance with removal of personal property and furniture, flood clean-up, sanitizing, chainsaw work and temporary roof tarping. To speak with a Samaritan’s Purse representative, call 833-747-1234.
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