Friends Disaster Service Update

Friends Disaster Service completed the building of a house for a couple in Joplin, MO this last year. While there are no present projects, Tom Hoke’s ear and eyes have been on the latest disaster in our own state.

Friends Disaster Service is continuing to stay in touch with the State of Texas Division of Emergency Management on the Fertilizer Plant Explosion in West, Texas.

We share with you what we know.

Re-entry is being conducted through a strict process and unescorted media will not be allowed into the area. TxDOT is coordinating with the DDC to place road barriers in the area to prevent unauthorized access to the disaster site. Therefore no agencies are allowed in the town yet. We will continue to keep abreast of the situation.

Joint preliminary damage assessments by the Small Business Administration, State and FEMA with local officials began yesterday. Estimates are that 350 homes have been impacted. Of these, 296 are single-family; 50 are multi-family; and 4 are mobile homes. Of the 350 homes impacted, 142 were destroyed; 51 sustained major damage; 27 sustained minor damage; and 130 were affected. TDEM Recovery staff is working on a disaster declaration for Individual Assistance (IA) only as the city has not been able to assess major damage to its infrastructure or systems. Public Assistance damage assessments will be conducted when city officials are ready.

People are encouraged to NOT donate goods to West, TX. They have been inundated by the generous response of their neighbors, but they do not need more stuff at this time!

Cash contributions are needed and will be needed for quite some time as the survivors of this disaster begin their recovery.

Volunteers are encouraged to be patient as they will be needed when the clean up and long term recovery begins.

If anyone is interested in donating to West, send your donations to FDS, 925 E Walker St. League City, Texas 77573 and we will make sure it gets to the families that were affected.

We will let everyone know if there is an opportunity to help with a project in the future.

Be blessed,

Tom and Kathy Hoke