Sunday, August 31, 2008

Denton County communities prepare for arrival of Gulf Coast evacuees

By Pegasus News wire

New Orleans residents gathered at an evacuation pick-up station in the Seventh Ward.

DENTON — Denton County and the communities of Denton, Carrollton, Lake Cities, and Lewisville have been making preparations for the arrival of persons evacuated from the Gulf Coast area to Denton County. Denton County activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on Friday morning, Aug. 29. Emergency Managers and other officials throughout Denton County have been participating in daily conference call briefings from the Texas Governor’s Division of Emergency Management.

Denton County is preparing to activate up to four shelters in cooperation with the American Red Cross. These shelters will provide temporary housing for persons who are transported to Denton County via official evacuation buses and aircraft arriving to the North Texas area.

Denton County has set up a Help Line to provide information to hurricane self evacuees who have located themselves to the county. These self evacuees in Denton County can contact the Help Line to obtain information about local hotels, motels, banks, food banks, stores, and other information. The Help Line number is 940-349-4270.

The hours of operation for the Help Line are as follows:

Sunday, Aug. 31, noon to 7 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 1, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 2, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 3, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Denton County Judge Mary Horn said that she signed a disaster declaration for Denton County to assure that it is ready to assist any Gulf Coast citizens that may be seeking shelter in Denton County. Federal and state disaster declarations have been issued as well, which named 61 counties in Texas, including Denton County. This means that locally Denton is mobilizing its disaster preparedness resources and partners and is coordinating with the state and federal government.

“I am asking all Denton County residents to please assist us in welcoming these guests to our communities and assist the Denton County United Way with cash donations and volunteering of your time," said Judge Horn. "We did an extraordinary job of supporting the response efforts for Katrina and Rita, and I am confident that Denton County residents will rise to the occasion again.”

In preparation for addressing the numerous needs, the United Way of Denton County is accepting checks or cash donations to their Disaster Relief Fund. These donations will be used to support local agencies identified as providing services for the evacuees. Cash or check donations will be accepted at the following locations:

United Way of Denton County

625 Dallas Drive, Suite 525

Denton, Texas 76205

Information & Referral - 940-566-2688

First State Bank

400 West Oak Street

Denton, Texas

First State Bank

1400 N. Corinth Street, Suite 101

Corinth, Texas

The First State Bank Corinth and Denton main number is 940-349-5444.

The United Way of Denton County will be open on Monday, Sept. 1 and will accept monetary donations, Mastercard or Visa donations, only. They are located at 625 Dallas Drive, Suite 525 and updated information can be found at this website.

“The Denton County community was extremely generous during the 2005 Katrina/Rita relief efforts and United Way was literally overwhelmed with donations of cash, food, water and clothing,” said Lilia Bynum, President & CEO of United Way of Denton County. “We are asking the community to assist us again in the Hurricane Gustav relief effort.

"We are not sure what items we will need yet, but we can always use monetary donations and volunteers.”

The United Way of Denton County and the Salvation Army of Denton County will open a collection site where the public can drop off non-perishable food and other items to address specific needs. This information will be forthcoming.

Source: city of Denton

Related stories

• UPDATED: Gustav Gustav Gustav (Sept. 1, 2008)

See more stories in:

• Weather > Hurricanes