Last night Dallas took it on the chin with Rowlett, Garland, DeSoto and Collin County really taking the brunt of the tornadic storms. While the weather guessers and emergency sirens did an excellent job warning people to take cover, such conditions were truly overwhelming. As most in the North Texas area were spared, thousands discovered the brutality and cruelty of nature’s forces.
Today the experts were surmising that Garland alone had an EF4 tornado killing eight people and destroying home after home. In the world of tornadoes, an EF4 is only trumped by an EF5. That means Garland had 200-mile winds that made a deadly cut through the city as it marched from DeSoto northeast toward Farmersville.
As first responders like Texas Taskforce 1 continue their search for the injured and utility crews try to restore some type of normalcy to tattered neighborhoods, families are seeking help at the following shelters:
- Cornerstone Baptist Church, 8200 Schrade Road, Rowlett (Ph. 972.475.4403)
- First United Methodist, 4405 Main St., Rowlett (Ph. 972.475.3667)
- Rowlett Community Center, 5300 Main St., Rowlett (Ph. 972.412.6170)
- Stedham Elementary, 6200 Danridge Rd., Rowlett (Ph. 972.463.5887)
- Red Oak Middle School, 154 Louise Ritter Blvd., Red Oak (Ph. 972.617.0066)
- Frank D. Moates Elementary School, 1500 Heritage Blvd., Glenn Heights (Ph. 972.230.2881)
Still others are trying to locate their pets that got lost in the evening nightmare. Luckily, lost animals are being turned into area shelters like Rowlett. Dallas Companion Animal Projects is providing info and Plano Media Director Steve Stoler has been using his Facebook page trying to connect lost parents and pets.
Needless to say, insurance companies are in overdrive trying to help victims start the long, arduous process of rebuilding.
After you count your lucky stars that you made it out of the night unscratched, consider
- donating money to the Red Cross and The Salvation Army
- checking social media for possible friends who might be in need
- taking food and money to area animal shelters and the North Texas Pet Food Pantry
- preparing your household just in case another episode takes place (i.e. storm shelter, microchipping the pets, emergency plan, etc.)
- contacting your church and favorite nonprofit to see what they are doing to help.
On the other hand, what not to do? Don’t
- Go to the afflicted area. It’s chaotic enough with victims and professional assistance.
- Fall for unproven scams seeking financial aid for the victims.
Any nonprofit that is offering services or is in need of assistance to specifically help the Christmas Day After Disaster (CDAD) victims, please send your requests to [email protected] and we’ll try to get the word out. But you need to get the info in by close of work Monday. Please put in the subject line: “CDAD Assistance” and the name of your organization.
Please realize that like any disaster, there are two major stages: immediate recovery and longtime rebuilding. In the days ahead, please don’t forget the second stage. Neighbors will continue to need your support.
As you settle back in your comfortable and familiar digs, think about those so would just like to find a photo.