Archive for the ‘Weather’ Category

The North Texas Food Bank has committed to building and transporting 4,000 family food boxes to the Houston and Beaumont Food Banks for distribution to families as they come back to the area and we need your help. They are now seeking food donations. Items needed are:

1. Fruit Juices
2. Canned Meats
3. Beef Stew
4. Chunk Light Tuna in Water
5. Pork and Beans
6. Canned Soup
7. Canned Vegetables
8. Canned Fruit
9. Spaghetti in Tomato Sauce
10. Dried Beans
11. Dried Rice
* No glass containers please.

You can purchase these items in pre-packaged bags at your neighborhood Kroger, Tom Thumb and Albertsons. Customers can simply leave their bags at the store and they will be donated to the NTFB.

You can also drop off donations at the NTFB located at 4500 S. Cockrell Hill Rd., Dallas, 75236

Call 214-330-1396 if you want to schedule a food or fund drive. Or donate online at ntfb.org.

The North Texas Food Bank is working in a strategic partnership with the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and the Volunteer Center of North Texas to assist with mass evacuation as a result of Hurricane Ike. So far the NTFB has distributed over 80,000 pounds of water and snacks to shelters. Here’s how the organizations are coordinating the response:

• The North Texas Food Bank is currently providing water, juices and snacks and will provide food for meal preparation when needed. Monetary donations are needed too.
• The Salvation Army is providing meals at all mass shelter locations.
• The American Red Cross is managing and overseeing shelter operations.
• The Volunteer Center of North Texas is coordinating volunteer placement for the relief effort.

Many of 3,600 hurricane evacuees in the Dallas area finally heard what they’ve been waiting to hear: FEMA will pay for their hotel rooms.

Most evacuees will soon be able to move from shelters to hotels. The City of Dallas says it would like to transition evacuees from shelters to hotels by next weekend. And for those already in hotels, it brings some order to a very confusing day.

Late Monday, FEMA announced it will pay the hotel bills for evacuees who live in hard-hit counties; however, those evacuees have to stay at participating hotels.

FEMA’s coverage began on Sunday night and will run for 30 days.

… Flash Flood Watch in effect from Saturday morning through
Sunday evening…

The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has expanded the

* Flash Flood Watch to include the County of Bell… Collin…
Cooke… Dallas… Denton… Ellis… Grayson… Hill… Johnson…
McLennan… Rockwall and Tarrant.

* From Saturday morning through Sunday evening

* after making landfall near Houston early Saturday morning…
Hurricane Ike will move through the eastern portions of North
Texas. Locations along and east of Interstate 35 can expect 2 to
4 inches of rain with isolated higher amounts of up to 6 inches.
The rain will be heavy… falling at two inches per hour or more
at times. This will cause rapid rises in creeks and streams… as
well as flooded roadways. The best chance for higher rainfall
totals will be in the far eastern and southeastern portions of
North Texas where significant flash flooding may occur.

The website link below is being updated with hotel room availability for Hurricane Ike evacuees.

>>>>>http://www.tacvbemergency.net/searchrooms<<<<<

Please check for availability before heading to a city as many small town hotels and budget hotels in the major cities are completely sold out.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott is making it known that any business price gouging for essential services (medical, fuel, lodging, food, etc.) is subject to prosecution by the Texas Attorney General’s office. Average penalties are $20,000; however, if your price gouge against the elderly, expect the penalty to be in the $250,000 range.

The AG successfully prosecuted after Hurricane Rita and his office is currently taking calls of price gouging right now.

Dallas looks to be in the center of the remnants of Hurricane Ike Saturday evening. As of Noon Friday, Galveston is already flooding and rescue attempts are in progress as up to 100 people are standing in waist-deep water. Ike is still 200 miles off the coast.