By Moses Leos III
Six days after floodwaters destroyed nearly everything in her San Marcos apartment, Christina Roberts took to downtown Kyle Thursday in search of assistance.
Roberts was one of many Hays County residents who flocked to a flood resource center that aimed to provide flood survivors assistance toward recovery from the Oct. 30 floods.
For Roberts, taking care of her children, who lost all of their clothes and items in the flood, was of the utmost importance.
“(My children) are facing challenges; they don’t realize they are as severe as they are,” Roberts said. “But they’re dealing with it a lot better than I am. I have to put up with a lot more stress.”
The center, located at Old City Hall in Kyle, featured a variety of government agencies and non-profit disaster relief groups, such as the Red Cross, that aimed to provide information to flood survivors.
Information residents gained from the center included assistance relating to housing issues, physical and mental healthcare, insurance questions, to replacing a driver’s license.
Sara Ramirez, executive director of the Catholic Charities of Central Texas (CCCT), said groups like her charity immediately go into “emergency mode” immediatley following a disaster.
Ramirez said families often search for food, clothing, shelter and financial support to purchase items following a disaster.
But according to Ramirez, the Oct. 30 flood, “is as bad, for us, as the Memorial Day floods were.” She told the story of one couple affected by the Memorial Day flood that had only been in their renovated home for a week before the Halloween floods hit.
“(People) are searching for hope. People are in despair,” Ramirez said.
To combat the issue, Ramirez said her group purchased roughly $30,000 worth of gift cards for flood survivors. By 9 p.m. Thursday, the CCCT only had $2,000 worth of gift cards left.
For Roberts, along with Rose Reyes, who also lives in the affected apartment building, obtaining essential items for their children, such as clothes, was important.
Roberts said water entered the back of her apartment, ruining beds and clothing. Reyes said it “looked like a waterfall was coming in” her apartment on Oct. 30.
“We weren’t worried too much about us, but we’re worried about our children, making sure they are able to go to school and are dressed appropriately,” Reyes said.
But Reyes said she was grateful for the assistance provided at the center, something they claim their landlord has not done.
Reyes hoped to find legal aid at the center to assist with her issues.
“The big thing is to get our life back together,” Reyes said. “Our apartment where we’re living isn’t good.”
For Kyle resident Shelby Fitzgerald, the center provided her an opportunity to find out what she needed in terms of flood recovery.
Fitzgerald, who lives on Moreno Street, said her home took four feet of water, which caused extensive damage.
“Everything was wet and gone,” Fitzgerald said. “The water was waist deep. It was crazy.”
For Fitzgerald, the knowledge that resources were available at the center drew her downtown. Fitzgerald said she was given the chance to apply for various forms of assistance.
She said she was able to get assistance to spray her home to avoid mold growth.
But for Fitzgerald, the way the event has brought people together meant more.
“It’s nice to know that when someone needs help, these people stopped what they’re doing to help,” she said. “I’m finally someone who needs it. It’s really touching.”
Ramirez said the goal for her group will soon be to focus on long term recovery efforts.
Staying abreast of and being educated about what’s going on is the key. She said staying patient, amid possibly growing frustration, is important.
“We live in a society that is [based] on instant gratification. This takes a long time to recover from,” Ramirez said. “You see people move into a sense of agitation because of frustration that things aren’t moving as quickly as they would like.”
