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Apr 29, 2013 | EDOT Staff

Relief Coordinators Visit West After Explosion

west-relief diolgOn April 23, less than a week after the explosion in West, Disaster Relief Coordinators from the Episcopal Diocese of Texas visited the area to make an assessment on behalf of the Diocese. The Ven. Russ Oechsel, archdeacon, and the Rev. Gill Keyworth are veteran responders, playing integral roles in the recovery after Hurricane Ike in Galveston and the wildfires in Bastrop.

 

Still in the initial shock of the disaster, the response of locals was ‘oh we are fine’. But are they? It was obvious that there are many people arriving from all over the state and country wanting to help and bringing donations with them. In addition, there are many contractors marketing their services.  For a close community that has not before had this type of attention, it is overwhelming. A normal response is to want a return to their quiet life - instead they have a new normal of organized (and often disorganized) chaos.

 

The explosion area was still not accessible. The coordinators concentrated on the area where people were gathering. The first funeral was on Tuesday. The press and TV were still there but they and many first responding organizations were preparing to leave. Those who lost homes are in local hotels and the endless round of form-filling has begun.

 

The assessment made is that it is too soon for the Diocese of Texas to be sending teams into the area, but several good contacts were made. The coordinators plan to send a trained Spiritual Care Team to the area in about two weeks to begin to help residents with the anger, confusion and despair that will come from the trauma.

 

Sometime after that, there will be a request for teams to go to help with the rebuilding effort. In the meantime, the diocese is requesting is that any money being collected by your church be sent to either to a relief fund at St. Paul's, Waco or to the Red Cross directly. Send checks with West Relief in the memo line to St. Paul's at 601 Columbus Ave. Waco, TX 76701 or call 254.753.5401.

 

The executive director of the local Red Cross chapter is a vestry member at St. Paul's, Waco. Please DO NOT collect other items, especially clothing, as a sufficient supply has already been donated.