On behalf of the Texas Recreation and Park Society (TRAPS) family, we are sending positive thoughts and prayers to those who have been impacted by Hurricane/Tropical Storm Harvey; and continue to support those of you who are addressing the damage from Hurricane Harvey winds and initial rain; as well as those of you who are continuing to deal with Harvey’s rain and flooding.
Please keep us posted as to your status (you may text Executive Director Michal Lord, 512.695.1457 or use social media, #trapstx, #traps_CARES or #trapsharveyhelplist) and let us know how TRAPS can help. TRAPS will be creating lists of needs (material, equipment, volunteers etc.) as request come in.
Updates TRAPS has received:
As of September 5
Taylor Cabler (Jacobsen) We are fine here at Jacobsen – if any parks departments have flooded equipment, we are happy to help with parts and service or finding replacements.
Scott Swigert (Mt. Belvieu) Mont Belvieu City Hall totaled just over 61.5” of rain. Our Cedar Bayou officially received 51.88”, setting the all-time national continental record for rain fall in the US. We had several house and businesses flood, especially between Cedar Bayou and HWY 146. We started back to normal city operations last Friday, but will continue to be in recovery and reconstruction for some time as I am sure most in the area will be as well. We still have 2 shelters and a POD, all being managed by Chambers County, in town serving West Chamber County Residents. Barbers Hill Schools started back today as well.
Kenny Walsh (League City) Hey Rob, League city got hit pretty hard. Hometown Heroes Park has been used as a 24/7 shelter for those displaced from their homes for the past 9 days. We are still operating as a shelter for at least another few days, and then will remain closed for a week or so to clean the building. Hopefully we can re-open mid-September.
Sarah McClure (Oak Ridge North) In a crazy turn of events, Oak Ridge North did not sustain any damage. Not a single house flooded, yet neighborhoods all around us had to be evacuated.
Darren McCarthy (Rosenberg) In Rosenberg the water has receded back into the banks of the Brazos. The north side of town received extensive flooding. The water reached the top of the green roof on the restroom in the pictures. Lots of mud/silt to clean-up. All parks staff are ok, several City employees ended up with inches to feet of water in their homes depending upon where they live. And the clean-up begins
As of September 4
- A team of 50 from McAllen PARD went to assist Ingleside with tree and brush removal (Harvey made his initial visit to the Rockport, Port Aransas and Ingleside area of Texas.)
- Galveston beaches, as well as other points of interest, were open for the Labor Day holiday. Hwy 45 was clear to Galveston. -Kelly de Schaun, Galveston Park Board of Trustees.
- Beaumont & Port Arthur and Orange had severe flooding and Beaumont had no water system … water is receding and power is being restored.
- Rosenberg had flooding and major road erosion.
- Mont Belvieu received 60+ inches of rain at City Hall … the largest rainfall recorded during Harvey’s visit to Texas. -Past President Swigert, Assistant City Manager
- The Woodlands Township is back up and running after some flooding (roads and homes) and some wind damage.
- Houston reported that most streets were open, but the West Houston area near reservoirs were still flooded.
Friends Report … folks from across the country have been contacting TRAPS to see how they might help or offering assistance:
- Colorado Parks & Recreation Association is doing a fund-raiser for us at their conference the first week of October.
- Ohio Parks and Recreation Association is gathering Athletic Equipment for Texas.
- The City of Miami Beach Emergency Mgmt. Team & PARD Director contacted us and they wanted to send a team of 6-8 to help. They couldn’t get thru to Texas Emergency Mgmt. Office … we were able to hook them up with TPWD Incident Office (handling the emergency response to Harvey) and I think they will be coming to Texas in the next couple of days.
- Illinois Park District Association reached out today (9/5) to see how they might help.
As of September 1
We returned to work and are in full recovery mode and the cleaning up of the parks has begun. Two of our facilities got water in them and several had leaks, but overall my parks and facilities fared well. We are opening a shelter at Carbide Park in La Marque with the Red Cross today at 2pm for Galveston County residents that evacuated. We had to cancel most of our rentals for the entire month of September, but everyone understands. – Julie Diaz, Galveston County
As of August 31
- Conroe experienced well over 30” of rain. Part of our City includes the flow and flood plain of the San Jacinto river. Early Monday morning the release rate was in excess of 80,000cfs. Many neighborhoods downstream were evacuated. PARD staff and vans were used to assist in these efforts. The recreation center (PARD staff) was a temporary collection point for evacuees while they determined their choice for shelter. The release rate is now less than 20,000cfs. Many are returning to their homes today. Some will have good news and some will not. PARD staff also assisted with meal preparation for the Public Works Department on Saturday and Sunday.Recreation Operations were suspended Saturday through Tuesday. Our centers have reopened today. Programs will restart on Tuesday, September 5. The centers experienced no damage, just a few leaks due to the massive rain.Park Operations has been active with clean-up efforts in parks and throughout the City. There was damage to a number of parks due to flooding, wind, debris, and vandalism. – Rob Hamilton, East Region Director, City of Conroe
- I sent Michal Anne an email a few days ago expressing our interest to lead a donation challenge among the commercial members. If that doesn’t work with what you guys want to do, we want to be involved in whatever we can do to help. Feeling truly lucky that we haven’t suffered any losses and want to share in that with those that have. -Leigh Walden, funabounds
As of August 29
- “Today, Galveston is pretty much flooded, be we are hoping for the storm to move to the east side of us by tomorrow early morning hours, so the rain will slow down.” – Barbara Sanderson, City of Galveston
- Corpus Christi Parks & Recreation Department has created an ‘Evacuation Hub;’ and aims to return to operational condition, today, Aug. 29
- A team deployed as ‘The Advance Team’ is leaving for San Antonio, TX to coordinate the return of Corpus Christi evacuees. A member of the team reports that re-entry to Corpus Christi may begin as early as Thursday.
As of August 29
- All rain, very little wind. No City ran shelters so far.
(News reports said Baytown was hit hard in the days to follow-rh) -Scott Johnson, Baytown
As of August 28
- Mike Hernandez, TRAPS South Region Director reports “that most of the communities, in the region, south of Corpus Christi are in good shape.”
- Corpus Christi received some wind damage (downed trees, some buildings damaged, downed power lines and loss of electricity).
- Rockport, Port Aransas and Aransas Pass etc. took the brunt of the Hurricane with significant damage; some portion of these coastal areas totally destroyed.
- State Parks Closed: Brazos Bend, Buescher, Cooper Lake-Doctors Creek, Galveston Island, Goliad, Goose Island, Huntsville, Lake Livingston, Lake Somerville, Martin Dies Jr. and others … please check the TPWD website https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/park-information/park-alert-status
- Evacuees are being accepted at several state parks including Choke Canyon –Calihan and South Shore, McKinney Falls State Park … please refer to the TPW website … see above link.
- Past President Jim Brown reports that they barely dodged a tornado and have just evacuated. Everyone he has heard from in East Region is “sheltering in place” or trying to evacuate … roads are flooding and limited options for getting out of the greater Houston area.
Useful Numbers and WebsitesTexas Roadside Help: 800-525-5555 Texas Road Closures: 800-452-9292 American Red Cross Salvation Army FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Texas Parks and Wildlife- Evacuee H-E-B Samaritan’s Purse |