Disaster Recovery Center Coordinates Tornado Relief Efforts
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ROWLETT (CBS11) - Some volunteers are getting an early start on New Year's resolutions by spending their holiday helping tornado victims. Hundreds showed up at Garland's Disaster Recovery Center to find out how they could help.
Even after almost a week you can see how much work remains to be done clearing debris, patching damaged roofs, and other projects that need helping hands. Fortunately Friday's holiday kept a lot of people home from work who wanted an opportunity to serve.
Whenever volunteers want to help disaster victims in need, it isn't always clear how. Operation Blessing specializes in what emergency management calls spontaneous unaffiliated volunteers. Organizers put together a crash course at Garland's Disaster Recovery Center, and deployed teams to get started right away.
"When I initially saw the devastation that took place, it took my breath away," volunteer Valentina Hansen said.
Hansen pitched in to clear debris in Rowlett. She says it's the perfect way to start off the new year.
"I want to continue the new year on a path of doing for others," Hansen said.
Volunteer Mary Ferdin tells us the holiday is an important opportunity to serve her community.
"I need to start it off on the right foot, and I believe that this would be the right foot," Ferdin said.
In addition to chainsawing fallen trees and limbs, volunteers helped victims with salvage efforts. They were also available to help cover holes in roofs with tarps. Most of all they came to show those affected that they weren't forgotten.
"Ultimately that's what we all want to feel is cared for and loved by one another," Hansen said, "and if we can make any one person that felt the disaster feel appreciated, loved, and cared for, then I've done what I need to do."
The Disaster Recovery Center is located at 1310 West Avenue F in Garland. It will be open to the public from 10am until 6p at least until Sunday. Volunteers can attend an orientation Saturday at 8:30am or 1pm.
Tornado survivors can meet with the Red Cross and dozens of other non-profit and faith-based organizations where they can receive financial assistance, food, clothing, and cleaning supplies.
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