Here we go AGAIN.....

As I Write this blog I am waiting for another SOC teleconference. I can't tell you what SOC stands for, but I know what the group does. They coordinate the emergency disaster relief effort for the State of Texas. Pretty high level stuff, and it includes us! Texas AgriLife Extension as an agency of the State of Texas is committed to supporting disaster relief efforts in anyway that we can. My first thought regarding disaster relief and our agency was "how can we really help".

After experiencing the near miss of Hurricane Gustav I now better understand what we can and should do. First we can stay informed. Information both locally and from the state should lead our efforts. For some of us that means we will be evacuating along with our constituents. For others that means providing assistants to shelters and evacuees.

If you are not in an area evacuated it is important that you make the presence of Texas AgriLife Extension known in the relief effort. In doing so you will gain the information needed to see just how we can help. In doing this I would suggest visiting the Shelters that are established in your county and introducing yourself and our agency. Also let the Shelter Directors know about our local network of Volunteers and 4-H families. As needs in the shelters arise we are uniquely positioned to activate volunteer resources and gather goods for people in need.

Your District DDC's (that would be Dale Fritz, Monte Dozier and myself) will communicate with you to coordinate information and help you locate resources or assistance as needed. Gustave showed us that information during a disaster is the prime resource and is often hard to come by.

Ultimately our Agency may be needed most in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, but steps and planning we make now will determine how we can provide support later.

Stay Safe and keep in touch,
Kevin