In its history, Rockwall County has been fortunate in avoiding the kind of weather-related disasters weve been reading about recently. However, we are not totally immune. In the last week, several homes in the city have been seriously affected by devastating flood waters, causing the evacuation of about half a dozen families in the Lake Rockwall Estates neighborhood to temporary shelter.
According to Sherry Hamm, Director of Assistance and Referral for Rockwall County Helping Hands, the agency has helped move the families to local hotels and motels, and are providing food assistance until the waters subside and they can move back. “That may take awhile,” says Hamm. “There is significant water damage, which will be expensive to fix. Also, these are low income families, some with no insurance at all. Most of their furniture will have to be replaced. Their lives have been turned upside down.”
The water, which at its peak reached the window sills, comes from Wallace Lake, a soil conservation reservoir on the east side of the neighborhood. The earthen dam which impounds its waters, like most such structures throughout the state, has no effective flood control measures, allowing the waters to rise well above normal levels.
Rockwall County Helping Hands is doing all they can to help these and hundreds of other families throughout the county. They depend entirely on the generosity of the public. Says Ms. Hamm, “This incident has put a significant strain on our resources. But, thats what were here for.”
If you can help, with even a small donation, please visit Rockwall Helping Hands donation page, or call 972-771-4357 and give what you can.
Story by Bob Lewis
Photos: Planet Rockwall
