As fires burned through the night in the Austin Area and Bastrop County, many people have been displaced and there are many in need.  Please email Serve@celebrationchurchtx.com to sign up to volunteer and stay tuned to this site for the latest information.  You will be added to our volunteer list.  Please follow @cserves on Twitter and stay tuned to this blog for the most current updates.

Current Updates 9/05/2011

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

1. PLEASE READ THROUGH THIS BLOG…..

* First of all, big thanks to everyone calling and emailing about stepping up to volunteer.  I can assure you that we have recieved your email and you are being added to our volunteer list.  Please keep in mind that these fires are still very serious threats and our City and County Fire Departments are still RESPONDING to the fires.  As we are in this RESPONSE mode, our response is in the RELIEF and RECOVERY part of the plan.  With our partners at ADRN (Austin Disaster Relief Network) we have strategically sent teams to gather information and plan the next move by analyzing the conditions and determining where and how we can help the many fire victims.  Over the next couple of days, our positions will be very established.  We have a team specifically working with gathering your volunteer information and preparing to send out teams.  We are in the PREPARATION before RELIEF mode.  Please know that you are not being overlooked.  You will recieve email updates and there will be a time very soon that your assistance will be requested.  Thank you, Derick Zwerneman (Outreach Director)

2. Email Serve@celebrationchurchtx.com if you would like to sign up to be a volunteer when they are needed.

3. Be patient. We are working with local agencies to set up systems for you to plug in to.  It is very important at this time that we work through the proper channels.

4. ITEMS THAT YOU CAN DONATE NOW -

Water, Diaper & Wipes, Baby Food, Canned Food (non-perishable items), Underwear (all ages), Socks (all ages), Trash Bags, Dog Food, Cat Food.

Drop off Location -  Celebration Church  – 1202 Rabbit Hill Trail, Georgetown, Tx

Times: TONIGHT ONLY – THRU 9pm

Tuesday 9/6  -  9am – 5pm

Wednesday 9/7 -   9am – 7pm

*Volunteers are also need to help take donations.  Please sign up by emailing serve@celebrationchurchtx.com with the time that you can work between 9am-5pm on Tuesday and Wednesday*

5. As volunteers can be utitlized, those who have emailed Serve@celebrationchurchtx.com will be notified.

Thank you,

Derick Zwerneman (Outreach Director)

<<<<< Helpful Link >>>>>

*Click on the link above for latest information about Texas fire locations*


5:15pm

*Fires continue to intensify.  **This photo was taken by James Davis (Team lead) as our team was evacuating the downtown area of Bastrop.  All firefighter volunteers are reporting to the Bastrop Convention Center and evacuees are still located at Bastrop Middle School and Ascention Church.  At this time we are working with local officials and ADRN partners to deliver 400 Cots and 800 Blankets to these locations.  Celebration team has already delivered over 400 Backpacks with essential needs to the Bastrop area.  We still have about 250 BackPacks in storage and will be sending soon.  Other areas affected by Brush Fires are Steiner Ranch, Pedernales and Pflugerville.  Our next move is to create a team that can staff the Church to receive need items for the displaced families.  If you are available to come to Celebration tomorrow morning, please email serve@celebrationchurchtx.com and state the times that you are available tomorrow from 8am-6pm.

3:30pm

*Our teams are in Bastrop beginning to build relationships with local Churches to begin relief efforts.  Joe & Amy Spikes are acting as representatives on this outreach.  Looks like Ascension Catholic Church will be a distribution point.

2:30pm

Jessica Havard and some of our team are working in the ADRN call Center today.  If you know anyone who has been affected by these fires, please have them call:

ADRN HotLine #512-331-2600

General Public #512-331-2200

1:30pm

* First of all, big thanks to everyone calling and emailing about stepping up to volunteer.  I can assure you that we have recieved your email and you are being added to our volunteer list.  Please keep in mind that these fires are still very serious threats and our City and County Fire Departments are still RESPONDING to the fires.  As we are in this RESPONSE mode, our response is in the RELIEF and RECOVERY part of the plan.  With our partners at ADRN (Austin Disaster Relief Network) we have strategically sent teams to gather information and plan the next move by analyzing the conditions and determining where and how we can help the many fire victims.  Over the next couple of days, our positions will be very established.  We have a team specifically working with gathering your volunteer information and preparing to send out teams.  We are in the PREPARATION before RELIEF mode.  Please know that you are not being overlooked.  You will recieve email updates and there will be a time very soon that your assistance will be requested.  Thank you, Derick Zwerneman (Outreach Director)

11:15am

* ADRN meeting is complete.  At this time there is a lot of information gathering taking place.  We have serveral key team members that are helping analyze and mobilize our next move.  Your patience is very much appreciated and you help is needed.  Here is what is going on now:

- James Davis & team are picking up BackPacks from Intelligent Logistics and headed back to Celebration to mobilize a team that will leave for Bastrop at 12:30pm.  If you would like to be on this team, please meet at the Church.  Your mission will be to assist Red Cross in the Bastrop area and reach out to gather information with the local churches.  James is team lead.

-ADRN call center is in need of volunteers to answer calls from fire victims and point them in the direction of shelter centers and help them negotiate the situation.  If have good communication skills and could work in the call center, please email serve@celebrationchurchtx.com and note in the subject CALL CENTER…

9:38am

*Art Berman is heading up Trailers and transportation for stored resources.

9:30am

*Tim Miller and Intelligent Logistics are pulling crates of Back Packs from “Back Pack to the Basics” to assist Bastrop.  We will be sending out a team to Bastrop very soon.. Please email serve@celebrationchurchtx.com to sign up.  More information to come..

9:00am

* Please be patient….At this time we do have 10 volunteers that spent the night in Smithville assisting Red Cross and team lead James Davis is assessing the information. After our 10am meeting with ADRN (Austin Disaster Relief Network) we will have information about how we will mobilize and continue our support.

God Bless,

Derick Zwerneman

Outreach Director

Celebration Church