For available public information regarding the Eastland County Flooding

For available public information regarding the Eastland County Flooding, please visit the Eastland Fire Department website.

To apply for disaster assistance, visit the FEMA website or call 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-462-7585(TTY).

Please have the following information available when you call: (1) s phone number where you can be reached, (2) your Social Security Number, (3) your current mailing address, (4) the address of the affected property, (5) a brief description of the damages, and (6) your insurance information including your policy number.

Elderly flood victims (age 60 or older) are eligible for additional federal funds to help them recover from declared disasters, such as the recent floods. The funds are requested through and distributed by the Area Agency on Aging of West Central Texas. The application deadline is August 15^th. To apply you must have an estimate of your losses and the needed repairs and be registered with FEMA. For more information Call and ask for Rick Diaz at 1-800-928-2262.

Office of Eastland County Judge

Rex Fields

Press Release

28 September 2007

The final phase of the debris cleanup at Lake Leon is ready to begin. At Eastland County Commissioner’s Court Monday, September 24, bids were opened for the removal of the debris from the stockpile area at Lake Leon. Eagle Construction was awarded the bid and the contract has been signed to take the debris to an approved landfill and to clean the stockpile site. This work is scheduled to begin next week on October 3. FEMA personnel and county monitors will be at the site to assist in the removal effort.

As of today, Eastland County has still not received any FEMA funding for the debris removal or for road system emergency repairs. However, FEMA representatives have been inspecting the roads and bridges and are compiling documentation for projects for scheduled repairs and improvements. These projects are being submitted to the state FEMA office as they are completed and I anticipate funding will begin as soon as possible. Hopefully, the citizens of our county will begin to see improvements to the road system and the wait will have been worth the effort and patience.

As I said in a previous release, I cannot thank everyone enough for the combined effort to get the people of Eastland County and our cities back to where we are. First responders, volunteers, faith-based work groups, local churches, state and federal agencies, and individuals labored countless hours to get the flood problems resolved. There is more work to be done, but we can be thankful and optimistic that this spirit of cooperation will remain for each of us as conditions improve.

Respectfully submitted,

Rex Fields

Eastland County Judge

Office of Eastland County Judge

Rex Fields

Press Release

17 September 2007

My office is receiving calls concerning the condition of the county road system. I want to explain to the citizens of Eastland County where we are in the process of repair to our flood-damaged roads, bridges, and culverts. The Commissioners are making emergency repairs as fast as possible with the funding coming from the County’s willingness to spend out of our fund balance to allocate the money necessary to get repairs done. As of this date, NO FEMA dollars have been sent to the county for any of our repairs or debris cleanup. Every dollar spent is one generated by the taxpayers of the county. Compounding this problem is the fact that the County’s fiscal year ends September 30th. Funds budgeted for road and bridge repairs this fiscal year have been expended. This means that all the extra expense for flood related repairs is classified as an emergency and must be approved in Commissioners’ Court. This is being done at each court meeting, but adds to the time to complete repairs.

FEMA has to review the damages to each road, bridge, and culvert and then submit a worksheet for each project to get the funding. I have made repeated calls to the FEMA office for the state to expedite this process. Last week FEMA responded by sending additional staff to our county and cities to get the process moving. I anticipate that the FEMA project worksheets will be completed in approximately ten days. After project worksheets have been submitted, FEMA funding can begin.

In a county that averages 27 inches of rainfall per year, our road system maintenance is struggling to handle the 50-60 inches of rain as we have had this year. In addition to road topping and drainage problems, brush, tree, and weed growth are issues for roads. The Commissioners are mowing the rights of way as rapidly as possible. I would like to tell you that there is a quick fix for our county road system, but there is not one. We are waiting for FEMA approval in order for the County to continue road repairs beyond emergency status. I would ask for your continued patience as we begin FEMA-approved projects to improve the county road system. Thank you.

Respectfully submitted,

Rex Fields

Eastland County Judge

"This is a great leap forward," said Eastland County Judge Rex Fields. "It’s a great blessing to get this $35,000 cap removed." He said the county found itself "in some kind of a time warp. We didn’t have enough flood coverage."

Eastland County is one of 43 Texas counties where residents are eligible for FEMA disaster recovery assistance. President Bush declared the counties as major disaster areas for flooding that occurred between June 16 and Aug. 3. Although the upgrade in Eastland County’s flood insurance is now available, the insurance coverage does not take effect until 30 days after purchase.

"I commend Judge Field’s and Congressman Randy Neugebauer’s leadership in pursuing the upgraded flood insurance coverage for Eastland County," said Kenneth Clark, Federal Coordinating Officer for the disaster. "Now residents and businesses need to take advantage of the improved coverage and purchase flood insurance policies to protect themselves in future disasters."

The flooding occurred at Lake Leon, a reservoir about 80 miles west of Fort Worth, created in the 1950s to provide the water supply for the towns of Eastland and Ranger. Judge Fields said 217 lakeshore homes were damaged or destroyed in late June, during five days of unprecedented rain. The water level eventually rose 10.5 feet above the main spillway of the dam and even rose above the higher emergency spillway.

Another ally in the quest for increased flood insurance was Don Wilson, City Manager for nearby Eastland, TX, which already had its own fully-compliant flood insurance map.

Wilson had a ring-side seat to the flood. His house is on Lake Leon. "I built my house up where I never thought I’d have to worry about a flood," Wilson said. "But my neighbor had about 30 inches of water inside his house."

Now that the restrictions have been lifted, Wilson said, "All I’ve got to say is thank you, thank you, thank you."

Meanwhile, the county has been doing its part to help people restore their lives. Judge Fields said that Eastland County has finished removing flood debris. FEMA reimburses the county for 75 percent of the costs of disposing of flood debris.

Office of Eastland County Judge

Rex Fields

Press Release

29 August 2007

The clean up of flood-related debris at Lake Leon is almost complete according to Eagle Construction. I was in the Staff area Tuesday morning and the difference is remarkable. Eagle has done a good job of debris removal and site raking. Commissioner Christian of Precinct Two and his crew have made many rounds at the lake and have done a good job of removing the metal goods and hazardous household waste. By the end of Friday, the cleanup should be finished.

PLEASE NOTE: Eagle Construction will make one more sweep of the Lake Leon area on Saturday September 1. This will be the last chance for flood-related debris to be removed by the contractor. After this date, the residents will need to plan to use their normal, individual waste removal system.

In a prior press release, I reported that FEMA will not reimburse Eastland County for expenses related to the removal of demolition or any new construction debris. As a homeowner, you need to make sure that your private contractor is going to be responsible for completely removing debris from their demolition and construction work. My advice to homeowners is to obtain a written and signed contract with your contractor that specifically addresses debris removal. As Eastland County will not be reimbursed by FEMA for this type of removal, the County will not be responsible for demolition and new construction debris removal.

Finally, a huge thank you to all the first responders, volunteers, faith-based work groups, local churches, state and federal agencies, and individuals who labored so hard to get the flood problems resolved. I would thank each of you individually, but I know that I would leave someone out of the list. Be assured that your efforts were noticed and appreciated by everyone affected. In conclusion, the self-motivation, spirit of cooperation, and overall strength of Eastland County residents were evident in the manner exhibited by the people affected by the disaster and the people that responded. I thank you greatly.

Respectfully submitted,

Rex Fields

Eastland County Judge

My office is receiving calls concerning debris that will be created when homes are demolished to make way for new construction or clearing of lots. I was in a meeting last week in Austin with FEMA and state personnel and asked them about debris from demolition work. These officials stated that FEMA will not reimburse Eastland County for expenses related to the removal of this type of demo or any new construction debris. As the homeowner, you need to make sure that your private contractor is going to be responsible for completely removing debris from their demolition and construction work. My advice to homeowners is to obtain a written and signed contract with your contractor that specifically addresses debris removal. As Eastland County will not be reimbursed by FEMA for this type of removal, the County will not be responsible for demolition and new construction debris removal.

The County through its contractor, Eagle Construction will continue to remove the flood-related debris that has been placed in front of homes on county roads in the Lake Leon area, but will be unable to remove new debris from demolition. The first week of debris removal has gone well with the majority of the north side of Lake Leon being cleaned and the effort has started on the south side near the dam. I drove around the lake Saturday afternoon and the situation already looks vastly improved. I sincerely hope that life at Lake Leon is beginning to return to normal. Eastland County and Eagle Construction will continue to remove the flood-related debris.

I want to state again my appreciation to everyone affected for your patience in this process. We are moving forward.

On August 8 in a special Eastland County Commissioners Court meeting, bids were opened for the removal of flood-related debris at Lake Leon. Eagle Environmental of Eastland made the lowest bid and was awarded the contract. Eagle is scheduled to begin removal from each homesite next Monday, August 13. Eagle will take the flood-related debris to a stockpile site north of La Mancha Ranch. Commissioners have prepared the stockpile site and have also removed the metal goods from most homesites. Debris classified as hazardous household waste by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is being removed from the homesites this week and is being taken to the stockpile site. Examples of this household waste are TVs, microwave ovens, paint cans, and cleaners. This type of debris is being stored in special lined rolloff dumpsters at the stockpile area.

If you are a flood victim and have storm related debris, now is the time to make sure that you have placed all of your debris near the road so the removal can take place. Eagle stated in their bid that they anticipated 15 days to complete the removal from the homesites to the stockpile. Weather and other factors could affect this timetable, of course, but the public should start to see improvement next week.

I want to state again my appreciation to everyone affected for your patience in this process. We are on the road to recovery. Thank you.

Office of Eastland County Judge

Rex Fields

Press Release

30 July 2007

I would like to inform the public about the current plan for the debris cleanup around the Lake Leon area. I realize that everyone in that area is tired of the debris being stacked in front of their home. I want them to know that progress is being made to remove the flood-related debris.

The County requested bids for the removal in an approved manner that would have taken the debris completely out of the county in one operation. No contractor submitted a bid. This left us with few options as there are no operating landfills in Eastland County. I had contacted a private landowner of a closed landfill in the county to ascertain the possibility of reopening it for the Lake Leon debris. The landowner declined to allow us to use their closed landfill.

Jim Farrar volunteered some of his property at La Mancha to be used as a temporary staging or stockpiling site. This would have given the County a location to take the debris from each homesite and stockpile it until a contractor could be found to remove the debris and transport it to an approved landfill outside of the county. I received the FEMA regulations about temporary stockpiling sites and after I measured Mr. Farrar’s land, I discovered that it was too close to the lake. Mr. Farrar knew of another location that could possibly be used. I contacted the two owners of the second location about the situation, they agreed to the use, and I received their signed affidavits to allow the County to use their land as a staging and stockpiling area.

I submitted a plan of action concerning the stockpiling site to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA.) TCEQ has inspected the location and has verified its suitability as a stockpiling site. TCEQ and FEMA also gave the authority for the County to remove all the metal goods that could be recycled. Examples are washers, refrigerators, freezers, other appliances, and other metal goods. Precinct 2 Commissioner Christian and his crew started the removal process for these materials last week and are taking them to Mid-Tex Recycling in Eastland.

The next step is to request bids from numerous contractors to remove the flood-related debris from each homesite and transport it to the temporary stockpile area. The request for bids will be sent out tomorrow, July 31. The deadline for these bids is this Friday, August 3 at 5 PM. Bids will be opened at a special commissioners court meeting on August 8. I am asking each bidding contractor to be ready to start work as soon as possible, but no later than August 13^th.

This removal will alleviate the situation at every home and consolidate the debris into one area. Then another request for bids will be sent out to move the debris from the stockpile site to an approved landfill. I want to make this process happen as soon as possible so the residents of Lake Leon can move forward with rebuilding their lives. I appreciate your patience and want you to know that progress is being made.

Respectfully submitted,

Rex Fields

Eastland County Judge

American Red Cross is currently stationed at the emergency shelter at First Baptist Church in Eastland. Anyone evacuated may go to First Baptist Church. Information may be obtained by calling 2-1-1 from a land line telephone or 325-673-8221 from a cell phone.

Ronnie Broadus, Area Manager for American Red Cross is requesting monetary donations. The disasters occurring in the previous months have depleted financial resources. Donations may be sent to American Red Cross, 1610 North 2nd, Abilene, TX 79601. Please write Disaster Relief in the memo portion of your check.

Salvation Army has arrived and is serving meals at the shelter. Volunteers are needed at First Baptist Church during meals to help serve.

County Judge Rex Fields reported as of noon today 127 homes have been affected by the flood.

WHEREAS, the County of Eastland on the 26th day of June, 2007 has suffered widespread severe damage, loss of property and imminent threat of continued flooding from the current storm system and it is deemed necessary to set a curfew around Lake Leon, Eastland, Eastland County, Texas;

WHEREAS, the County Judge of the County of Eastland has determined that extraordinary measures must be taken to alleviate the suffering of people and to protect or rehabilitate property of these residents;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE COUNTY JUDGE OF THE COUNTY OF EASTLAND:

WHEREAS, the County of Eastland on the 26th day of June, 2007 has suffered widespread severe damage, loss of property and imminent threat of continued flooding from the current storm system and;

WHEREAS, the County Judge of the County of Eastland has determined that extraordinary measures must be taken to alleviate the suffering of people and to protect or rehabilitate property;