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WIMBERLEY, Texas—SBTC Disaster Relief personnel deployed to Hays County Monday, May 26, following the preceding Saturday’s flash floods, which devastated the town of Wimberley, destroying hundreds of homes and claiming at least three lives. At least nine remain missing, including seven members of two families staying in a vacation home on the Blanco River that was swept downstream and into a bridge.
The National Weather Service called the event a “flood emergency” Saturday evening and issued a warning for residents to seek higher ground because of the “extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation.”
SBTC DR volunteers arrived in Wimberley on Monday (Memorial Day) to assess the situation and offer assistance. “We spent the first day getting out into the community and letting them know we were here and what we have available,” said Mike Jansen of Linden, who is serving as the SBTC disaster relief “white hat,” or incident commander.
Twenty-five volunteers, including two mud-out teams led by Julian Morales and David Dean, are engaged in clean-out work.
“Teams are getting mud out of homes and removing furniture, flooring and sheetrock to the water line and treating houses with the Shockwave anti-mold application,” Jansen said. “We have operations, assessment and chaplain personnel on site.”
A shower and laundry unit from the FIRM Baptist Area and manned by its volunteers is also in Wimberley, Jansen said. DR personnel are being hosted by First Baptist Church Wimberley.
As of Thursday, 56 work orders had been received, Jansen said. New SBTC teams are expected to rotate in over the weekend. Work has focused on homes off Flite Acres Road along the Blanco River.
The work has also been spiritual. “We have been sharing the gospel with individuals,” Jansen noted, issuing an appeal for Christians to pray for the victims who have lost homes and loved ones.
“We need to keep them in mind. Authorities are still searching for lost ones down here,” Jansen said.
