Jacksboro FFA holds gift card drive for south central flood relief

Jacksboro FFA opened a gift card drive as they aim to serve, determined to aid Texas communities devastated by record flooding over the July 4 holiday weekend.

The drive is open now until 12 p.m. Thursday, July 17. Contact any Jacksboro Ag teacher to donate, or leave a message on the Jacksboro FFA Facebook page to schedule a drop-off time. Donations will be delivered Friday, July 18. Gift cards from retailers like Lowe’s, Home Depot, Wal-Mart or H-E-B were preferred, as well as prepaid Visa or Mastercards.

Additionally, Prosperity Bank in Jacksboro announced it was accepting monetary donations through Thursday, July 31 at all Texas and Oklahoma locations to benefit the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund.

Flood waters swept across the Texas Hill Country following early morning rainfall that caused the Guadalupe River to rise 26 feet in 45 minutes.

Gov. Greg Abbott signed a proclamation just after 9 p.m. that evening declaring a state of disaster in Bandera, Coke, Comal, Concho, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, Kimball, Llano, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Reeves, San Saba and Tom Green counties. The declaration authorized the use of state resources in recovery efforts.

President Donald Trump approved a major disaster declaration Sunday, July 6, also making federal funding assistance available in Kerr County.

The state deployed more than 2,100 personnel and more than 1,100 vehicles and equipment assets to help local officials and communities respond and recover.  More than 20 state agencies were currently responding to flooding threats across Texas.

“The State of Texas is working around the clock to support emergency management personnel and local officials as they continue recovery and rescue operations across the state,” Abbott said. 

Available resources included Texas Division of Emergency Management, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Department of Transportation, Texas National Guard, Public Utility Commission of Texas, Texas Division on Environmental Quality, Texas Health and Human Services Commission and others.

Along with emergency officials, Abbott and House Speaker Dustin Burrows surveyed flood damages across the Texas Hill Country Wednesday and discussed solutions to protect communities from future natural disasters.