Individuals and families can receive emergency supplies and request financial and individual casework assistance, according to a news release. The ADRN is requesting survivors bring a photo ID, an up-to-date utility bill for their home, and a photo of the damage that includes their house number and address.
The Dell Diamond, located at 3400 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock, is also serving as the headquarters for various organizations and volunteers in the Round Rock community. Jordan Robinson, interim president and CEO of the Round Rock Chamber, said potential volunteers should check in at the Dell Diamond before going out to help their neighbors.
“We really want to make this a coordinated effort,” Robinson said. “The city of Round Rock has personnel there around the clock, so ... that’s where [volunteers] will be able to have guidance on what is most needed at the time.”
Volunteers and organizations at the Dell Diamond are accepting non perishable food, water and clothing throughout the upcoming days. The ADRN is also requesting care kits from the community and can be dropped off at Hope Family Thrift Store at 1122 E. 51st St., Austin.
Robinson said power bank chargers, work gloves, trash bags, tarps, and dog and cat food are items are some of the items especially needed and can be dropped off at the Round Rock Chamber address, 212 E. Main St., Round Rock.
Round Rock Mayor Craig Morgan signed a declaration of disaster March 22. Residents should avoid areas with damage while public safety and transportation crews continue to clear debris, the mayor said.
Following the March 21 tornado, volunteers and local organizations are using social media to spread information regarding local cleanups, crowdfunding platforms and their availability to help those impacted by the storm.
Bobby Withrow, founder of the Texas Fallen Project, said he started cooking barbecue plates for families impacted by the storm and for volunteers at the Dell Diamond.
Robinson said she believes the efforts of community members such as Withrow make Round Rock unique.
“It’s a remarkable thing to witness how community leaders, businesses, residents, people who don’t even know each other or have never met will really just drop everything that they need to do to volunteer to help one another," Robinson said. "There’s nothing that’s going to get us down. We’ll always come together and come back stronger than we were before.”
The following is a list of resources available for families and individuals impacted by the tornado.
The Austin Disaster Relief Network
The network is accepting donations, care kits, and volunteers to assist in rebuilding and restoring safe and clean homes for those impacted by the Central Texas tornadoes. For individuals interested in volunteering in any capacity, contact the Round Rock Command Center to offer services at [email protected]. Monetary donations can be made online. The network has a $500,000 goal, and care kits can be dropped at Hope Family Thrift Store at 1122 E. 51st St., Austin.
Austin Pets Alive
The Positive Alternative to Shelter Surrender Program offers support for struggling pet owners, such as emergency pet food and other resources. Austin Pets Alive is offering to help animals displaced or affected by the tornado through this program. The organization can be contacted through email at [email protected] or on Facebook.
Bluebonnet Trails Community Services
Bluebonnet Trails Community Services opened a Care Coordination Line at 833-359-0106 and a Crisis Hotline at 800-841-0106.
Callison Elementary School-Round Rock ISD
After the school's outdoor playground was destroyed during the tornado, Callison Elementary School is accepting new board game donations for its students. Games can be dropped off at the Round Rock Partners in Education Foundation office at 595 Round Rock West Drive, Ste. 404, Round Rock, to reduce traffic at the school.
Catholic Charities Central Texas
Catholic Charities Central Texas is offering financial assistance, short-term housing assistance, rental and mortgage assistance, free mental health counseling and free basic needs.
The Disaster Hotline is 512-766-7111. If unable to respond, please leave a name and contact information. Assistance can also be provided by filling out the online form here. Direct donations can be made at www.ccctx.org.
Cedar Ridge High School donation drive
This donation drive is accepting nonperishable foods and clothing donations. Volunteers can sign up online. For more information, calls can be made at 512-704-0100. Donations may be dropped off at the front office of Cedar Ridge High School, 2801 Gattis School Road, Round Rock. Proceeds will go to the Dell Diamond Heritage Center.
Celebration Church
Celebration Church’s service team is assisting with cleanup efforts in Round Rock neighborhoods with damage and debris. Fill out the survey to receive assistance.
Central Texas Red Cross
The Red Cross in Central Texas is available for assistance for impacted individuals and families. Volunteers and victims may contact 800-733-2767 or www.redcross.org.
The Clothes Closet
The Clothes Closet, organized by the Round Rock ISD Council of PTAs, is accepting volunteers and clothing donations through the Cedar Ridge donation drive.
Crisis Text Line
The Crisis Text Line is a 24/7 mental health and crisis intervention line for people experiencing anxiety, depression, loneliness or suicidal thoughts. The Crisis Text Line is confidential and a free service as well as providing multilingual crisis counseling. Texts can be made at 741741.
Greater Austin Muslim Relief Committee
The Greater Austin Muslim Relief Committee is accepting nonperishable items and water package donations and is evaluating assistance in a case-by-case basis. Contact Br. Amjad at 210-338-0541 or through email at [email protected].
Helping Hands for Round Rock ISD
The Helping Hands for Round Rock ISD Facebook page is updating various donation links and volunteering opportunities to support educators and staff members impacted by the tornado.
Round Rock Animal Control
Contact Round Rock Animal Control for missing pets or other pet resources at 512-218-5500 or through [email protected].
Round Rock Area Serving Center
The Round Rock Area Serving Center is currently accepting clothing and food donations. Proceeds will be directed to the Dell Diamond Heritage Center. Information can be found on its Facebook page or through the phone number 512-244-2431.
Round Rock ISD Partners in Education Foundation
The foundation is accepting donations through its website to help families and students impacted by the tornado. Contributions can be made directly through the foundation website by selecting “other” as the donation option and specifying it is for “tornado relief.”
Round Rock Transportation Department
Transportation crews are removing brush and limbs that have fallen onto roadways and will remove debris in the city's right of way. Residents can report limbs blocking roads at 512-688-0398.
SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Disaster Distress Helpline is available 24/7 as an immediate crisis counseling line for people experiencing emotional distress. The counseling line is a confidential, toll-free and multilingual support service available for all residents in the United States. Calls or texts can be made at 800-985-5990. Spanish speaking callers may dial 2 for the Spanish-speaking support line.
Texas Division of Emergency Management
The Texas Division of Emergency Management urges victims of the tornado to report property damage by submitting a damage assessment survey using the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool and clicking “March Severe Weather.” Emergency management officials use the surveys to determine if damages meet federal requirements for forms of disaster assistance. Officials asked for multiple pictures with different perspectives of damages to best evaluate damages. The survey is available in English and Spanish.
The Texas Fallen Project
The Texas Fallen Project is serving free barbecue plates for victims. The nonprofit is also assisting with food at the United Heritage Center at Dell Diamond.
Information can be found on its Facebook page or by calling 512-796-1795.
United Heritage Center at Dell Diamond
The center is working with the ADRN and accepting donations March 24-25 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and March 26 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The United Heritage Center at Dell Diamond is located at 3400 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock.
Jennifer Castillo, Ana Garza and Kristen Tibbetts are reporting fellows for a Community Impact Newspaper and University of Texas at Austin partnership with a focus our growing and diverse neighborhoods. The project is supported by the School of Journalism and Media’s Dallas Morning News Innovation Endowment.
