Houston Food Bank Assists During Winter Storm

Press release from Houston Food Bank:

Feb. 22, 2021

https://www.houstonfoodbank.org/winterstorm/

WINTER STORM IMPACT

• State of Texas experienced worst winter storm in decades Monday, 2/15/2021
  • Blanketed by one of the largest snowfalls on record
  • The entire state was under a winter storm warning for the first time in its history
  • Record low temperatures
  • An estimated 4.1M customers had their power interrupted
    • Some interruptions were part of controlled rolling blackouts and were short
    • Hundreds of thousands of people without power 24 hours+
    • Many of these power outages are concentrated in and around Houston area

• On Monday 2/15/2021 about 1.1M of CenterPoint’s 2.6M customers were without power and were unlikely to have power restored before Tuesday or Wednesday
• Sustained power outage for Brazoria County as high as 96%
• Governor Gregg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for all 254 Texas counties in advance of the storm on Friday 2/12/2021
  • The White House approved a Federal Emergency Declaration for the State on Sunday 12/14/2021
    • This declaration allows the Federal Emergency management Agency to provide measures for mass care and shelters

HOUSTON FOOD BANK’S RESPONSE

• The Food Bank is in disaster mode as of Monday, 2/15/2021
• A number of shelters and warming centers are open throughout the Houston area to help those in need during the historically cold weather
  • George R. Brown Convention Center was opened for people who are homeless and need a place to stay (initial maximum capacity of 200, increased to 800 due to need)
    • Houston Food Bank providing meals to George R. Brown shelter and an American Red Cross warming center
    • Also delivered six pallets of blankets donated by Walmart
  • Lakewood Church made a request on Wednesday 2/16/2021 – HFB sent meals/lunches
  • Brazoria County Warming Center in Lake Jackson (run by Salvation Army) support 2/18/2021
    • 20 pallets
  • Brazoria Dream Center (HFB partner) support 2/18/2021
    • Disaster pallets
• Houston Food Bank offices closed Monday and Tuesday 2/15/2021 and 2/16/2021. Not closed to serve the community, Ride-Out Teams stationed at both buildings to meet urgent requests.
  • Opened Wednesday 2/17/2021 delayed start time to essential-operational staff. Closed to volunteers Monday 2/15/2021 through Thursday 2/18/2021 - will update Thursday on what Friday looks like
  • Ride-out teams stationed at both food bank locations to monitor buildings
  • Assessing and Prioritizing staff care
• Assessing partner and community needs
  • Galveston County Food Bank and Brazos Valley Food Bank is serving warming centers with water and MREs
  • Hearing from some partners they are also without power, as of Wednesday, 2/17/2021. Partner Services is hosting Zoom calls Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
    • Partners are expecting to have long lines based on phone calls they are receiving and the current situation impacting Houston and surrounding areas
    • Many partners have power issues as well

COMMUNITY’S NEEDS

We are sending out disaster pallets and product.

If you need help: please call our helpline 832-369-9390 or use this map houstonfoodbank.org/find-help

• Please call ahead to confirm if the partner is open

HOUSTON FOOD BANK’S NEEDS

Volunteers

o The food bank has been closed to volunteers but will need the help of volunteers very soon! Please register for a shirt online at https://www.houstonfoodbank.org/ways-to-give/give-time/

Most needed items: http://www.houstonfoodbank.org/mostneededitems

o Bottled water

o Ready-to eat foods (soups, canned pasta, canned protein, etc.)

o Granola bars/Cereal (family or individual)

o Bread

This press release was produced by Houston Food Bank. The views expressed here are the author's own.