Rowlett City Manager’s Morning Update 12-28-15

(ROWLETT, TX – Dec. 28, 2015) Rowlett City Manager Brian Funderburk has provided this 12-28-2015 morning update:

As you know, Rowlett was hit by a large tornado on Saturday, December 26. The National Weather Service has classified the tornado as an EF3. Based on assessments made by ground personnel, damage is significant and our hearts go out to our residents who have been hit.

We continue to report only 23 injuries and no fatalities.

At this point, we have assessed 1,000 homes in Rowlett with 854 impacted, damage is as follows:
• 220 Affected
• 298 Minor
• 188 Major
• 148 homes have been totally destroyed.

At this point, assessments indicate 43 businesses were impacted:
• 38 Minor
• 5 Major
• 23 have currently ceased operations.

As of this morning, about 4,900 homes were still without power. Oncor has teams in Rowlett working on restoring power and are receiving additional resources now.

The City has now moved into recovery mode and will begin clearing streets and right-of-ways of debris.

We want to stress that the curfew in the affected areas will remain in effect. Only emergency personnel and residents will be allowed in the area and only if it is safe. We are asking non- emergency personnel to stay out of Rowlett. We still need the roadways clear for emergency and recovery operations.

We have received considerable requests asking where to send donations. The Red Cross has established a location at 3700 Chaha for affected residents to receive assistance. Local Rowlett relief organization, Life Message (located at 4501 Rowlett Road), also has received considerable donations of goods, clothing and food to share with those impacted. If people want to make donations, we are asking that they contact the Red Cross atwww.redcross.org In addition, there are several local churches who are collecting donations including First United Methodist, First Christian Church and First Baptist Church in Rowlett and Lakepointe Church in Rockwall.

Mayor Gottel would like to encourage those impacted to let friends and family know they are safe by entering their name at the Red Cross Safe and Well website: www.redcross.org/safeandwell. Concerned family and friends can then search the list of those who have registered themselves as “safe and well”.

The Rowlett Animal Shelter, located at 4402 Industrial, will open at 10:00 AM and is accepting displaced pets. Citizens who have either lost an animal or found one are encouraged to call 972-412-6219 for information.

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