Revised Press Release

The Camp County / City of Pittsburg Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has activated our Emergency Management Plan which involves Sheltering and Mass-Care Support for receiving evacuees from Hurricane Katrina.  City and County officials, Pittsburg Independent School District, Camp County Chamber of Commerce, local Churches, Camp County Emergency Medical Service, Camp Shiloh Lutheran Retreat, and local business leaders have met and made plans to receive up to fifty victims into the Emmanuel Baptist Church Grace Building, in Pittsburg.  

The local OEM has contacted the Governor’s Division of Emergency Management (GDEM) to make them aware of the shelter being available.  GDEM will divert evacuees to Pittsburg as the need arises.  When this occurs, the entire community will be needed to support this effort.

Texas has received approximately 62,000 evacuees into shelters across the state.  Other states are receiving evacuees as well.

An account called “The Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund” has been established at Pilgrim Bank in Pittsburg for monetary donations to assist relief efforts at a local level.  Monetary donations are requested in lieu of material items.  This will allow shelter managers to purchase exactly what is needed and not have to devote efforts and personnel to sorting and finding places to store items that may not be applicable to this effort.  Balances left over from what is required locally will be forwarded to the national relief effort.

If you wish to volunteer or assist locally in these efforts, it will be beneficial to coordinate this through your local church, business or organization instead of multiple individual calls.  For additional information you may contact the Emmanuel Baptist Church at (903)856-3508.