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Thursday, September 2, 2010 |
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Thinking about grabbing a boat? Think again
Published June 13, 2010
SEGUIN — Guadalupe County Sheriff Arnold Zwicke said people who deputies see pulling personal watercraft, boats or other objects from the river in the wake of Wednesday’s flood face potential theft charges.
Many boats, docks, boat houses, picnic tables, and other items washed into the river or sank in the flash flood, and all the detritus and debris has made the water unsafe for swimming, boating or recreation.
The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority closed the river and its hydro impoundments in Guadalupe County, and Zwicke said his officers, who are making beefed-up patrols to protect residents and property, will be enforcing the order when they see violations.
“We want to warn people, number one, that there is an ordinance out that no one should be on the river,” Zwicke said. “It’s unsafe, and the only way you can be there is by permit from GBRA. If we see people taking property from the river, we’ll consider it a potential theft, and we will investigate and make arrests where necessary.”
Zwicke said the public has generally been cooperative during the disaster recovery effort, a sentiment echoed by Seguin Police Chief Kevin Kelso, whose officers are making similar patrols in areas damaged by flood waters.
Zwicke said residents who have boats or other items wash up on their property should get a serial or registration number, if possible for identification, and report it to the sheriff’s office at 830-379-1224.
“We’re making a list,” Zwicke said. “Contact us, and we’ll try to find the rightful owners.”
Guadalupe County Road and Bridge Administrator Larry Timmermann said crews from the environmental health department have been working since the flood to tabulate damage for possible intervention by the federal government. Anyone with flood damage to their home is asked to call environmental health at 830-303-8858 to report it.
But so far, Timmermann said, it appears Guadalupe County and its residents took less of a hit than they did in floods in 1998, 2002 or 2004.
“It looks like less than ’04 — considerably less,” Timmermann said. “It looks like it was 16-18 inches less water than in ’04, as a general rule.
The county still has teams out investigating damage and filling out paperwork required if the Federal Emergency Management Agency is called on for local assistance.
“We looked at 70-some houses yesterday and are aiming for the same number today,” Timmermann said. “We’re continuing this on Saturday, we’ll take Sunday off and then hit it hard again Monday. We’re going to try to get by everybody’s house by the end of next week.”
Local, state and federal rules require that a flood zone building permit be issued by the county for any work in the flood plain, and Timmermann said his office is urging residents to be sure to pick up the permits. They can be obtained at the environmental health department.
Those who are stripping out damaged wallboard, furniture and other materials can bring them to Waste Management’s Mesquite Creek Landfill off Kohlenburg Lane outside New Braunfels at a reduced rate, Timmermann said.
“I called Waste Management’s district manager, and they’ve agreed to take flood debris from residences for a flat fee of $25 a load,” Timmermann said.
The material must be flood-damaged — not construction debris from rebuilding, Timmermann stressed.
“There’s no limitation,” Timmermann said. “The only stipulations are it’s for residents only and not for commercial firms or commercial vehicles, and it must be bona fide flood debris and no building materials or household trash.”
Tell the landfill employees on the way in that it’s flood debris, and it’s a flat, $25 per load fee, Timmermann said.
“I think their general rate is $32 a load, and caps out at so-many pounds per load,” Timmermann said. “They’ve waived the weight requirement. If you have a good-sized trailer load, it’s a pretty good deal.”
Guadalupe County Emergency Management Coordinator Dan Kinsey said another good deal exists for those physically or financially unable to clean out their homes or property.
“We have a couple large regional or national volunteer groups offering to come in and assist residents with clean-up,” Kinsey said. “The Texas Baptist Men and United Methodist Church’s disaster services team aim their work primarily at those who are physically or financially incapable of cleaning out themselves, but they’re able to help others who need help, too. Call 830-303-9702 on Monday morning.”
Those who got into the water during the flood or who are exposed to mud, water or other flood-driven debris should consider updating their tetanus shots, Kinsey said.
The Texas Department of State Health Services at 612 Jefferson Avenue is conducting shot clinics from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. Co-pays will be set on a sliding scale, but nobody will be turned away if they cannot afford to pay, Kinsey said.
“If you’ve been affected, call 372-0841 or 401-5780 to ask for an appointment,” Kinsey said.
Walk-ins will be welcomed, but those with appointments will have priority, Kinsey said.
Kinsey said he thought tetanus shots would be a good idea.
“If you’re going to be working in the muck out there and you haven’t had one in a few years, I’d get out there and get a booster,” Kinsey said. “It’s not going to hurt you.”
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