The City of Dallas has partnered with Dallas ISD to sponsor a resource center for those impacted by last week’s severe storms.
The George W. Truett Elementary School in Dallas is housing the multi-agency resource center, which will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through June 9.
“We kind of describe it as a one-stop shop, so instead of the residents having to go to various agencies and calling them, we try to bring them together under one roof,” Cassandra Wallace, manager of community outreach preparedness and recovery at the City of Dallas’ Office of Emergency Management, told CBS News Texas.
The center has assisted local residents with anything from legal assistance for renters to connecting with Oncor following power outages and free food.
More than 1,5000 people have been helped thus far, with many getting food after their perishable groceries spoiled during the extended power outages.
“We didn’t anticipate as well as we should have the need for food,” Wallace said. “So, actually, when we got here this morning (June 2), there was already a line.”
“It’s actually a really good idea because there’s a lot of people that really don’t know where to begin,” Lupe Lopez told CBS.
Lopez said a tree fell through her roof on the morning of May 28.
“My home, it’s kind of a disaster,” Lopez told CBS. “Right now, there’s a tree inside my living room. The ceiling caved in. It’s just scary.”
Other residents, such as Sharon Brown, shared with CBS that because the power was out due to the storm, she had to throw her groceries in the trash.
“My rent is due, and I don’t have money to buy,” said Sharon Brown. “I’ve been eating tuna fish dry, I’ve been eating peanut butter … I had no lights Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.”
The initial storm, covered by The Dallas Express, knocked out power for more than 600,000 utility customers.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins shared in a social media post that as of June 2, just under 7,000 customers were still without power.