Rebuilding Eagle Pass
May 7th, 2007
Your support has been overwhelming. Over the past two weeks thousands have asked how they could help rebuild Eagle Pass. From spreading the word to friends and family to donating time and money, Texans have come together.
American Electric Power (AEP) Texas joined in to help our friends in Eagle Pass. Last week, AEP Texas not only helped get power to its customers, but also donated $10,000 to the Eagle Pass Disaster Relief Fund, which was established to assist families affected by the April 24 tornado that struck the area.
City and County officials held a news press conference at the Eagle Pass International Trade Center to announce the donation. The International Trade Center has been designated as a collection site for all donations to help families affected by the tornado. “This is a tremendous show of support for the families affected in our community,” said Chad Foster, Eagle Pass mayor. “We can always count on AEP Texas and its employees to get involved and help our community.”
Maverick County Judge Jose “Pepe” Aranda complimented the restoration efforts by AEP Texas. “I was impressed with the service restoration process that AEP Texas employees undertook after the tornado went through,” Aranda said. “Their communications and updates to us were critical because they allowed us to set up shelters and kitchens for families who were left homeless. I commend AEP Texas for working long hours to restore power and allow families to return to their homes.”
Your donation does more than rebuild stores and turn on the lights, it helps people directly. Here are just two personal stories from people affected by the tornados that hit Eagle Pass and Maverick County.
Joey Tapia, 22, lives in a subdivision just outside of Eagle Pass. He and his wife and four children lost all their possessions when the tornado tore through the area. Tapia also suffered the loss of five members of his extended family; one uncle , three aunts, and a niece.
On April 30, Oscar De Los Santos told us what he was doing for his hometown of Eagle Pass.
When I was talking to my mom and she was telling me how she had volunteered at the local shelter all night, I was feeling frustrated and didn’t know what to do. So I got my dorm table and a popcorn bucket and started asking for donations outside on the UT campus, and it really blew up from there.
I have been talking with the Latino Leadership Council, the Mexican American Culture Committee, as well as the UT staff and they have thrown their support behind us. This morning I was on a local Austin news show rallying people to our cause. Anything you can do is appreciated. Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.
Join AEP and Oscar De Los Santos in helping rebuild Eagle Pass.
