Where to find free meals and water after Temple, Texas tornado

TEMPLE, Texas — Dozens of Bell County Emergency Management Team volunteers have set up a distribution center at Lake Belton High School and are offering free meals and water to those who have been affected by Wednesday’s tornado that hit Temple.

Services are located at the high school parking lot, 9809 FM-2483 in Temple, and will be available until 6 p.m. Friday, but will reopen again Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

An EF-2 tornado touched down near West Temple on Wednesday and injured 30 people, according to the National Weather Service. With peak winds reaching 125 mph, it caused destruction of homes and businesses, as well as broken trees and downed power lines, causing tens of thousands of people in the area to lose power. . Bell County remains the hardest hit county with more than 20,000 outages on Friday, May 24.

Bell County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Reinhard said the overall needs of the community will determine how long volunteers stay at Lake Belton High School.

He also said he has seen overwhelming support from the community and volunteers eager to help.

“We get so many people asking us what they can do as far as donations and things of that nature,” Reinhard said. “While it doesn’t take much for the community to come together, it’s proven to work.”

If you are interested in volunteering, but are already affiliated with a volunteer organization, you can register at Crisiscleanup.org. If you are not part of an organization, you can call 254-298-5970.