Lewisville, Denton County Sending Firefighters, Paramedics to Assist

The city of Lewisville and Denton County are doing their part in assisting victims of Hurricane Ike.A total of 118 people, mostly from Southeast Texas, checked into the Frederick P. Herring Recreation Center in Lewisville either Friday night or Saturday where they are expected to be provided shelter by the city and food and supplies from the American Red Cross and Salvation Army for the next several days.

It was the second time in two weeks that the facility has been converted from a recreation center to a shelter. On Labor Day weekend, 140 people fleeing Hurricane Gustav checked into the rec center and stayed until about the middle of the week before returning either to their homes in Southeast Texas or Louisiana.

Also, a caravan of firefighters and paramedics from all over Denton County, including several from Lewisville and Flower Mound, left from Vista Ridge Mall Saturday afternoon, headed for the coast to assist victims who either chose to remain or had no choice but to ride out the hurricane rather than to leave.

Division Chief Steve Carter, Lewisville Fire Department public information officer, said virtually every fire department in Denton County is providing both equipment and personnel for the event and were believed to be headed initially for Orange County.

Lewisville Emergency Management Coordinator Summer Wilhelm is overseeing the efforts at the recreation center.

Lewisville police and city staff members are working with American Red Cross and Salvation Army personnel in order to make the visitors’ stay as comfortable as possible.

“There is no way we can make them as comfortable as they would be at home,” said Fred Schulze, one of several American Red Cross volunteers. “I laid down on one of the cots the other night, and they are not so comfortable. However, we are doing what we can to make everyone as comfortable as possible.”