Generosity from across the nation filled four Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Animal Supply Points since Feb. 28 in the wake of the Smokehouse Creek, Windy Deuce and Grapevine Creek wildfires, which burned over 1.2 million acres to become the largest wildfire in Texas history.
AgriLife Extension has received $4.4 million in commodity donations and $2.85 million in hay, feed and fencing supplies as of April 10.
“First, let me say, we want to thank everyone for sending their donations to the multiple supply points,” said Curtis Preston, AgriLife Extension Disaster Assessment Recovery, DAR, North Region area chief, Lubbock. “It’s almost impossible to put into words the amount of gratitude we have and that has been expressed by the ranchers and residents in the impacted area.”
The supply points are temporary operations to provide producers with hay and feed resources. They are designed to operate only a short time and not compete with local business outlets.
“We are now ready to taper off the receiving end of supplies,” Preston said. “We know the overwhelming generosity of those from across the state and nation will continue to flow in, and we will take them for the rest of this month.”
But at this point, he said, the ranchers are now able to better determine the supplies they will need moving forward.
“Most of our ranchers have run out of space to store feed, so we will continue to serve them and allow them to come in and pick up feed as they need it,” Preston said.
With that in mind, the Animal Supply Points will continue to accept incoming donations, especially for fencing supplies, through May 1, and have set a distribution deadline for on or about June 1.
Within 48 hours of the fires, AgriLife Extension stood up four Animal Supply Points across the region most affected by the fire in Borger, Pampa, Miami and Canadian. An additional Human Resources Relief Center was set up in Canadian.