AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials with the Amarillo Area Office of Emergency Management released information regarding a multi-agency resource center being established in Amarillo for residents impacted by the recent flooding and rainfall in Potter and Randall counties.

Max Dunlap, the director of the office of emergency management, said that a multi-agency resource center will be open at 12 p.m. Thursday at the Randall County Fire Station Event Center, located at 1111 S Loop 335 in Amarillo. The MARC will be operated by the Amarillo OEM, along with the Texas Panhandle Volunteers Organization Active in Disaster.

Dunlap said the center will be open on Thursday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Officials said future hours of operation will be determined based on community need.

Kimber Thompson, a volunteer for the Texas Panhandle Volunteer Organization Active in Disaster (VOAD), said this is a collaboration between VOAD and local officials, as well as many partners. The MARC offers a range of resources that aim to help residents recover.

“It’s nice to be able to know that when things are out of control we can bring some calm and some sense, and just some assistance to people that might now know where to go for it, or just not be able to access what they need right now,” Thompson said. “So we can bring people together and everyone can be helpful and work together and really just have that sense of community that I think is so important.”

Thompson said this is a good opportunity for people to be able to access resources all at one time and she is grateful they were able to come together on short notice to help those who have been displaced.

Candice Robinson, who was affected by the flooding, said the resource center is something positive that comes from a drastic and uncontrollable situation.

“It’s a blessing, I mean people wouldn’t know what to do in a time like this. So it’s definitely a positive thing in a drastic situation,” said Robinson.

According to previous reports by MyHighPlains.com, this comes after the state of Texas, as well as the city of Amarillo, the city of Canyon, as well as Potter and Randall counties, have established disaster declarations for the areas impacted by severe storms and flooding.

Dunlap said that the center will include around 16 agencies, including the American Red Cross and faith-based agencies, to help residents who need help. Officials with the Texas Department of Emergency Management will also be available to help residents fill out the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool document, a state tool that gives residents the ability to report personal and commercial property damage. 

iSTAT forms are “imperative for citizens” and public infrastructure to help the state know the status of the damage for the impacted area, Dunlap said. The disaster number for the specific event for Amarillo is 230016.

“There will be several organizations available at one location to help the residents of our community who are dealing with the impact of the recent rain and flooding,” Dunlap said in the release. “The MARC will be a convenient and valuable resource for residents.”

Dunlap also said that the city is establishing a call center for citizens to receive and request help in relation to the ongoing flooding and rain situation. The number for the call center is 806-378-6591 and residents are able to gain information on where they can go if they need assistance.