Ten community organizations will be on hand Saturday, Aug. 8, when the Rockwall Ready coalition hosts a free open house at the Rockwall County Annex, giving residents a single stop to meet the groups that mobilize when disaster hits the county.

The open house runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1101 E. Yellow Jacket Lane, according to the county's official alert posted Friday, July 31. No registration is required.

Rockwall Ready partners with the Rockwall County Office of Emergency Management to coordinate community resources before, during, and after disasters. The office, led by Emergency Management Coordinator Jarod Rosson, said the event is for residents who want to volunteer, learn what resources are available, or find out more about the organizations serving Rockwall County.

Who's in the room

The confirmed lineup spans food assistance, tool lending, emergency communications, volunteer matching, and counseling:

  • Rockwall Helping Hands — the county's official disaster donations manager, appointed by the Commissioners' Court. The nonprofit has served residents across Rockwall County and surrounding communities since 1976, providing food, shelter, and healthcare support.
  • Meals on Wheels Senior Services of Rockwall County
  • Rockwall CERT — the Community Emergency Response Team, sponsored by the Rockwall Fire Department, trains citizen volunteers in fire suppression, search and rescue, medical triage, and emergency communications.
  • Rockwall Amateur Radio Club — tied to the county's RACES program, which provides backup radio communications for the Fire Department and Emergency Operations Center during emergencies.
  • ToolBank USA — a national nonprofit that deploys mobile trailers of hand and power tools to disaster zones for volunteer rebuilding. Its South Central Hub operates out of Dallas.
  • JustServe North Texas — a volunteer-matching platform connecting residents with service opportunities, including disaster relief projects.
  • Dignity Memorial
  • Grainger
  • Salter Strength Systems
  • Dr Vaccaro Counseling Group

Volunteer connections

The Office of Emergency Management lists CERT training, Skywarn storm-spotter classes, and the Amateur Radio Club as its primary volunteer pipelines for residents who want to help during severe weather or other emergencies. The Aug. 8 open house offers face-to-face introductions to those programs.

Residents interested in donating to disaster relief can connect with Rockwall Helping Hands, which manages a dedicated Disaster Relief Fund at rockwallhelpinghands.com.

For questions, contact the Rockwall County Office of Emergency Management at 972-204-7080 or [email protected].

Upcoming

  • Saturday, Aug. 8 — Rockwall Ready Open House, 9 a.m.–1 p.m., Rockwall County Annex, 1101 E. Yellow Jacket Lane. Free, no registration.