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(Sharing 6/1/2026) Biweekly CHW Message: "Floods Don't Care About the Size of Your Truck"

  • Aug 7
  • 8 min read

 

"Floods Don't Care About the Size of Your Truck"

Just 6 inches of water can stall most vehicles (look up "hydrolock"), and 18 inches will sweep away SUVs and large trucks. Last summer's catastrophic floods included a flash flood along Perrin Beitel Creek that took 11 lives. This year, let's promote safety before the next heavy rains.

Be Prepared

  • Learn important basics with Bexar County's new Floods Don't Care website and the City's Floods site.

  • Share the attached Texas DSHS flyer.

  • For clinic-based CHWs, hear what one Texas clinic learned from July 4, 2025, floods in this 23-minute video segment.

Understand Your Risk

  • This map lets people see if they live in a flood plain (search by address in the box on top right).

  • For homeowners, raise awareness that regular insurance doesn't cover flood damage -- flood insurance is separate, unfortunately.

Heed Flood Warnings

 (For our Deaf community: preparedness videos and accessible alerts)

Spotlight: Safe Sleep

Accidental infant deaths are a preventable tragedy, and unsafe sleep is the biggest reason. Dozens of organizations met in San Antonio last week to come together for change. Find out how you can help by joining Healthy Start and the African American Health Disparities Council on May 28, 5:30 PM-7 PM, at the Neighborhood Place, 3014 Rivas St. (78228). Flyer attached.

  • DSHS created this Let's Talk -- Safe Infant Sleep toolkit for CHWs and other family educators. It's nonjudgmental and meets people where they are.

  • Find campaign flyers here and know the dangers of baby loungers, crib bumpers and other common padded products.

  • For a fun interactive safe sleep demo at an event, University Health has kits you can borrow with everything you need. Contact Elizabeth.Davila@uhtx.com, 210-358-4295.

Free CHW Learning Opportunities

Infectious Diseases in the News

  • Ebola: Due to a large outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, the U.S. is limiting entry by people in those countries. Professional players on the DRC FIFA team are actually based outside the country, and were asked to isolate for 21 days before coming to Houston in June. 

  • Hantavirus: 8 claims examined by Snopes.com.  Anticipatory guidance for the public: Other kinds of Hantavirus are more common in the U.S. and are not known to spread person-to-person. 

  • What to Do in the First 10 Minutes After Measles Is Suspected is part of CDC's Measles Checklist for Summer Camps. Since my last update, the U.S. added 110 measles cases for a total of 1,952 in 2026, with 0 deaths. Mexico has had 11,033 cases and 14 deaths this year. Vaccination remains the most effective protection. Vaccine programs for uninsured adults and uninsured/underinsured children are explained here. 

  • Texas respiratory virus levels are Very Low.  Data dashboards: CDC | Metro Health | DSHS | TexWEB wastewater | Walgreens Respiratory Illness Index | National wastewater 

Navigation Resources of the Week

·                     Metro Health's Insulin Assistance Program is back, covering up to $100 per prescription. For more info, see the web page and attached flyer.

·                     School's out!

o        Where can kids get free meals? Searchable map

o        Parents can feel more overwhelmed in the summer. Roy Maas is offering 24-7 respite care for parents of children with mental health conditions. Rules apply, see attached flyer. 

·                     The SA Food Bank now gives Double Up Food Bucks at its Saturday farmers markets. Details on attached flyer

·                     Veterans should never have to pay for their DD 214, a vital discharge document needed by employers, benefits administrators and more.

o        Using the National Archives takes a smartphone or computer with a camera, but free help is available from VA offices, Bexar County, Texas Veterans Commission and Disabled American Veterans.

o        Once obtained, file a copy with the county clerk. It remains confidential and is much faster to access if lost or if needed by next-of-kin.

·                     For people who work with immigrants, know that a high-profile new immigration rule is likely to face court challenges.

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

  • Led by The Health Collaborative, Pathways to Health brings trusted community partners directly to your neighborhood to provide free preventive health screenings, connect you to local resources, and help you find and enroll in affordable health insurance. Learn more.

  • Free medical screenings (blood pressure, diabetes, mental health) by UTHouston School of Public Health are available at SpinXpress laundromat locations. Flyer attached; use email address to request dates/times.

  • May 26, 9 AM-2 PM, Latched Community Resource Day for people who are pregnant or have children under 3 years old, 8102 Midcrown Drive (78239). Register

  • May 26, 1 PM-2 PM, Lasting Healing: Trauma-Informed Support, webinar from the Institute for Trauma-Informed Care. Register

  • May 27, 9 AM-noon, free flu and COVID vaccines and health screenings at the Mexican Consulate, 127 Navarro (78205), contact Teresa at vds@ywcasa.org or 210-956-6943.

  • May 27, 11-12:30 PM, Texas DSHS Grand Rounds on new HIV treatments (1.5 hours non-DSHS certified CE), virtual. Info and registration

  • May 27, noon-1 PM, Introduction to Trauma, by ChildSafe, online. Register

  • May 27, 5:30 PM-7:30 PM, Neighborhood Housing & Service Department community conversation on the affordable housing bond and housing priorities, MAUC, 2300 W. Commerce (78207). Info

  • May 28, 9 AM-2 PM, Summer Safety Day (water, fire, car seat and gun safety), 2401 Garner Field Rd., Uvalde (78801). Flyer attached

  • May 28, 1 PM-2 PM, webinar on Substance Use: Recognizing the Effects & Impact to the User & Family, from the Institute for Trauma-Informed Care. Register

  • May 28, 6 PM-7:30 PM, Suicide Prevention to Postvention, virtual NAMI training. Register

  • May 29, 8 AM-5 PM, 24th Annual Bexar County Behavioral Health and Wellness Conference and resource fair, Norris Conference Center, 618 Northwest Loop 410 (78216). Register

  • May 30, 9 AM-noon, Radio La Nuestra mega legal and health fair, with adolescent vaccines, Casa Del Rey, 3685 Culebra Rd (78228). Flyer attached; vaccine flyer and registration link

  • May 30, 9 AM-noon, Caritas Ask-A-Lawyer, St. Pius X Catholic Church, 3907 Harry Wurzbach (78209)

  • May 30, 9 AM-2 PM, Community Mental Health Awareness Symposium by WestCare and the Ella Austin, at ChildSafe, 3730 IH-10 East (78220). Register

  • May 30, 10:30 AM-noon, special Rentwise session for young adults on tenant rights and responsibilities, with breakfast and a chance to win H-E-B gift cards, Central Library, 600 Soledad (78205). Flyer attached. Register

  • May 30, noon-4 PM, Metro Health vaccine pop-up at St. Demiana Coptic Orthodox Church, 707 McCarty Rd (78216). Info

  • June 1, 6 PM-7 PM, Bystander intervention to support the LGBTQIA+ Community, Right to Be, online. Register

  • June 2, 9 AM-3 PM, virtual summit on veteran suicide prevention, by the South Texas VA. Flyer, registration link

  • June 4, 8 AM-2 PM, CommuniCare women's health mobile unit and free mammograms (9 AM-1 PM), Coker United Methodist Church, 14630 Wurzbach Pkwy (78216), appointments preferred, call 210-233-7199

  • June 4, 9 AM-10 AM, Bexar County CHW Partnership virtual monthly meeting. Join here

  • June 4, 9 AM-noon, veteran mental health resource fair, Wonderland of the Americas, 4522 Fredericksburg Rd. (78201)

  • June 4, 2 PM-3 PM, Corazon Ministries mobile medical unit will offer wound care, glucose tests, STI testing, harm reduction services and more at the Central Library, 600 Soledad (78205). Info

  • June 5, 5 PM-7 PM, free diabetes (Hba1c) tests on First Fridays, 921 Matagorda St. (78201). Flyer attached

  • June 5 & 15, YWCA mammogram event. To schedule an appointment, call Arlene Mora or Barbara Garcia, 210-433-9922, x212 or x243, amora@ywcasa.org and bgarcia@ywcasa.org

  • June 6, 11 AM-2 PM, Wear Orange Day with Big Mama's Safe House, Alazan Community Center, 1011 S. Brazos (78207). Flyer attached

  • June 9, 8 AM-1 PM, produce bags, clothing, diapers, health class, mammogram bus and more at West Avenue Compassion, 10715 West Avenue (78213)

  • June 9, 1 PM-2 PM, online fentanyl awareness training from SACADA. Register.

  • June 10, 9 AM-3 PM, CommuniCare women's health mobile unit at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, 4114 SW Loop 410 (78227), appointments preferred, call 210-233-7199

  • June 10, 1 PM-2 PM, City rental assistance application portal opens (second Wednesday of each month)

  • June 10, 4 PM-5 PM, Recognizing and reporting child abuse, online training from ChildSafe. Register

  • June 11, 9 AM-3 PM, CommuniCare women's health mobile unit at Westlawn United Methodist Church, 122 S. San Manuel (78237), appointments preferred, call 210-233-7199

  • June 11, 6 PM-7 PM, Stop the Bleed training by UH at Vida, 3611 Jaguar Parkway (78224). Register

  • June 16, 8 AM-1 PM, produce bags, clothing, diapers, health class, women's health bus and more at West Avenue Compassion, 10715 West Avenue (78213)

  • June 16, noon-1:15 PM, The Immunization Partnership's annual townhall brings together health workers and partners to learn from each other. Register

  • Each week, Westcare puts out a packed, magazine-format roundup of upcoming community events—read it by clicking here. 

  • San Antonio Compassion posts flyers for resources and upcoming events here. 

Logistics—How Do I Get…  

VACCINES 

  • Uninsured? For recommended childhood vaccines and some adult vaccines, click the green buttons on this page for Texas Vaccines for Children and Adult Safety Net providers.

  • Insured? Use a pharmacy--it's fast and no-cost to you. The American Pharmacists Association offers this pharmacy map -- filter by walk-in vaccine access, handicap accessibility, hours of operation and spoken languages. (No matter what the map says, it still helps to make an appointment.) 

  • Homebound seniors: Medicare will pay a doctor or other care provider to give flu, COVID-19, Hepatitis B and pneumococcal vaccines in the home, more info here.

  • Everyone is still eligible for COVID vaccines this year, and it is still covered by insurance. Hate the side effects? Look for the non-mRNA formulation (the "protein vaccine" here). 

    • No prescription is required at the major national pharmacy chains.

    • For those without health insurance, this is the best discount coupon I've found ($89 as of January 2026)--still pricey, but cheaper than the treatment pills. 

    • If you are unable to get the vaccine, remember the old standbys of clean air, frequent handwashing, masking, staying away from others who are sick (and also when you're sick). More info

TESTING

  • The federal program for free home tests has ended. Some health insurers still cover these.

  • How to Use Home COVID and Flu Tests:

    • Lab tests are preferred for people with symptoms. If you are unable to obtain a lab test, then repeat your home COVID test every 48 hours for a total of at least two tests.

    • If any result is positive, stay home and away from others for at least 24 hours—until your symptoms are getting better and you’ve haven’t had a fever for at least 24 hours (without taking fever reducers). What to Do If You Feel Sick (CDC)

  • Before throwing out an expired home test, see if the expiration date was extended by checking the Expiration Date column of the FDA’s List of Authorized At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests.

TREATMENT 

  • Medications must start quickly (within 5 days of symptoms for COVID, within just 2-3 days for the flu)—so don’t delay getting a test and a diagnosis. 

  • If you are at risk for complications and need antiviral pills: Low-cost online visits are available. Some people are eligible for co-pay assistance from the drug manufacturer. Learn more. 


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