Information for Food and Housing Assistance, Disaster Cleanup, Agency Resources, Recovery, and Consumers , and for USDA Personnel In the Affected Areas

The Hurricane Contracting and Information Center provides a central point of reference for businesses, especially Minority-owned businesses and Small- and Medium-sized enterprises, to register for and become aware of federal contracting opportunities in the Gulf Coast. While the HCIC does not award contracts, their mission is to ensure that businesses understand the process and are aware when opportunities become available.

Register for Disaster Assistance by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362)or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech and hearing impaired.

USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline: 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854); for the hearing-impaired (TTY) 1-800-256-7072.

• Available for consumers questions and concerns about food safety.

Ask Karen can answer inquiries from the public about the prevention of foodborne illness, as well as the safe handling, preparation, and storage of meat, poultry, and egg products, from an extensive database of food safety information.

Provides information on Food Stamps, the Child Nutrition Program, Emergency Feeding of School Children,Emergency Feeding in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, Emergency Feeding in the Summer Food Service Program and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program