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Helpful Links For Texans In The Aftermath Of Hurricane Ike

FEMA has Extended Registration Deadline for Ike Disaster Assistance to Jan. 10, 2009

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has extended the deadline for homeowners, renters and business owners who suffered damages from Hurricane Ike to register for state and federal disaster assistance. The new deadline is Saturday, January 10, 2009.

State and federal officials urge Texans who had damage from Hurricane Ike to register with FEMA as soon as possible by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), (TTY) 1-800-462-7585, or by visiting FEMA’s Web site, www.fema.gov.

Disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repair and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or other sources.

Both the registration line and online registration service are available 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week until further notice.

Those who have already registered may check on their application status by calling the helpline, which has an automated status update function; go to the FEMA web site; or visit any of the Disaster Recovery Centers that remain in the affected areas.

A listing of recovery centers is available at www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/pages/dr1791_drc_list.htm.

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are also available for homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations to repair or replace real or personal property. While no one is required to take out an SBA loan, applications are a key part of the FEMA application process.

Individuals and businesses must register with FEMA first. Individuals who may not qualify for an SBA loan may be eligible for other forms of assistance. For information about SBA programs or to find a location nearby, applicants may call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY 1-800-877-8339), or visit SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.

FEMA has established an informational website for Hurricane Ike: http://www.fema.gov/news/event.fema?id=10570.

The website includes information on Disaster Recovery Centers, housing, and additional helpful resources for Texans recovering from Hurricane Ike.

Free Crisis Counseling for Texans Affected by Hurricane Ike

Disaster-related crisis counseling services are funded by FEMA and administered by the Texas Department of State Health Services. To be eligible for crisis counseling services, the person must be a resident of one of the 34 Texas counties designated for federal assistance.

Those counties are Angelina, Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Cherokee, Fort Bend, Galveston, Gregg, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Harrison, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Smith, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller, and Washington.

The following Mental Health/Mental Retardation (MHMR) centers are providing crisis counseling for 23 of the designated counties:

• Burke Center – Angelina, San Augustine, Houston, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk, Sabine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity and Tyler; call 1-800-392-8343
• Gulf Coast Center – Brazoria and Galveston; call 1-800-643-0967
• Harris County MHMR – Harris and Fort Bend; call 1-713-970-7000
• Spindletop MHMR – Hardin, Jefferson, Chambers and Orange; call 1-800-937-8097
• Tri-County MHMR – Liberty, Montgomery and Walker; call 1-888-690-0799

In addition to calling the participating MHMR centers, people can also call the following numbers for assistance:

• 1-800-273-TALK: for suicidal or homicidal thoughts or plans
• 1-800-662-HELP: for problematic use of alcohol or drugs
• 1-800-799-7233: for issues related to domestic violence, child abuse or elder abuse

Residents in other counties should call 2-1-1, the central point of contact for health and human services throughout Texas.

More resources are available online at: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/comprep/dmh/bibmain.shtm

Disaster Recovery Centers

To find locations and hours of operation, please visit: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/pages/dr1791_drc_list.htm

Individuals are encouraged to register with FEMA before visiting a DRC.

At the DRC, visitors can:

• Receive information about different types of state and federal disaster assistance.
• Get help completing low-interest loan applications from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for homeowners, renters or business owners.
• Inquire about the status of applications for federal assistance.
• Receive referrals to the American Red Cross and other voluntary organizations to help with immediate unmet needs.
• Learn cost-effective measures to reduce the impact of future disaster losses.

• 211: 1-877-923-2114 (9/15/2008) 
• Food Stamp Information: 1-800-221-5689 
• Vendors Who Want to Help: 512-463-3459 
• TX DOT Roadside Assistance: 1-800-525-5555 
• TXDOT Statewide Road Closure Information: 1-800-452-9292 
• Relay Service: 7-1-1 (Hearing Impaired and Visual Disabilities)

American Red Cross "Safe and Well" List

“If you have been affected by a disaster, this website provides a way for you to register yourself as ‘safe and well.’…Concerned family and friends can search the list of those who have registered themselves.” - https://disastersafe.redcross.org/default.aspx  

FEMA Mobile Registration Centers

FEMA has established an additional avenue for registration along with www.FEMA.gov and the toll free number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).

Locations:

• City Hall, 26th Street and Ball, Galveston (Map) 
• Ball High School, O Street and Jack Johnson Blvd, Galveston (Map)
• Bridge City High School, 2690 Texas Avenue, Bridge City (Map) 

Roof Damage – Operation BLUE ROOF

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has started a temporary roofing program. Homeowners can have plastic sheeting installed over the damaged area by Corps of Engineers contractors, in a program provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

• For more information, call the toll-free BLUE ROOF hotline number at: 1-888-ROOF-BLU or 1-888-766-3258

In order to have plastic sheeting placed on their roofs, homeowners must complete a right-of-entry form to allow government and contract employees on their property. Right of Entry (ROE) centers for affected counties are staffed by Corps of Engineers employees. The Corps has established two (2) mobile ROE collection sites. They are:

• The City of Webster Civic Center, 101 Pennsylvania St. (Map)
• The intersection of Red Bluff Road and Spencer Highway in Deer Park (Map)

Hours of operation are daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

**The Corps will be establishing more ROE collection sites in the coming days.**

Note: Homeowners may also cover their roofs with free tarps provided by FEMA and issued through their local governments. More information will be posted as soon as it is available.

Facts about Operation BLUE ROOF:

• To qualify for BLUE ROOF services, damage to the roof must be less than 50 percent and the area to be covered must be structurally sound for a crew to work on.
• The Corps is covering roofs in the hardest hit counties first. Be patient. The Corps will respond to every person who has completed an ROE as quickly as possible.
• In some instances, there may be a slowdown in installing plastic sheeting because of a national shortage.
• The plastic covering and the tarps are temporary fixes designed to provide protection from the elements until the homeowner can make permanent repairs with a qualified professional.

IRS Disaster Relief

The IRS has delayed return filing, tax payment and certain other time-sensitive acts due on or after September 7, 2008, and before January 5, 2009 until January 5, 2009, for residents and businesses in the 29 federally designated disaster counties in Texas. To learn more, go to: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=186874,00.html.

Points of Distribution (POD) Information:
**Locations maintained by FEMA and County officials and are subject to change**

Houston Chronicle location list: http://www.chron.com/databases/ikepods.html

Harris County location list: http://www.co.harris.tx.us/FEMAPODLocations.pdf

To register with FEMA for assistance

Residents of 29 Texas counties (Angelina, Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Cherokee, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller and Washington) who suffered damage from Hurricane Ike may be eligible for federal disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration other federal agencies.

Homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and nonprofit organizations must register with FEMA before a benefit can be provided. To register, visit http://www.fema.gov/assistance/index.shtm or call 1-800-621-3362. These toll-free numbers will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, until further notice.

When registering with FEMA, you will be asked to provide the following information:

• Name as it appears on your Social Security card
• Address of the damaged home or apartment
• Current contact telephone number
• Address where you can receive mail
• Description of the damage

FEMA Transitional Housing Assistance Program

FEMA’s Transitional Housing Assistance program is now available to folks who have registered with FEMA. This will allow displaced residents who have first registered and have been approved through FEMA for assistance to be reimbursed or to pay no cost of their own for extended hotel stays. The initial period of assistance is from September 14, 2008 to October 14, 2008. In some areas FEMA has already contracted with hotel chains and will pay hotels directly for individual stays. Link to participating hotels - http://www.FEMAEvacHotels.com

Note: You must first register and be approved through FEMA. To do so, go to www.fema.gov or call the FEMA toll-free call centers at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 1-800-462-7585.

Other Helpful Federal Assistance Programs

Disaster Unemployment Assistance - http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/disaster.asp and http://www.servicelocator.org/OWS_Select_Link.asp?state=48

Public Assistance Grants - http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/index.shtm

Assistance for Small Businesses owners - Call: 1-800-659-2955 / E-mail: disastercustomerservice@sba.gov

• Economic Injury Disaster Loans - http://www.sba.gov/hurricanes/index.html
• Physical Disaster Loans – Businesses - http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance/businessesofallsizes/index.html
• Emergency Loans for Farms - http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=fmlp&topic=efl

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Spill Reporting (24-Hour): 800-832-8224

Non-Spill Emergencies Hot Line: 888-777-3186

Local Government Assistance: 800-447-2827

Homeowners Insurance Information

http://www.iii.org/individuals/homei/tips/tollfreenumbers/

National Flood Insurance Information

888-379-9531
http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/

Report Oil and Chemical Spills

National Response Center: 800-424-8802

Updated Friday, September 12, 2008

Transportation maps and information:

Greater Houston Transportation and Emergency Management Center

Real time traffic map

Shelters and humanitarian aid:

American Red Cross

Houston Red Cross

Red Cross hotline: 1-866-GET-INFO

Federal Agency Information:

Social Security Administration advisory

FCC – Communication during emergencies

Replace important documents

US Postal Service advisory

Food Safety Information for Hurricanes, Power Outages, & Floods

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Federal Alliance for Safe Homes

The Federal Emergency Management Agency

The US Department of Homeland Security

Other federal agency hotlines  

Houston Area Veterans Affairs

Veterans: During a crisis situation, call the MEDVAMC Emergency Information Hotline at (713) 794-8989 or 1-800-553-2278, ext. 8989 for facility updates and the latest emergency response information.

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