Affected by hurricane evacuees and Ike.
Emergency Assistance:
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September 15, 2008
Mr. V. Palma Founder and Executive Director
Equal Rights Organization, Inc.
6060 Brookglen Suite “B” Houston, Texas 77017-5098
Dear Mr. Palma:
Please distribute this information to the entire
community at large through its volunteers,
since it is important for those
affected by hurricane evacuees and Ike.
1. Emergency Assistance:
Local Points of Distribution: These centers
will all have food and some of them will have water and ice.
* Greenspoint Harvest Time Baptist Church, 17770 Imperial Valley
* West Town Mall, 4100 Decker, (Baytown)
* Baytown Courthouse Annex, 701 West Baker, (Baytown)
* Raul C. Martinez Annex, 1001 S. Sgt. Macario Garcia (East End)
* Football Stadium, Center@San Augustine, Deer Park (outside TX-
29/nearby)
* Ripley House 4410 Navigation (East End)
* Greater Jerusalem 8901 Jensen (Northside)
* Jim Fonteno Courthouse Annex 14350 Wallisville (Channelview)
* San Jacinto 604 Highlands Woods (Highlands, outside TX-29)
* PAL Gym, 2910 E. Southmore, (Pasadena)
* New Life Fellowship Church, 2104 Underwood, La Porte (nearby TX-
29). Emergency Numbers:
The American Red Cross: For Shelter and Service Locations:1-866-GET-INFO
(1-866-438-4636) or 1-800-Red-Cross (1-800-733-27677).
The Salvation Army: For Shelter and Service Locations:713-752-0677
Access to Health Care: Harris County Hospital District's Ask Your Nurse
Program: 713-633-2255 (24 hours a day)
To Register for Disaster Assistance (FEMA): 1-800-621-3362 and TTD 7-800-
462-7585 County Emergency Management: Harris County (hotline):713-368-2741 Special Needs: State of Texas: 211
Debris Removal: The federal government assists local governments with debris Removal costs following a federally-declared disaster like Hurricane Ike.
Local government-approved contractors are working on debris removal across the area. Please look for debris removal instructions from your local government for resident-cleared debris, which generally include separate piles of vegetation, lumber, appliances and household hazardous materials placed curbside in a way that does not blocking traffic or drainage.
Electricity: CenterPoint Energy is the private utility company responsible for most of the Houston area's power lines, with Entergy Co.responsible in some
areas of east Harris County. According to these utilities, several thousand workers are in the area working to restore power with several thousand more on
the way. Congressman Gene Green has been in contact with utility providers to urge the quick return of electric power to North and East Houston and Harris
County:
* CenterPoint Energy (electricity): 713-207-2222
* CenterPoint Energy (gas): 713-659-2111
* Entergy (electricity): 1-800-368-3749 (1-800-ENTERGY); power outages:
1-800-968-8243 (1-800-9OUTAGE).
Fuel: Gasoline station pumps are electrically operated so restoration
of power should increase the number of operational gas stations and fuel producers are moving additional supplies into the area. Suspected fuel price gouging, maybe reported to the U.S. Department of Energy at 1-800-244-3301 or the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).
2. Federal Recovery Assistance:
General Eligibility Rules: To apply for federal Recovery Assistance, residents of Harris County must first make a claim for any insurance coverage that may apply to damage or your evacuation costs, such as homeowners, flood, auto, or other insurance. Federal assistance can only cover non-insured disaster related
Losses. Homeowner's Insurance: Usually coverage includes wind and FALLING water damage. Residents should contact their insurance agent or company promptly and follow immediately with a written claim. If homeowners need information, have a complaint, or cannot locate their company, call the Texas Department of Insurance at 1-800-852-5246. If they can't find their policy, they can ask their agent or company for a copy.
Flood Insurance: Coverage includes damages from RISING water. They can call The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Hotline number at 1-800-427-4661, or visit www.floodsmart.gov. In cases of repeatedly flooded homes, NFIP
may provide for home buyouts.
Information Needed to Apply:
* The street address of your damages property
* Current mailing address and a telephone number if you have been
forced to relocated
* Your Social Security Number
* Your household's approximate gross income at the time of the flood or,
the gross income of the business (if business damaged)
* Information on all types of insurance coverage you have.
Small Business Administration Low-Interest Loans:
After filing a claim with any insurance company, the next step in the Federal
Assistance Process is applying for a low-interest loan from the Small Business
Administration. If an applicant does not qualify for SBA loans, they are
eligible to apply for Individual Assistance from FEMA. Renters and homeowners both
may apply for up to $200,000 for non-insured losses to residences, and up to
$40,000 for personal property such as clothing, furniture, cars, etc.
For applicants unable to obtain credit elsewhere the interest rate will not
Exceed 4 percent. For those who can obtain credit elsewhere, the interest rate will not exceed 8 percent. SBA determines whether an applicant has credit available elsewhere. SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in many cases up to 30 years. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrower's ability to repay. For more information about SBA disaster assistance for businesses, call toll-free 1-800-659-2955.
FEMA Individual Assistance Program:
There are two major categories of FEMA Individual Assistance, Housing
Assistance and Non-Housing Assistance.
Housing Assistance:
To be eligible for Housing Assistance, the applicant must (1) be a US citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien; (2) usually live in the damaged house and lived there at the time of the disaster; (3) be unable to live in the home now, be unable get to the home due to the disaster, or the home requires repairs due to damage from the disaster. Housing Assistance is not eligible for costs due to precautionary evacuation when the resident can return immediately and there is no damage. Regarding repairs, Housing Assistance can only cover repairs that are not
Covered by insurance that are necessary to meet the FEMA standard of "safe", "sanitary", or "functional." The standard means repairs needed to make the
House livable is most likely to be covered, as are shelter costs for people not able to return due home to damage to their house or the area.
Non-Housing Assistance:
Non-Housing Assistance from FEMA primarily covers: (1) medical or dental
Expenses due to the disaster, (2) disaster related funeral/burial costs, (3)
clothing, household items (room furnishings, appliances), tools (specialized or protective clothing and equipment) required for a job, necessary educational materials (computers, school books, supplies) that were damaged in the disaster or are needed due to longer-term evacuation; (4) clean-up items (wet/dry vacuum, dehumidifier); (5) disaster damaged vehicle (non-insured damages); (6) moving and storage expenses related to the disaster; and (7) other serious needs as determined by FEMA.
3. Disaster Unemployment Assistance:The Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program provides unemployment benefits and re-employment services to individuals who have become unemployed because of major disasters. All unemployed individuals must register with the State's employment services office before they can receive DUA benefits.
commission's call center during business hours at (800) 939-6631. The deadline is October 15, 2008. Payments range from a minimum of $57 a week to a maximum of $378 a week depending on past earning history and may extend up
To 65 weeks if the applicant has not claimed benefits in the past year. To file for benefits individuals need the following: Social Security number; copy of their most recent federal income tax forms or check stubs; documentation supporting they were working or self-employed at the time of the hurricane.
Disaster unemployment payments are available to those who: (1) were working
or self-employed or scheduled to begin work or self-employment; AND (2) can
no longer work or perform services because of hurricane damage to the
workplace OR due to a hurricane injury; AND (3) can establish that their work
or self-employment was their primary source of income OR became the major
supporter of a family because the head of the household died. Note: Disaster
unemployment payments are not available to anyone already receiving
unemployment benefits from Texas or another State.
4. Social Security Benefits:
Individuals who receive their Social Security payments by direct deposit will
receive payments as usual. Beneficiaries who experience difficulties receiving their payments may visit the nearest open Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 to request an immediate payment.
5. Legal Services Assistance:
FEMA arranges for disaster legal services are provided to low-income individuals who, prior to or because of the disaster, are unable to secure legal Services adequate to meet their needs as a consequence of a major disaster.
FEMA-arranged legal assistance to low-income disaster victims may include: (1) assistance with insurance claims (life, medical, property, etc.);(2) counseling on landlord/tenant problems; (3) assisting in consumer protection Matters, remedies, and procedures; (4) replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in a major disaster.6. IRS: For assistance with Special Tax Consideration call 1-866-562-5227
Sincerely, Gene Green Member of Congress 256 N. Sam Houston Pkwy. E Suite 29 Houston, TX 77060
telephone (281) 999-5879 fax (281) 999-5716
Or 11811 I-10 East, Suite 430Houston, TX 77029 telephone; (713) 330-0761 fax (713) 330-0807
