Disaster Relief Information

FEDERAL RESOURCES

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

• FEMA
• Presidential Emergency Declaration
• FEMA Internet Registration

US Small Business Administration (SBA)

• Current Disaster Fact Sheets
• Disaster Updates and Deadlines
• SBA Disaster Loan Forms for Business
• About Economic Injury Disaster Loans
• SBA Disaster Recovery Index

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

• Tax Relief in Disaster Situations
• IRS Disaster Loss Presentation
  This presentation is designed for businesses that have suffered losses as the result of a casualty, with special emphasis on tax relief in disaster situations. The course includes information on what constitutes a casualty, the type of records needed to determine and prove a casualty loss, how to calculate and report the loss, and special rules for Presidentially declared disaster areas. The material also covers when to include casualty loss reimbursements in income, and how reimbursements and casualty loss deductions affect the basis of property.

• READYBusiness-Steps to Prepare for a Disaster
• Sample Emergency Plan

USDA Agricultural Disaster Assistance
USDA




STATE RESOURCES

Texas Evacuation and Returning Home
Texans Returning Home - The following counties have been declared disaster areas: Angelina, Chambers, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, Tyler, and Walker Counties. Residents of these counties may encounter areas with no electricity, water and services.

Before returning home to these counties, contact your local authorities to obtain specific information about the status of your community.

 

The Texas Department of Transportation - Hurricane Rita Information
Governor's Division of Emergency Management - Hurricane Rita
Houston Energy Advisory: Energy is asking customers in its western area north of Houston to voluntarily reduce their usage of electricity.


Local Government Contacts for Emergency Assistance

First Responders often have the most current status on security, health, and safety. Contact the local resources in your area for help and information.

• • Texas Cities
    • Austin - Hotline: 1-512-974-1110
    • Dallas - Office of Emergency Management: 1-214-670-4275
    • Fort Worth
    • Galveston
    • Houston
    • San Antonio
  • Texas Counties
    • Chambers County
    • Hardin County
    • Harris County
    • Jefferson County
    • The Houston Airport System
  • Texas Law Enforcement
    • Texas Judicial Directory
    • List of Law Enforcement Agencies(PDF File)
    • Law Enforcement Agency Websites
    • Directory of Texas Sheriffs
    • Sheriff's Offices and Other Law Enforcement Websites
• Health Care Resources:
  • Pharmacists and Pharmacies - Obtain emergency prescription refills and establish a remote location to provide prescription dispensing services on an emergency basis.
  • Texas Health and Human Services
  • Department of Aging and Disability Services
  • Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services
  • Department of Family and Protective Services
  • Department of State Health Services
• Resources for People with Disabilities:
  • Independent Living Research Utilization - assisting hurricane survivors with disabilities.
  • Department of Aging and Disability Services
  • Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services
• Housing Resources:
  • Shelter Information from the Red Cross: 1-866-438-4636
  • Housing Resource Center - Houston
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • HurricaneHousing.org
  • Relief organizations and individuals can search for apartments and vacancies through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs website.
• Transportation Resources:
  • The Texas Department of Transportation - Hurricane Rita Information
    • The Plan for Texans Returning Home
• Insurance Questions:
  • The Texas Department of Insurance
    • Toll free help line: 1-800-252-3439
    • Hurricane Rita Consumer Assistance
• Employment Questions:
  • Texas Workforce Commission
  • Alamo WorkSource
  • The WorkSource (Gulf Coast)
• Education Questions:
  • Texas Education Agency - information for teachers and displaced students: 1-800-957-5109.
  • Information for College Students Displaced by Hurricane Rita
  • Texas State University System - Information for students and employees of Lamar University, Lamar Institute of Technology, Lamar State College - Orange, and Lamar State College - Port Arthur who have been displaced by Hurricane Rita: 1-512-463-1808.

HOW TO HELP

Texas Responds - A non-profit organization established as a part of Governor Perry's Statewide Emergency Management Plan. This site is a clearinghouse for donations and volunteers.

Businesses

• The SouthWest Emergency Response Network is the central repository for Hurricane relief efforts. If you or your organization/agency/corporation has resources that may be made available to the response agencies, please list them in the Resource Registry. Currently, their highest priority needs are housing, transportation and emergency supplies.
• The Texas Workforce Commission has set up a hotline for employers offering jobs to hurricane victims at:
  1-800-695-6879.
  Phones will be staffed from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Guidelines for Personal Donations

• Guidelines for making the right donation
• General information on how to donate

Cash Donations

• Texas Disaster Relief Fund
  Governor Rick Perry established the Texas Disaster Relief Fund to help provide immediate assistance to citizens in need. Throughout this great state, following in the grandest of traditions of neighbor helping neighbor, Texans daily step forward to serve their fellow Texans.
• American Red Cross
  1-800-HELP NOW (435-7669) English,
  1-800-257-7575 Spanish
• America's Second Harvest
  1-800-344-8070
• The Salvation Army
  800 SAL ARMY
• United Way
  1-800-272-4630
• Humane Society of the United States
  1-888-259-5431
• American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
  1-866-275-3923

Food, Water and Other Goods Donations

Currently America's Second Harvest is looking for very specific, dry storage items in full truckload quantities: bottled water, hand-held snacks such as granola and energy bars, breakfast bars, beefy jerky, peanut butter, canned meals such as hearty soups, stews, chili, and/or pasta, plates, bowls, cups, and utensils, bleach, disinfecting household cleaning items, and diapers.

• Find a local food bank that is part of America's Second Harvest.
• Austin-area employees can contact the Capital Area Food Bank - 512-282-2111
• Hurricane Information for Health-Care Professionals and Allied Fields
• Texas Department of State Health Services Volunteer Registry
• The Independent Living Research Utilization - assisting hurricane survivors with disabilities