Consult these resources for all your Harvey needs Government
As time begins its march away from the biggest storm in United States history, Houstonians are working hard to return to normalcy. Though the streets have cleared and the water has mostly receded, many are still without homes or a car.
The resource list from last week has been updated with updated FEMA numbers, new recovery centers and D-SNAP information, as well as the removal of obsolete information. Go to DisasterAssistance.
gov to fill out a questionnaire to begin the process of applying for federal aid from FEMA. Apply for federal aid for recovery of storm-caused damages and loss at fema. gov, or call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. (TTY 800-462-7585. If you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800621-3362.) To register for recovery you will need: • Address of location where damage occurred. • Current mailing address. • Your Social Security number. If you don’t have one you still may be eligible for aid if there is someone in your household with one. • For businesses, you will need the Social Security number of the party responsible for the business. • Insurance information. • Financial information. • Your family’s gross total household income at the time of the disaster. • Contact information. • Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or direct deposit information (optional). • Banking information — bank name, type of account, routing and account number — if you are approved for assistance. • Description of damage. FEMA Disaster Houston-areaRecovery Centers: Representatives from FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration, state and other agencies will be on hand to discuss assistance and offer guidance on applications. If possible, homeowners, renters and businesses should register with FEMA before visiting a recovery center. Register at fema. gov. A FEMA app for Apple and Android devices also is available. Download at fema.gov/mobile-app. Hours are 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily at: • Katy Mills Mall (Fort Bend County), 5000 Katy Mills Circle • Baytown Community Center (Harris County), 4407 Market, Baytown • Greenspoint Mall (Harris County), 263 Greenspoint Mall • Webster Civic Center (Harris County), 311 Pennsylvania, Webster • Netrality Building (Harris County), 1301 Fannin (formerly the recovery center at George R. Brown Convention Center) • Simonton Community Church, 9703 FM 1489, Simonton Disaster survivors can visit any location for assistance. Locations of other recovery centers can be found at fema.gov/DRC. HoustonRecovers.org is the central hub for information on Harvey recovery. The website has links to resources where you can volunteer, donate and register for assistance, as well as updates from City Hall and community updates. Call the City of Houston Office of Emergency Management for information at 713-8844500.
IRS.gov offers information on tax relief available for those living in the disaster areas. Go to IRS.gov or call 800-829-1040, available 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Texas Vet Centers and
Mobile Vet Centers offer readjustment services at the following locations: • NRG Arena (Main Entrance), 1 NRG Park (Blue Section) • Lone Star Veterans Association, 2929 McKinney • Beaumont VA Outpatient Clinic, 3420 Plaza Circle, Beaumont • American Legion Post 658, 14890 FM 2100, Crosby • Walmart, 23561 US-59, Porter The Vet Center Call Center Counseling also is available at 877-927-8387. Veterans from stormaffected areas who require immediate assistance may contact the Health Resource Center Disaster Hotline at 800-507-4571.
Housing
The Salvation Army of Greater Houston’s Family Residence at 1603 McGowen is open to assist evacuees and those who have lost their homes. FEMA’s Transitional Shelter Assistance program helps eligible displaced people to stay at a participating hotel free of charge temporarily if they are unable to return home. For a list of participating hotels, go to femaevachotels.com, or contact FEMA to apply at 800-462-7585. Rebuildinghouston.org helps senior, disabled and veteran homeowners in Harris County with home rebuilding efforts. Call 713659-2511.
Airbnb is helping find temporary housing for those displaced by the floods until Sept. 25. Call 855424-7262 or visit airbnb. com/welcome/evacuees/ hurricaneharveyevacuees to find available homes.
Legal
The State Bar of Texas’
Disaster Hotline is answered in English, Spanish and Vietnamese and connects lowincome people affected by a disaster with legal aid providers who can help with issues such as replacing lost documents, answering insurance questions, helping with landlord/tenant problems, and handling consumer protection concerns such as price-gouging and contractor scams during the rebuilding process. Callers can leave a message at any time at 800-504-7030.
The Houston Bar
Association has expanded its LegalLine program. Volunteer attorneys will assist affected residents with legal advice on landlord/tenant matters, insurance, FEMA assistance, property, lost documents and other storm-related issues. Lines are open 3-5 p.m. Monday-Friday through Wednesday. Call 713-7591133 or 866-959-1133.
Food
The Houston Food Bank offers a list of food pantries and other food assistance, Call 832-369-9390. For disaster food stamp benefits, call the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program at 877-541-7905.
The Houston Health
Department opened four Women, Infants and Children (WIC) sites dedicated to help people affected by Harvey’s unprecedented flooding. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., the sites will begin registering pregnant women, women who recently had a child, infants and children under the age 5 for WIC benefits. Sites are at the George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida de las Americas, and Walmart stores at 111 Yale Street, 11210 W. Airport and 9460 W. Sam Houston Parkway. Call 832-393-5427.
Financial
The U.S. Small Business
Administration offers low-interest, long-term disaster loans to small businesses, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters to repair or replace uninsured/ underinsured disasterdamaged property. Apply at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela or call 800-659-2955.
The Texas Gulf Coast Small Business Development Center Network and the U.S. Small Business
Administration have opened a business recovery center where business owners can access a variety of specialized services free of charge. The Harris County center is located at 2302 Fannin and is open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday- Friday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. SaturdaySunday.
Property
The Insurance National Program Flood answers questions for policyholders about the claims process at 800-6213362. To find an abandoned car, go to findmytowedcar.com or call 832-394-4869. The Texas Department of Insurance has advice on what to do if your home or auto was damaged by Harvey, the insurance claims process and contractor fraud prevention. It has extended its call center hours to 8 p.m. Call 800-252-3439 or go to tdi. texas.gov. Harris County homeowners who have any type of property damage from Hurricane Harvey can now report it on the Harris County Appraisal District’s phone app, where they will be given options to identify whether the damage was to the home or garage. The app also provides an event damage report that lists options for the amount of water, an estimate of damage caused by a tornado or roof leaks and a section for fire damage. When the homeowner is ready to submit the report, they take a photo of the front and back of their driver’s license to verify the property owner’s identity. Call 713-821-5805 or email help@hcad.org. CrisisCleanup.org helps connect volunteers with those in need of help cleaning up. Call 844-9651386.
Nonprofits
United Way of Greater
Houston offers a 24-hour helpline to assist disaster victims get the resources they need. Call 211.
Interfaith Ministries of
Greater Houston provides help for those in need, focusing on homebound seniors, refugee families and other vulnerable populations who will need extra resources after the storm. Call 713-533-4900. West Assistance Houston Ministries, 10501 Meadowglen Ln, is providing rent assistance, transportation assistance and car repairs, gas cards, bus passes, food and water, gift cards, clothes, cleaning supplies and motel accommodations for up to one week. Call them at 713-780-2727 or visit their website, whamministries.org.
Business assistance
The Texas Association
of Business is offering assistance to business owners via a hotline during normal business hours. Call 512-637-7714 or email hurricane@txbiz.org.
The U.S. Department of
Agriculture offers food, emergency housing, as well as farmer and rancher assistance to individuals and small businesses affected by severe storms and flooding. Call the Hurricane Harvey Information Line for Texas Producers at 866-6806069. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s Disaster Distress helpline is available 24/7, 365 days a year, for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or humancaused disaster. This toll-free, multilingual and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories. Call 800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
Missing persons
To report or locate a missing child, call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 866-908-9570. To find family or friends or to register yourself as safe, go to safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/. To report the location of a body, call 911. Do not attempt to move or disturb the body in any way.