eBranch Blog

September 02, 2005

Get Help

- FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Administration) - Register online or call the 24 hour hotline at 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585) for aid or review your claim. It is recommened to call between 1AM - 5AM.

- Greater Houston Disaster Recover Center - (FEMA and Texas Governor's Division of Emergency Management) Located in the former Auchan supermarket building at 6059 South Loop (IH 610 at
Wayside) that Mayor Bill White "commandeered", according to the Houston Chronicle & the Harris County Joint Information Center. More than 90 organizations, including state and local agencies, FEMA partners, and volunteer groups will provide information and registration services. Evacuees will be able to obtain information on housing assistance and low-interest federal loans and grants, as well as social, education and employment services. The center will also provide crisis counseling, courtesy phone banks, & one-way transportation tickets to other cities.

- Disaster Help - Government meta site with links to federal, state, and local information.

- FirstGov Hurricane Katrina Recovery - Meta site with various information on recovery.

- GovBenefits - Information on the following programs: Disaster Housing, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance, Physical Disaster Loans, and Farm Emergency Loans.

- Harris County Katrina Information

- Hotel Occupancy Tax Refund

- City of Houston Katrina Information

- Houston Asian Relief

- Houston Worker's Center (Harris County AFL-CIO) - Located at 2506 Sutherland, Houston, TX 77023. Now open to give hurricane victims instant access to computers, benefit from their union's health plans and find basic relief. Call 1-877-AFLCIO9 to get assistance from the union movement and to reach out to hurricane victim's union.

- IRS @ Katherine Tyra - Bear Creek Branch - IRS volunteers will be at the library on Sunday, October 30 from 1 PM - 4:30 PM to assist LA evacuees with IRS questions and the IRS disaster tax loss kits. IRS Disaster hotline: 1-800-562-5227. "You may deduct the loss of your home, household goods and motor vehicle from hurricane damage on your 1040 type IRS return. If you paid taxes in 2004 and are from a Hurricane Katrina Federal Disaster Relief area, you may deduct your loss on an amended 2004 return (1040 X) instead of waitingto file on your 2005 return."

- Katy Chamber of Commerce - Assistance request form.

- LeTourneau Prosthetics - Provide prosthetic and orthotic services and repairs to hurricane survivors. 1-800-609-5005 in Texas | 337-439-7877 in Louisiana

- Sales Tax Exemption Information - Texas Comptroller's FAQ | Press Release