eBranch Blog

September 20, 2005

Rita: Hurricane Preparedness & Tracking the Storm

With Tropical Storm Rita on her way to becoming a hurricane, and headed our way, here are some websites that offer advice in making preparations and tracking the storm.

- Harris County Flood Control District Hurricane Tracking Chart - Online and Download versions allow you to track the path of the 2005 hurricanes. Download version lets you look at past hurricanes, online version only tracks active hurricanes.

- National Hurricane Center

- National Weather Service Forecast for Houston/Galveston

- US Coast Guard Storm Center

- American Red Cross - Has information on what to do before, during an after a hurricane.

Local Information

- Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management - Includes a hurricane information page.

- City of Houston Office of Emergency Management - Includes information on how to prepare for a hurricane and an evacuation map.

- City of Galveston

- City of Kemah

- City of La Porte

- City of League City

- City of Nassau Bay

- City of Seabrook

- City of Shoreacres

- City of Webster

Texas

- Texas Emergency Management - Includes the Texas Prepared program which offers documents on family preparedness plans, emergency kits, documents, and special needs planning.

- Texas Road Conditions

September 12, 2005

New Bestsellers 9/12/05

The following books are appearing on the best seller lists for the first time this week and last week. For a complete listing see our collection of Best Seller Lists.

The Library Journal Lists of Most Borrowed Books in Public Libraries for Fiction and Nonfiction were updated for September 1.

The Publisher's Weekly Audio Fiction and Nonfiction Bestseller lists were updated for September 1.

E = Essence Magazine
NYT = New York Times
PW = Publisher's Weekly
USA = USA Today
WSJ = Wall Street Journal

Fiction

Catherine Coulter. Point Blank
FBI agents Lacey Sherlock and Dillon Savich face the most dangerous case of their careers in Catherine Coulter's explosive new thriller. (NYT #5, PW #5, USA #7)

Clive Cussler. Polar Shift
Polar shift: It is the name for a phenomenon that may have occurred many times in the past. At the very least, it disorients birds and animals and damages electrical equipment. At its worst, it causes massive eruptions, earthquakes, and climatic changes. At its very worst, it would mean the obliteration of all living matter, and if that happens-exit Earth. (NYT #1, PW #2, USA #14, WSJ #4)

Tess Gerritsen. Vanish
A blessed event becomes a nightmare for pregnant homicide detective Jane Rizzoli when she finds herself on the wrong side of a hostage crisis in this timely and relentless new thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Body Double. (NYT #11, PW #14, WSJ #15)

Robert Hicks. Widow of the South
In 1894 Carrie McGavock is an old woman, an old woman who has only her former slave to keep her company...along with the almost 1,500 soldiers buried in her backyard. Years ago, rather than let someone plow over the field where these young men had been buried, Carrie dug them up and buried them in her own personal cemetery. Now, as she walks the rows of the dead, an old soldier appears. It is the man she met that day of the battle that changed everything. The man who came to her house as a wounded soldier and left with her heart. He asks if the cemetery has room for one more. (NYT #10, PW #8, WSJ #11)

Jack Higgins. Without Mercy
As Detective Superintendent Hannah Bernstein of Special Branch lies recuperating in the hospital, a dark shadow from her and Dillon's past, scarred deep by hatred, steals across the room and finishes the job. Consumed by grief and rage, Dillon, Blake, Ferguson, and all who loved Hannah swear vengeance, no matter where it takes them. But they have no idea of the searing journey upon which they are about to embark-nor of the war that will change them all. Filled with dark suspense, driven by characters of complexity and passion, Without Mercy once again proves that Jack Higgins is the dean of intrigue novelists. (NYT #8, PW #9, WSJ #14)

Fern Michaels. Payback
The second in the exhilarating Sisterhood series From the outside, it looks like Julia Webster lives a normal, happy existence. She has long suspected her husband's past is not quite as innocent as he'd like the American public to believe. And when he starts cheating on her, with disastrous consequences for herself and her career, she decides the time has come to teach him a lesson. (USA #7)

Karen Marie Morning. Spell of the Highlander
Powerful. Sensual. Seductive. He is all that is shamelessly erotic in a man. In her sexiest Highlander novel yet, New York Times bestselling author Karen Moning stirs up a sizzling brew of ancient mystery and modern passion as she brings together a devilishly handsome Celtic warrior trapped in time . . . and the woman who’s about to pay the ultimate price for freeing him. Age-old secrets haunt them. Deadly danger and irresistible desire shadow their every move. It’s a relationship for the ages. And all that separates them is a mere thirteen hundred years. . . . (NYT #12, PW #12, WSJ #8)

Nonfiction

WILD DUCKS FLYING BACKWARD, by Tom Robbins. (Bantam, $25.) A collection of short writings by the author of "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues." (NYT #15)

NYT Business

Benjamin Stein and Phil Demuth. Yes, You Can Still Retire Comfortably
Ben Stein and Phil DeMuth grapple with the coming baby-boom retirement crisis and show you how to get back on track. (#14)

PW Religion

David Gregory. Dinner with a Perfect Stranger: An Invitation Worth Considering
The mysterious envelope arrives on Nick Cominsky?s desk amid a stack of credit card applications and business-related junk mail. Nick can't pass up the opportunity to see what it's about and so the normally confident, cynical Nick soon finds himself thrown off-balance, drawn into an intriguing conversation with a baffling man who appears to be more than comfortable discussing everything from world religions to the existence of heaven and hell. And this man who calls himself Jesus also seems to know a disturbing amount about Nick?s personal life. (#7)

September 08, 2005

Education

HCPL ESL & Literacy Program - Many branches have classes or one-on-one tutoring available. Contact your local branch for more information.

K-12

- Louisiana Department of Education

- Louisiana Board of Regents - Information for displaced students, faculty & staff.

- US Department of Education - Hurricane help for schools.

- Houston ISD Enrollment Information - For students misplaced by Katrina. 713-892-6699.

- Spring Branch ISD Enrollment Information - 713-464-1511 x2339 or 713-464-1511 x2514.

- Private Schools - Call 713-512-3685 for assistance in finding a local campus if your child attended a private school in the gulf coast area.
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- Parochial Schools - Call the Catholic Schools Office at 713-741-8704 for assistance.

Colleges

- KatrinaCollegeStudents - Clearinghouse of information from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

- Campus Relief - An information clearinghouse for both institutions and students as recovery from Katrina continues.

- Chronicle of Higher Education - Announcements from affected colleges and from associations and government agencies.

- Rice University - Houston based Tulane students can enroll as visiting students for no additional cost. 713-348-7423.

- Texas Southern University - Will admit any student enrolled for the fall 2005 semester and will hire displaced faculty where needed. 713-313-1059.

- University of Houston - Accepting applications from displaced students. 713-743-2255.

Legal Aid

- American Bar Association (ABA) Press Release - The ABA is enlisting it's young lawyers to assist hurricane vicitms. Hotlines:

For Louisiana residents: 1-800-310-7029
For Mississippi residents: 1-866-255-4495
For Alabama residents: 1-800-354-6154

- Texas Bar Association - Legal resources for displaced persons.

- Houston Bar Association - Information for displaced legal professionals as well as training for legal advice booths.

- Houston Young Lawyers Association

- The People's Lawyer - Unconfirmed information that he will be giving classes in October to hurricane victims.

Coping

- Krist Samaritan Center for Counseling & Education - Counseling for Katrina victims, irregardless of ability to pay. 281-480-7554 for nearest location and hours.

- Children, Stress and Natural Disasters

- Coping in Unsettling Times - Advice from the National Association of School Psychologists on helping children cope in unsettling times. Includes a section on coping with natural disasters.

- Coping with Disaster - Tips for young adults

- Deployment Handbook - A military handbook on dealing with separation and stress.

- Disaster: Helping Children Cope

- Disaster: Mental Health Handouts - For adults, families & children, disaster workers and their families.

- Helping Children After a Disaster - From the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Behavior changes to watch for.

- Helping Children Handle Disaster Related Anxiety - Tipis for pre-schoolers, school age children, and adolescents. From the National Mental Health Association

- National Network for Child Care - Has several entries on helping children cope with the hurricane:
* Children as vitims of Hurricane Katrina
* Talking with Children When the Talk gets Tough
* After the Strom: The Psycological Effects of a Hurricane

September 06, 2005

Insurance

- Hurricane Insurance Information Center - Insurance advice, links to insurance companies and organizations.

- Texas Department of Insurance Consumer Help Line
800-252-3439

- Louisiana Department of Insurance Consumer Help Line 800-259-5300 | 225-342-5900 (outside Louisiana)

- Mississippi Department of Insurance Consumer Help Line 800- 562-2957 | 601-359-2453 (outside Mississippi)

- Alabama Department of Insurance Consumer Help Line 800-433-3966 | 334-241-4141 (outside Alabama)

- National Flood Insurance Program - To file a claim on your flood policy call 800-427-4661

- Louisiana Insurance Companies: Property & Casualty | Life, Accident & Health

- Alabama Insurance Companies: Property & Casuality

Jobs/Employment/Businesses

Unemployment Benefits

- Texas Workforce Commission - To apply for disaster unemployment assistance: 1-800-818-7811, 8 AM-7 PM weekdays | To offer a job to Katrina victims: 1-800-695-6879, 8 AM-6 PM weekdays

- Louisiana Works - File for unemployment. 1-866-783-5567 | In Houston call 281-983-1100

- Mississippi Department of Employment Security - File for unemployment. 1-888-844-3577

Finding a Job

- Hirexposure - A career transition firm is providing free resume services. Send an email with your name, email and occupation for details.

- Link Staffing - Temporary & temp-to-hire job opportunities - 1-877-645-LINK

- Katrina Job Relief - Free service to connect job seekers with employers.

- Resume Winner - An online resume writer from Workforce Strategies. Available free to hurricane victims.

- The WorkSource - Regional partnership of Houston business, education, labor, and community organizations.

Businesses

- Emergency Office Space - In downtown Houston

- Get Back in Business Fast - Partnership of Southeast Texas

- Houston City of Hope - Assistance in re-establishing your small business

- Rebound - Houston commerical brokers assist displaced businesses.

September 02, 2005

Road Conditions & Travel

- Louisiana Department of Transportation

- Louisiana State Police - Road Closures

- Mississippi Department of Transportation

- Alabama Department of Transportation

Scams

- Bogus food stamps/gas email - information about the bogus email going around saying evacuees can get food stamps for up to three months & that people helping folks can get FEMA assistance.

- Tips on Disaster Relief Appeals - from Give.org

Free or Discounted Things to Do in Houston

These offers are open to storm victims from LA, MS, or AL with their local ID. Most are free or discounted. Contact the individual entities for more information and for when the offer ends. A more comprehensive list is available at ABC 13.

- Houston Museum of Natural Science - Free admission to the 9 permanent exhibit. Offer good through October 29, 2005. 713-639-4629

- Houston Zoo - Free admission for up to 6 until further notice.

- Museum of Fine Arts, Houston - Free Admission

- YMCA Houston - Free, temporary, membership priviledges during regular business hours.

Katrina News, Images & Weather

Official Katrina Information on Affected Areas

- City of New Orleans

- Louisiana Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness - Road closures, safety tips, shelter information.

- State of Louisiana Katrina & Rita Information

- State Library of LA Hurricane Assistance Links

- White House Hurricane Relief

- Houston Chronicle

- KPRC Channel 2

- KHOU Channel 11

- KHWB Channel 39

- KTRK Channel 13

Louisiana Newspapers & TV

- Acadian Daily Advertiser

- Alexandria-Pineville Town Talk

- American Press - Lake Charles

- Baton Rouge Advocate

- Bogalusa Daily News

- Covington News Banner - Slidell, St. Tammany

- Daily Comet - Thibodaux

- Everything New Orleans - Hurricane Coverage

- Daily Iberian - New Iberia

- Hammond Daily Star

- Houma Courier

- Minden Press-Herald

- New Orleans Times-Picayune

- The News-Star - Monroe

- Opelousas Daily World

- Shreveport Times

- Sulphur Southwest Daily News

- WDSU TV 6 - New Orleans. WDSU is broadcasting on Channel 7 of Time Warner Cable in Houston.

- WWL TV 4 - New Orleans - forum for people searching for friends and loved ones as well as a blog.

Mississippi & Alabama Newspapers & TV

- Alabama Newspapers

- Mississippi Newspapers

- Biloxi (MS) Sun Herald

- Mobile (AL) Register

- WLOX TV 13 - Biloxi

- Everything Alabama - Mobile, Birmingham, & Huntsville coverage

National News

- ABC News

- CBS News

- CNN

- Fox News
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- MSNBC

- PBS News Hour - After Hurricane Katrina

- Yahoo News

- Editoral Cartoons - about the hurricane and the aftermath

Weather
- Harris County Flood Control District Hurricane Tracking Chart - 2005

- National Hurricane Center

- The Weather Channel

Images & Maps

- Digital Globe: Katrina Gallery

- Katrina Information Map - Information on affected areas using Google maps.

- New Orleans by Satellite

- New Orleans Flood Map - Click on a location to find the approximate water depth

- NOAA Images - of Katrina affected areas.

- Perry Caste?ada Library Map Collection - Collection of maps relating to the Katrina aftermath - both LA & MS

- Terraserver - Satellite images of some of the affected areas.

- USGS Landsat Images of Affected Areas

Reference

- Drowning New Orleans - Article in Scientific American from October 2001

- New Orleans is Sinking - Article in Popular Mechanics from September 11, 2001.

- NOVA ScienceNOW: Hurricanes

- Wikipedia - Information on the hurricane as well as hurricane facts.

- US Postal Service Updates - For areas affected by the hurricane.

Animals in Need

- The Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is working to rescue abandoned pets. Call 888-568-5557, 999-773-6489 or 225-578-6111 and leave a message with your name, phone number, the number of animals, their species, and location.

- Katrina Found Pets - Information on rescued animals. How you can help.

- Houston SPCA - Housing animals from shelters in the affected areas. Donations accepted. Shelter provided for your animals if the shelter you are in does not accept pets.

- Humane Society of the United States - Rescuing animals from the affected areas. Donate online.

- United Animal Nations - Rescues animals in crisis.

- County Pets - Helping displaced animals.

- North Shore Animal League - Accepting donations to help animals displaced by Katrina.

- UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Pet Loss Support Line - Provides help for those coping with the loss of a companion animal. 800-565-1526; evenings from 8:30 PM - 11:30 PM

How to Help

- IRS Information on Charitable Giving

- Harris County Citizen Corps - Sign up to volunteer to help in the relief effort at the Astrodome. Please do not self deploy to the Dome. Phone number: 281-JOIN NOW (564-6669)

- Volunteer Houston - A comprehensive listing of volunteer opportunities and donation drives in the Houston area for the Katrina victims.

- Houston Katrina Relief Fund - an IRC 501(c)(3) charitable organization to support the relief efforts here in Houston.

- United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast

- American Red Cross of Greater Houston | 1-800-HELP NOW | 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish speakers)

- Salvation Army Houston Metropolitan Area Command | 1-800-SAL-ARMY (Salvation Army - Disaster Relief "Katrina")

- Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund - Donations will go to the governers of LA, AL, MS for recovery.

- Bush-Clinton Houston Hurricane Relief Fund - Donate to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund and/or the Houston Hurricane Relief Fund at the Greater Houston Community Foundation site.

- Chad Lubavitch Center - Seeking volunteers to provide hospitality, kosher food, clothing and emergency cash to Jewish evacuees. 713-777-2000.

- End Hunger Network - Donate nonperishable food & personal care items to this Houston-area network

- Habitat for Humanity - needs volunteers to help build homes in areas impacted by Katrina. Call 1-800-422-4828

- Houston Food Bank | Online Katrina Disaster Relief Drive

- How You Can Help - A listing from the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau

- Islamic Circle of North America - A variety of donation and volunteer opportunities are listed.

- Kroger stores are accepting donations through September.

- Neighbors2Neighbors.org - Program working with Harris County & the City of Houston to mobilize volunteers. 713-533-9706.

- Operation Compassion - Interfaith effort to feed evacuees housed at George R. Brown Convention Center. Donate or volunteer.

- Randalls - Donate to the Red-Cross in Randalls stores.

- Rebuild the Coast Fund - Best selling author John Grisham & his wife Renee have given $5 million to start up a fund. Donations may be made at any BancorpSouth office or online or by mail.

- St. Matthias Catholic Church - Donations (non-perishable food, toiletries, diapers, coloring books, bedding) accepted daily from 10AM - 8PM. 281-356-2000. In conjunction with the Chamber and other area groups.

- St. Vincent de Paul Society, Houston - Accepting donations; needs volunteers. 713-741-8234.

- Donate at Wal-Mart or Sam's Club locations nationwide for Katrina relief (For Salvation Army or the American Red Cross. Money only, no in-kind.)

- Whole Foods Market - Accepting donations for the Red Cross at all stores.

Searching for a Loved One or Friend?

Major National Sites

- Family News Network - From the International Committee of the Red Cross. In English & French.

- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children - Photos of children seeking parents/guardians & photos of missing children and adults.

- SATERN (Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network) Health & Welfare Information Request Form

- US Coast Guard - Submit Missing/Stranded Persons Request

Louisiana Sites

- East Baton Rouge Shelter Listing

- Louisiana Hospital Association Patient Tracking

- Nola.com has two forums: Missing Persons & Tell Them You're OK. They also have a Searchable Database.

- WDSU TV 6 - New Orleans - forums for searchers & to tell people you're safe.

- WWL TV 4 (New Orleans) Search Forum - post information on the person. Also has an I'm OK forum

Alabama Sites

- Alabama Hospital Association

Mississippi Sites

- Clarion-Ledger

Other Sites

- America Reunite

- BBC News Missing People

- Castpost Database

- CNN - Send an email to report you're safe.

- Craig's List% - Post information on person; also has housing listings and volunteer opportunities.

- Deadly Katrina

- DirecTV - Searchable PDF file

- Family Messages - Families can set up a message board to communicate with each other.

- Find Katrina

- Full Circle Katrina Flood Victims Message Board

- Gulf Coast News

- GWID Katrina Missing List

- Houston Chronicle Forums

- I'm OK Registry

- Katrina Central

- Katrina Connections

- Katrina Families & Friends

- Katrina Messages

- Katrina People Finder Project

- Katrina Refugee Connect

- Katrina Survivor Network

- Katrina Survivor Registry

- Katrina Survivors

- KatrinaFinder

- Katrina's Lost Help and Hope

- KHOU Message Board

- Looking for Friends/Family

- Meetup.com - Hurricane Relif Meetups

- MSNBC - Looking for Someone | Tell Someone You're Safe

- National Next of Kin Registry

- NowPublic

- Operation Get in Touch

- Pensacola News Journal

- Telephone Number Search for displaced persons

- Weather Channel Message Boards

- WorldNow Katrina Forums

About.com has a list of other sites to find victims

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

Food & Supplies

- Salvation Army Disaster Services Center
5950 Fairmont Parkway, Pasadena, TX
281-204-3890
Evacuees needing food, clothing, school supplies, personal hygiene products, & household items.

- A Red Cross "Relief Store" is open 10 AM-6 PM at San Jacinto Mall (IH 10 at
Garth) for evacuees

- Emergency Prescriptions - Prescription and Non-prescription drugs are available at CVS, Walgreens, Wal-Mart & Sams Club pharmacies. See linked press release for further information. According to the Houston Chronicle (not the above press release), Kroger pharmacies are also filling emergency prescriptions.

- Food Stamps: 800-500-4266

- Houston Food Bank - Listing of local food pantries providing food to evacuees.

- Ikea is giving out free meals.

- Knapp Building in Pearland - Meals available from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM for evacuees indefinately.

- Memorial Drive United Methodist Church - Serving a hot lunch from 11AM - 1PM; through Monday, September 12. Call 713-468-8356 for more information.

- Restaurant Offers - A listing of special offers from the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau

- WIC: 800-942-3678

Housing/Shelter

Shelters

- Rita Evacuees should call the local Houston Red Cross chapter for shelter information at 713-313-5480. (Only Hurricane Katrina Evacuees should call the national Red Cross tollfree number.)

Rita Shelters List - State Shelter Info (888) 312-4567; Shelter Hot Line (713) 313-5480 [Note: Confirm availability before going to a shelter]

- Call 211 for shelter information.

- American Red Cross of Greater Houston - Includes information on local evacuation shelters.

- American Red Cross Disaster Assistance Office: St. Agnes Baptist Church, 3730 S. Acres Drive, Houston, TX 77047 Evacuees are to call 1-800-975-7585 for assistance.

- Harris County Housing Resource Center - Additional shelters to the above; also information on private housing.

- City of Pearland - Evacuees in the Pearland area can contact the city of Pearland for updates on shelter, food/water, etc. 281-652-1954.

- Salvation Army Houston Metropolitan Area Command - Information on shelters with accomodations and food.

- Star of Hope Homeless Shelters - Food and housing

Housing Connections

- American Association of Homes & Services for the Aging - Low-income seniors in need of affordable housing can call 1-800-401-3340

- HAR Make a Home -

- Houston Apartment Association - Information on housing for Hurricane victims.

- Katrina Homes

- Katrina Housing

- MoveOn.org - Connecting evacuees with housing donors. 800-638-4559

- Open House Project - For people looking for housing and those willing to open their homes.

- Open My Home.com

- Operation Share Your Home

- US Department of Housing & Urban Development