Road to Recovery

Things you need to know to get on your ROAD TO RECOVERY

For details about U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Assistance Click Here

If you are in disaster declared area and need Food Stamps Click here to get all the necessary information, procedures and requirement

* Missouri city has declared paying 50% of home repair expenses

• Houston-area YMCA locations with power are opening their doors to the community for showers and battery, laptop and cell phone charging. People must bring their own towels and toiletries if showering. Click here for a list of open locations.

• Montgomery County food banks are open. Find the locations here.

• The Galveston Office of Emergency Mangement has set up a hotline to report missing people from unincorporated areas of the county including Bolivar Peninsula, Bacliff/San Leon, Freddieville and Algoa. Call 1-866-898-5723.

• Memorial Hermann-affiliated RediClinics are open inside 14 H-E-B stores in the Houston area for those needing medical help. For locations, click here.

• A Department of Veterans Affairs mobile health clinic is set up in the parking lot of the Texas City VA Outpatient Clinic at 9300 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway, Suite 206 near the Mainland Mall. The clinic will be open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services Veterinary Public Health is helping those in unincorporated Harris County and Tomball find their lost pets. Visit the shelter at 612 Canino Rd. or call 281-999-3191. To report lost animals, see the phone numbers here.

• Nationwide Insurance has opened three mobile locations to handle claims inside Lowe's stores. More insurance information can be found here and more mobile locations in Houston can be found here.

• Interfaith Food Pantry: For persons of limited means who need basic nonperishable food, paper goods, and baby supplies, the Interfaith Food Pantry is open daily and is located on 4242 Woodrush Drive, just east of West Panther Creek Drive in The Woodlands. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m

• The Houston Food Bank is open for business to hand out food 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, as well as 8 a.m.-noon on Saturday. The distribution point is at 3811 Eastex Fwy. Call 713-223-3700 for more information.

• The Salvation Army is offering food, water and ice to hurricane victims. To receive help with groceries, call 211 or 1-888-312-4567. To find out where ice and water is being distributed, call 1-800-253-1868.

• The points of distribution -- aka PODs -- for ice, water, and meals can be found here.

• To request help from the Houston Area Red Cross, call 1-800-733-2767. Patience is required as calls to that number were dropped multiple times. Shelter locations and distribution points for food, water and ice are offered on that automated phone line. Shelter information can also be found at houstonredcross.org.

• The Houston SPCA is working hard to reconnect lost pets with their owners, as well as rescuing animals from hard-hit areas. You can access the lost and found database here. The animal rescue hotline is 713-435-2990.

• To request assistance from FEMA, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or apply online. You may also apply for aid at these few Houston Public Library locations.

Here is the list of Fema Certified Hotels CLICK HERE

The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), at the request of the State of Texas, will activate its transitional sheltering initiative to allow eligible Ike evacuees from Texas, who cannot return to their homes, to stay in hotels or motels until it is safe for them go home.
FEMA will pay for the lodging directly to hotels and motels. A listing of participating hotels is available online at www.FEMAEvacHotels.com.
This assistance is intended to provide a more appropriate extended sheltering environment to evacuees who cannot return home because their neighborhoods are inaccessible or because their homes are unlivable due to damage or lack of power. The initial period of assistance is from September 14, 2008 to October 14, 2008. This program will not reimburse applicants for previously incurred hotel expenses. Applicants are responsible for their own meals and for any lodging costs above the authorized allowance
"Many hotels in eastern Texas are already booked, therefore we recommend that everyone already in a hotel remain until local officials advise it is safe to go home." said Sandy Coachman, Federal Coordinating Officer for the Texas Joint Field Office. "If your hotel does not participate in this program, hold your receipts and FEMA will assist you."

Source: http://www.dol.gov/opa/hurricane-recovery.htm

The U.S. Department of Labor is assisting in the recovery efforts in Florida and the Gulf Coast communities affected by this season's hurricanes.

The Department of Labor support includes the following income and job assistance:

• DOL's National Contact Center
  1-866-4-USA-DOL (1-866-487-2365)

• "Pathways to Employment" Initiative
  This "Pathways to Employment" initiative helps evacuees and other survivors of the recent hurricanes find employment and training opportunities. "Pathways to Employment" provides targeted assistance to people based on individual needs through the nationwide network of 3,500 One-Stop Career Centers located across the country.

Date for
100 Percent Restoration

Orange, Vidor 9/21/2008

Navasota 9/22/2008

Port Arthur, Port Neches, Nederland, Groves 9/23/2008

Winnie, Anahuac 9/25/2008

Dayton, Ames, Daisetta, Batson, Saratoga 9/25/2008

The Woodlands 9/25/2008

Woodville 9/29/2008

Silsbee, Lumberton, Kountze 9/29/2008

Conroe 9/29/2008

Huntsville, Madisonville 9/29/2008

New Caney 10/5/2008

Cleveland 10/5/2008

Beaumont, Bevil Oaks, Sour Lake 10/6/2008

Taylor Landing Flooded – no date determined

Bolivar Peninsula Flooded – no date determined

Sabine Pass Flooded – no date

• Take any necessary measures to protect and dry out your building
• Dispose of damaged property which presents a health hazard or which may hamper local clean-up operations. Be sure to adequately document discarded items by saving your reciepts, photographing items and by compiling a room-by-room inventory of missing or damaged goods
• If you perform any of the clean-up activities yourself, consider your safety and the safety of others in performing these tasks
• Do not dispose of any large dollar items tha are damaged, such as large televisions and furniture, untill authorised by your claim representative, as this property may need to be inspected
  
• Move personal property to a protected area
• If there is a lot of water inside your home, remove the water and wet items. Try to leave it as well ventilated as possible to help in the drying out process
• Handle antiques, art objects, sterling and brass with special care. You can dry them, but do not oil or rub them since this could damage finishes or surfaces
• Clean and dry wood furniture as soon as possible. Be careful not to rub in abrasives such as soil or plaster that may have fallen on the surfaces
• Try to dry bedding and upholstered furniture that is saturated with water. Don't sore other posessions near these items
• Dry and clean any carpet or rug that has minor water damage
• To prevent corrosion of metal objects, dry and rub or spray with oil
• Dry, but don't oil radios, televisions and other electric devices. Have all electrical equipment exposed to water professionally serviced before using them
• Do not attempt to start a flood-damaged car before it has been inspected as this may cause additional engine damage

• Stay away from flood waters
• Be aware of areas where flood waters have receded
• Keep away from areas where power lines or poles are down or where destruction of properties have occured
• Be alert to personal health and safety issues regarding your family's welfare
• Continue monitoring your radio for the latest information
• Contact your insurance agent as soon as possible

• Listen to radio, TV or NOAA Wheather radio
• Keep abreast of road conditions through the media. Wait untill an area is declared safe before entering.
• Do not attempt to drive across flowing water. As little as 6" of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle, 2-feet of water will carry most cars away
• If you see water flowing across a roadway, TURN AROUND AND GO OTHER WAY. Many people have been killed or injured driving through flooded roadways or around barricades. Roads are closed for your protection
• Stay away from moving water.
• Do not allow children, especially under age 13 to play in flooded areas. They often drown or are injured in areas appearing safe.
• If someone needs to be rescued, call professionals with the right equipment to elp. Many people have been killed or injured trying to rescue others in flooded areas
• Stay away from standing water, It may be elecrically charged from underground or drowned power lines
• Have professionals check gas, water and electrical lines and appliances for damage
• If you smell gas, leave your house and call your gas supplier
  
• Use a flashlight for emergency lighting, Never use candles or open flames indoors
• Use tap water for drinking and cooking ONLY when local officials say it is safe to do so
• Take photos of any damage, both of building and their contents, for insurance claims. Mae minor repairs to prevent further damage or looting, but do not do major repairs or dispose of damage property untill it has been inspected by adjuster. Save all receipts.
• If your power has gone out , open refrigerators and freezers only when necessary. A freezer without power can keep food in satisfactory conditions up to 36 hours if it is kept closed. Wrapping the freezer in blankets will help insulate it
• Call your insurance company if you have vehicle or property damage to report
  
• If a hurricane forces you into a public shelter, stay there untill told by local officials that it is safe to return to your home