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R E L I AN T C E N T E R
J I C
Joint Information Center
Hurricane Katrina Houston Response
Friday, September 9, 2005 6:30 AM
Contacts: 832.667.3192
832.667.3193
832.667.3188
Fax: 832.667.3187
WWW.HCJIC.ORG
"Hurricane Katrina Relief Information" provided by U.S. Congressman Tom Delay (R-TX)
Food Donations
There is a continuing and long-term need for food in the major facilities and many shelters that are housing survivors. ***Note: Please DO NOT bring food directly to the Astrodome. The Houston Food Bank remains a key collection and distribution point for all shelters and food pantries around the county. The list of items they are asking for is: Baby Formula, Diapers, Baby Wipes, Canned Meats, Peanut Butter, Bread, Canned Vegetables, Canned Fruits, Soups, Ramen Noodles, Can Openers, and Hot Plates.
*Houston Food Bank contact information:
The Herzstein Center
3811 Eastex Freeway
Houston, Texas 77026
(713) 223-3700
Monday - Thursday, 8AM - 4PM
Friday, 8AM - 2PM
http://www.houstonfoodbank.org/index.htm
Clothing Donations
For the Greater Houston Area the Salvation Army and the Star of Hope Transitional Shelter will be collection and distribution points.
http://www.sohmission.org/main.asp
http://www.salvationarmyhouston.org/
FEMA Assistance
FEMA has opened a Houston field office called a Disaster Recovery Center in order to start registering and evaluating disaster claims and helping to put people in temporary housing. People needing temporary housing/disaster assistance can register with FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA or on the Internet at www.fema.gov.
Clothing Donations
For the Greater Houston Area, the Salvation Army and the Star of Hope Transitional Shelter will be collection and distribution points.
Websites and Hotlines for Missing Persons/Donations/Volunteers
The following websites and Hotlines are available to find family members, make donations, offer help or for businesses to offer assistance and commodities. All of these websites can also be accessed through the FEMA website: www.fema.gov
Locating Missing and Stranded Individuals:In order to assist the Coast Guard in identifying and locating stranded individuals affected by Hurricane Katrina, they strongly recommend that if you are aware of a stranded individual, that you visit this website and complete the missing and stranded persons form. This information will be fed directly to rescue operations. In addition, this website has additional emergency phone numbers to assist with the recovery efforts.
http://homeport.uscg.mil/mycg/portal/ep/home.do
Red Cross Website Linking Family Members:
The American Red Cross launched a website linking family members who seek news about loved ones living in the path of Hurricane Katrina. Visit the "Family Links Registry" via www.redcross.org to register yourself, a missing relative or view the existing list of registrants.
DHS National Resources Registry - Corporations/Agencies/ Organizations:
The Department of Homeland Security, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is coordinating response efforts to provide necessary assistance to communities affected by Hurricane Katrina. The National Emergency Resource Registry has been activated to assist the coordination efforts between the resources that are needed and the resources that may be available from the private and public sectors. (Please note this site is not intended for individual donations or resource.) If an organization/agency/ corporation has resources that may be made available to the response agencies, please list them in this Resource Registry by going to: https://www.swern.gov
FEMA DONATIONS HOTLINE: 1-800-440-6728:
Please be advised that in addition to the information on the FEMA Website, the FEMA Donation Hotline is now operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Be aware, you may experience delays as FEMA tries to assist the thousands of generous individuals who wish to give to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Life Saving Efforts:
• FEMA is aware there are victims still out there and some still suffering. They are working tirelessly to bring them the help they need.
• FEMA will deploy every resource available to treat wounds, aid the suffering, and protect and preserve lives. They have vowed to not rest until every need is met.
• FEMA continues to push out critical commodities to the impacted areas, including meals ready to eat (MREs), water, ice, medical supplies and generators.
• Massive aid continues to flow to Hurricane Katrina victims:
- 1.9 million MREs; and 6.7 million liters of water have been delivered
- There are more than 600 buses transporting evacuees
- FEMA has more than 200 shelters with more than 50,000 people
- More than 7,000 people have been rescued - Urban Search and Rescue task forces have made more than 2,000 rescues and U.S. Coast Guard ships, boats and aircraft have been used to rescue approximately 5,000 people.
- 15,000 evacuations have been made from the New Orleans Superdome to the Astrodome in Houston and evacuations are continuing today to San Antonio for housing at Kelly Air Force Base.
- Seven National Disaster Medical Service Assistance Teams (DMATs) and 3 strike teams are supporting New Orleans medical facilities and hospitals not fully operational and setting up MASH-style units.
- Five DMATs and 5 strike teams are working in medical facilities and hospitals in Gulfport, Biloxi and other areas of Mississippi
• FEMA efforts are continuing around the clock:
- 500 U.S. Corps of Engineers civilians and soldiers are working on the New Orleans levee breach and coordinating the transport of ice and water.
- Evacuations are continuing.
- 14,000 National Guard are on the ground in three states and an additional 1,400 will arrive to assist with security of victims and responders.
You may visit the FEMA web-site at www.fema.gov, for updated response and recovery information.
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