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Hurricane HELP |
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January 2009
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Businesses closings and openings Emergency and Hurricane Checklists Emergency numbers and services Garbage pickup and city services Power Outages and Phone Service Road Conditions and Evacuation Routes More KHOU Blogs
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September 2008 ArchivesStaying in contact with people during the hurricane is important. But remembering email address, banking and credit card phone numbers and other important documents is often the last thing on people's mind until after the storm. A tip from an 11 News viewer is to save all these numbers on a portable UBS drive (sometimes called Jump Drive) that you can insert into any computer, which comes in handy when evacuated to hotels or other areas outside you home. ...Big Brother's Road Service and Tires, located in 5210 Avenue S. is open for business in Galveston, Texas. ...FEMA will host two Dickinson Town Hall Meetings next week for the public to attend. FEMA reps will conduct the meeting, answer questions, and help the public. ...The City of Dickinson has lifted the city-wide curfew. Extra police patrols will continue in the few remaining areas without electrical power. ...Please be advised that the curfew for the City of La Porte has been lifted as of September 26, 2008 at 5:00 a.m. ...Pasadena residents who need FEMA assistance but do not have power or computer access will have the opportunity to get the help they need next Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 30 - Nov. 1. ...
Lone Star Legal Aid, in partnership with State Representative Dora Olivo, is hosting a free town hall meeting for Fort Bend families who need help dealing with legal issues in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. The City of Friendswood will lift its curfew restriction effective 5 a.m. Friday, Sept. 26. A POD location has opened in Pearland at Cross Roads Community Church, located at 3350 Manvel Road, Pearland, TX 77584. Today the volunteer phone bank for Hurricane Ike relief efforts will be moving to the office of Volunteer Houston. The new phone bank number is 713-965-0031. People who would like to offer volunteer assistance are asked to call the new number. Agencies that are in need of volunteers to assist with disaster relief are also asked to call Volunteer Houston at 713-965-0031. ...People should be careful when hiring contractors to do work for them. Because of this the City of Galveston has composed a list of contractors actively registered as of September 24,2008:
The City of Stafford POD (Point of Distribution) for food, water and ice A FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is open in Polk County to provide face-to-face assistance to those who suffered damage from Hurricane Ike. The DRC is located at: First National Bank FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is open in Montgomery County to provide face-to-face assistance to those who suffered damage from Hurricane Ike. The DRC is located at: 31355 Friendship Drive Due to continued lack of power at Stages and to damage sustained during the storm, performances of UNBEATABLE and ALWAYS...PATSY CLINE have been moved temporarily to Zilkha Hall at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Performance schedules and instructions for current ticket-holders are below. The YMCA of Greater Houston opened five more facilities Tuesday morning, 19 of which have showers available for public use. There are now 26 YMCAs open in all. Even if you do not have a YMCA membership, you may go to any open YMCA and charge your cell phone and laptop or take a shower. ... Northwest Assistance Ministries' Food Pantry has been depleted and the need for food is great, especially non-perishable items for those without power. Blue Roof Program - 1-888-766-3258 (1-888-ROOF-BLU) FEMA information line for the Blue Roof Program has now been updated to include Fort Bend County. The program is coordinated by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to provide temporary covering in a designated disaster area. ...The following Red Cross shelters have availability & are open: ...The FEMA Point of Distribution site at Friendswood's Centennial Park, 2200 S. Friendswood Drive, has shut down operations. Volunteers with Finger Furniture and Ashley Furniture HomeStore will arrive in Galveston Wednesday morning, September 24, with trucks of ice and water to hand out to Galveston residents. The 100 Club announced today that donations are being accepted to its "Survivor's Fund" which provides benefits to the dependents of peace officers and firefighters who are killed in the line of duty. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has activated a special Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP), available to evacuees in these Texas counties: Aransas, Bexar, Brazoria, Brooks, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Cherokee, Collin, Comal, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Ellis, Fort Bend, Galveston, Hardin, Harris, Hidalgo, Hunt, Jackson, Jefferson, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Kaufman, Liberty, Lubbock, Matagorda, Navarro, Nueces, Orange, Refugio, San Patricio, Smith, Van Zandt, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Wharton, Willacy and Wood. Volunteers are needed to Serve Hot Meals to those affected by Hurricane IKE on Wednesday - September 24th - 2008 - 5:00pm.-6:00pm. at the Bayou Landing Apartment Complex - 3101 North McGregor Way - Houston - Texas 77004 - Call Ayub Badat of Islamic Circle of North America Relief (ICNA Relief) before going to the location to volunteer: Cellular: 917-602-4450 ... Westpark Tollway and Fort Bend Parkway sections of the toll road will begin charging tolls effective at 12:01 a.m., Thursday, September 25, 2008. Lost revenue to our Toll Road Authority has exceeded $640,000 and failure to restore tolls would jeopardize the ability of the Fort Bend Toll Road Authority to make its debt service payments. ...In continuing efforts to address public health and medical care needs of Galveston County residents the Galveston County Health District provides the following update for services to be provided through Saturday September 27th. Social Security officials are pleased to report their offices at Houston Southwest and Beaumont will open on Wednesday for service to the public. Three offices remain closed while representatives continue to work with community officials to determine when service can be restored in those areas. ...Nearly 70-percent of Comcast customers in the Greater Texas Gulf Coast Area now have their cable services restored. They said in their experience has shown that most of our outages are due to the loss of electrical power. ... The Postal Service announced Tuesday that it has established a temporary mail pickup location in La Marque for residential and business customers served by the Galveston Main Post Office and Bob Lyons Station on Galveston Island. Food and water distribution will be held again at Channelview High School (1100 Sheldon Road) from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 24th. Supplies will be distributed until they are depleted. From 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., the Parks & Recreation department will host "Fun-day" at Strawberry Park. Pasadena residents and families are invited to attend the event, which will feature approximately seven inflatable jumpers/games for kids to enjoy. The city will also be providing a lunch of hot dogs, chips and drinks. ...This City of La Porte is still under a curfew from midnight until 5:00am. This applies to all aras of La Porte. This curfew is in place because of the wide spread power outages still currently affecting the La Porte area. ...On Thursday and Friday, visitors will have the chance to become an Oscar Mayer Wiener! So don't miss out on the opportunity to pose with the Wienermobile for a free photo, pick up a famous Oscar Mayer WienerWhistle, or grab some coupons for an end-of-summer barbecue. ...Katy Mills and Katy Christian Ministries will host a donation drive to collect nonperishable food items, baby supplies and clothing to benefit Hurricane Ike victims on Saturday, Sept. 27 in the parking lot of Sun & Ski Sports. ...Water is now safe to drink in these areas: Harris County MUD 6 PWS ID# 1010496 In response to Hurricane Ike, Randalls Pharmacy announced that it is offering tetanus vaccinations in all Randalls pharmacies in Houston. The vaccine will be provided on a walk-in basis at in-store pharmacies; customers should call their Randalls pharmacy or go to www.randalls.com/rx to find the nearest location. During this time of healing and rebuilding, this vaccination will be available at a discounted price. ...Lone Star College-Kingwood is extending the hours of its computer labs to meet the needs of students whose homes are still without power. Extended hours are Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12 noon until 5 p.m. ...In the aftermath of Hurricane Ike Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services (HCPHES) will conduct the second round of ground-based spray operations (spray truck) on Tuesday evening, September 23, 2008 from approximately 8:30pm until 4:00am (see attached map). ...METRO will be opening the US 290, US 59 Southwest and US 59 Eastex HOV lanes at The Houston Food Bank has made available a special mobile unit for the Food Fair at Iglesia Episcopal Santa Maria Virgen this weekend. ...As of 5:30 on Tuesday, Houston still was under curfew. Other curfew areas include: ...
As Galveston residents are allowed back into their hometown, Randalls will provide free ice, Ozarka bottled water and Dole bananas to area residents in need. In addition, Randalls is proud to offer the following to those returning home: ... Space Center Houston is open for business. Teachers and Counselors from HISD's J. Will Jones Elementary are visiting shelters in search of children evacuated from the path of Hurricane Ike. The school, located at 1810 Stuart Street in Midtown, is offering free school supplies and uniforms if parents enroll their children. ...On Wednesday, September 24, 2008, 35 disaster response mobile feeding units stocked with hot meals, cold water, coffee and compassion will welcome home Galveston islanders as they return to their homes on the Gulf Coast. ...FEMA information line for the Blue Roof Program has now been updated to include Fort Bend County. To qualify a home must have Less than 50% damage and be structurally sound for a crew to work on. ...
Galveston County Child Support Court is set to resume operations Wednesday, Sept. 24. Catholic Charities Staff and Volunteers will be giving out food and water on Tuesday, Sept. 23 from 2p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Catholic Charismatic Center at 1949 Cullen Blvd. ...The post office will open a temporary mail pickup site for people from Galveston. All Indo-American Organizations in the stewardship of India House, India Culture Center, IACF, IACCGH and IDA are providing free voluntary IKE assistance in filling FEMA forms and basic medical services at 8888 W. Bell fort, Houston, TX 77031. The services are available through Sept. 28, 2008. For details visit www.icchouston.org. St. Vincent de Paul Society, 5236 Cedar Street and 610 Memory Lane, needs donations of Similac baby formula, nutrition drinks, flour tortillas, graham crackers, cleaning supplies, trash bags, flashlights and batteries for its elderly and home visiting program. Donations can be made 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday and Friday. ...Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, 2900 Louisiana, needs volunteers to lift heavy cargo. Individuals interested in volunteering should call Nancy in Volunteer Services at 713-874-6727. Donations for Ike are urgently needed to assist with recovery efforts. To donate visit www.catholiccharities.org. ...A disaster recovery center is open from 9 am to 6 pm in Waller County at the Knights of Columbus Hall at 22892 Mack Washington Lane in Hempstead. Social Security officials are pleased to report the office in Port Arthur will open on Tuesday for service to the public. Five offices remain closed while representatives continue to work with community officials to determine when service can be restored in those areas. ...The Houston SPCA is running out of food for the displaced cats and dogs from Hurricane Ike. K9Cuisine is doing a fundraiser "Send a Bag" to get donations for the pets in need. The Houston SPCA called K9Cuisine asking for the supplies to come immediately because they are running out of food. ...Harris County Voter Registrar Paul Bettencourt reminds the public that the voter registration deadline for the upcoming November 4, 2008 Presidential Election is Monday, October 6, 2008 as specified by the Texas Election Code. The Tax Office confirmed the October 6th deadline date with the Texas Secretary of State's office on Friday. Due to Hurricane Ike, the Wild Game Dinner hosted by The Doorkeepers benefiting Open Door Mission has been rescheduled from September 17, 2008 to November 5, 2008. ... Judge Don Stricklin has advised that, because of the ongoing problems the citizens of Harris County are experiencing in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, the jury calls for the entire week of September 22-26, 2008 have been cancelled. The Houston Dynamo have rescheduled their CONCACAF Champions League home game against Salvadoran champion CD Luis Angel Firpo for Wednesday, November 26, it was announced today. HCPHES Veterinary Public Health has gone back to regular business hours. The shelter has no electricity but is open. ...A disaster recovery center is open from 9 am to 6 pm daily in Travis County at the Givens Recreational Center at 3811 East 12th Street in Austin. A curfew remains in effect from 10 pm to 5 am for the safety and security of our residents in Baytown. Businesses may operate their normal hours to provide services to our citizens but travel on the streets during curfew hours needs to be for a specific purpose. Galveston County child support court will resume operation at a temporary location on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008. Until further notice, child support court will be held at the Jerry Esmond Juvenile Justice Center, 6101 Attwater Avenue in Texas City. Court begins promptly at 8 a.m. Click here for a map to the temporary location www.co.galveston.tx.us/juvjustice/mapdirect.htm. ...Comcast has been working around the clock to restore services interrupted by Hurricane Ike to its customers throughout the Greater Houston and Texas Gulf Coast areas. To keep its customers better informed, the company recently launched a special web page giving customers access to the latest updates. By clicking the Hurricane Update link at www.comcast.com, customers will be able to see progress within their specific area.
Ike-affected area residents can get free assistance getting their home computer networks back online. As power and internet is restored, support.com is offering free WiFi troubleshooting over the phone. The Girl Scout blood drive has been rescheduled for Friday, Oct. 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. It will not be held on Sept. 26, as originally communicated. ...The Arc of Greater Houston is in urgent need of office space, space to hold programs, and financial assistance to ensure people with disabilities in the greater Houston area continue to receive the essential services they count on each day. Last year, The Arc served over 19,000 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the greater Houston area. The water in these areas are now safe to drink: Fort Bend County Library - First Colony Branch will remain closed until further notice. All programs and book club meetings scheduled at that location for September have been cancelled. For more information call the Library's Public Information Office at 218-341-2677. Here is an update on the City of Pearland: 1. Water - Your drinking water is safe. It is also okay to use your irrigations systems. ...True to the spirit of THE COLOR PURPLE, the storm has been weathered and obstacles overcome. Theatre Under the Stars is pleased to announce that performances of Oprah Winfrey Presents The Color Purple will commence on Tuesday, September 23 at 8:00 p.m. in the Hobby Center for Performing Arts! ...In continuing efforts to address public health and medical care needs of Galveston County residents the Galveston County Health District provides the following update for services to be provided through Saturday September 27th. ... The initial review of the damage to the electrical network has turned out to be much more extensive than originally thought by Centerpoint. There is much more damage to each lateral line serving our homes and is therefore, taking much longer to repair. ...
Channelview ISD in conjunction with The Sentinel Newspaper will be hosting a distribution of donated food and water on Tuesday, September 23rd. A former Auchan superstore is a Houston Red Cross shelter for returning evacuees who were bussed to other Texas cities before Hurricane Ike hit. Many of these residents can't return to their homes because their homes were severely damaged or destroyed in the storm.
The US Army Corps of Engineers provides a free temporary roof to residential structures through its Blue Roof Program. Citizens need to show up at sites set up across the city to sign up for the program. Initial sites include the following Library locations, which will be open through Friday, September 26, 2008 from 8 AM to 7 PM:
The Houston Public Library is opening more library locations in Houston, providing customers with access to all services, including computers, Internet, and free WiFi. Where possible, computer training labs and meeting rooms are being turned into Hurricane Ike Assistance Rooms to file for FEMA aid and insurance claims online, and emailing family and friends (assistance in accessing these online resources is being provided by on-site librarians). ...
Hurricane Ike has caused the delay of the Alley Theatre's upcoming production of Cyrano de Bergerac. During Hurricane Ike and its immediate aftermath, the Alley Theatre and the Alley Theatre Center for Theatre Production were forced to close. ...The City of Friendswood is requiring that Contractors who will be providing building and repair services in Friendswood as a result of Hurricane Ike register with the City and receive from the City a building contractor's license. One of the purposes of this licensing is to ensure that contractors who will be working on properties in Friendswood are licensed and insured. ...The hours of operation at the FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Kennard have changed. Houston County Hurricane Ike came through the Houston area and made some heavy damages to a lot of our homes, businesses and work places. Their fields have suffered damages as well. The Salvation Army Continues to Serve After Ike Sunday, September 21st, The Salvation Army Mobile Feeding Units, or canteens, continue to canvass the Hurricane Ike-affected areas, providing food and water to first responders and victims of Hurricane Ike. METRORail running normally I -45N HOV running normal hours on Monday, September 22, 2008. ...The city's official Prayer Vigil, hosted by Kim Burrell and Yolanda Adams, along with our Prayer Chairperson, Pastor Suzette Caldwell, on Monday, September 22, 2008 at 7:00 PM at the George R. Brown's Hilton Americas Hotel in the Grand Ballroom. This event is FREE and open to the public! There is an online group that helped reunite well over one thousand animals with their families after Katrina. ... IKE Recovery has reached the Second Phase of Short-&-Long Term Care: This includes providing Ration in terms of Non-Perishable Food Baskets to be given out to those affected by IKE and providing Internet Access & Guidance to those affected to file Claims with FEMA for their Damage. ...As thousands of evacuees remain on the move and more families return to see the damage on their homes, World Vision, the Christian relief agency, is equipping and facilitating church response to assist victims of hurricane Ike. ...Grace Community Church Senior Pastor, Steve Riggle, announced Monday that his church will be hosting a community seminar with Houston City Council Member Mike Sullivan at their South Campus location on the Gulf Freeway at Dixie Farm Road Monday, September 22 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. to cover issues with insurance, FEMA and housing. This seminar is open to anyone and everyone. ...The citywide curfew in Dickinson has been changed to midnight to 6 a.m. until future notice. ...Catholic Charities Staff and Volunteers will be giving out food and water at the Catholic Charismatic Center at 1949 Cullen Blvd Monday, Sept. 22 from 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. ...
On Tuesday, Sept. 23, the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will hold disaster business recovery seminars to educate hurricane-affected businesses about crucial post-crisis relief available to them. ...Harris County is opening a drop-off site for unincorporated residents who need to get rid of yard debris. The curfew that was set in place in Pasadena after Hurricane Ike has been lifted. ...FEMA in partnership with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers has established the Blue Roof Program. A program to assist homeowners who have received roof damage during a hurricane in preventing further damages caused by rain through by providing and installing plastic sheeting to damaged areas of a roof.
Ten more Gulf Coast area food stamp offices that have been closed since Hurricane Ike are open Monday. The reopened offices include another Houston location and offices in the Beaumont-Port Arthur area. The state, county, city and FEMA have met on a daily basis to determine daily POD locations. Areas with water service, electricity and with retail stores open to the public are generally considered to be self-sufficient so that a POD is no longer needed. The last two Points of Distribution sites are scheduled to close today, Sunday, September 21, 2008. No other POD locations will be opened. ...As of Sunday afternoon, the midnight to 6 a.m. curfew is still in place in Houston. ...Galveston County facilities located on the island will remain closed through Wednesday, September 24, 2008. Galveston County employees who have been contacted and advised to report to work as the County undertakes a temporary relocation of various County functions to the mainland are required to report to work to assist in the temporary relocation or to provide County services. Harris County to open six (6) countywide debris drop-off sites beginning Monday, September 22, 2008, to provide residents of Unincorporated Harris County with additional ways to clear debris quickly from their property. For further information, residents of Unincorporated Harris County are urged to call (800) 207-2325 between the hours of 8 AM to 8 PM. . Vegetative debris (branches, limbs, and shrubbery) ONLY will be processed at this site. The following WILL NOT be... The citywide curfew in the City of Dickinson has been changed to midnight to 6:00 A.M. until future notice. ...Beginning Monday, September 22, 2008, the Solid Waste Management Department will divert all of its normal heavy trash operations to storm debris collections. Therefore, the normal heavy trash schedule has been suspended. The Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) will proceed with normal garbage and yard trimmings collection operations on Monday, September 22, 2008. The Curbside Recycling crews are assisting the Yard Trimmings crews with vegetative storm debris collection and, therefore, will not be collecting the recyclable materials from the green bins. Curbside Recycling is suspended until further n... City officials are rolling out debris removal guidelines in anticipation of the island-wide re-entry scheduled for 6:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 24th. Residents who weathered Ike's ravages at home, contractors already on the job, and business owners busy cleaning have left mounting stacks of debris piled high on city streets. In order to expedite the clean up and recovery process, the city and its debris management contractors are asking for the full support of all Galvestonians.
Please use the following guidelines when cleaning out your home or business:
Everything must ... The Red Cross continues to meet the needs of thousands of individuals and families in southeast Louisiana who are still struggling with the impact of hurricanes Gustav and Ike. People whose homes have been damaged can call the Red Cross at 1-866-GET-INFO (438-4636) and FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) for assistance and information updates. Residents are also encouraged to let their friends and family know where they are through the Red Cross Safe and Well website at www.redcross.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). SUPPLIES The Red Cross is delivering hundreds of cleanup kits... Earlier this week Mayor Thomas temporarily waived some of cityʼs buildings codes pertaining to the demolition and removal of storm damaged materials. Due to the severity of damage caused by Hurricane Ikeʼs wind, rain, and storm surge, the City of Galveston will not require homeowners or contractors to apply for permits to demolish and remove the following: Non-structural floor coverings, wall coverings and ceiling coverings Exemptions do apply. The Mayorʼs order does not pertain to the removal of any and all struc... There will be hot meals served by the Salvation Army 1:00 p.m. Sunday at 5878 Bellfort at Crestmont, 77033. Water, MREs and ice will be given to the public. ...
Catholic Charities Staff and Volunteers will be giving out food and water at St. Juan Diego Catholic Church, 3301 Pasadena Blvd in Pasadena Sunday, Sept. 21. Food and water distribution will begin 10 a.m. and approximately 2,000 people from the community are expected. Catholic Charities is targeting it's emergency food distribution sites to those hardest effected by Hurricane Ike. On average, Catholic Charities has been serving 1,250 people per day. Individuals interested in volunteering should call Nancy in Volunteer Services at 713-305-8268. ...
The Australian Consulate in Houston will host "CrIKEy!*", a benefit for Hurricane Ike victims. The event, co-sponsored by the Australian-American Chamber of Commerce and Booker-Lowe Gallery, will feature a new exhibition of Aboriginal paintings, and Australian-style refreshments, and is open to the public. It will take place 5 p.m. Sunday at the Consulate, 4623 Feagan Street (corner of Feagan and Parker at the edge of the Heights) Houston 77007. Attendees are asked to bring non-perishable food, personal hygiene items such as toothbrushes and hair products, packaged underwear and socks for adults... ICNA Relief will provide Monday non-perishable food baskets to those affected by Ike, along with Internet access and FEMA guidance. from noon to That will happen 6 p.m. at 618 Barringer Ln., Webster, TX, 77598. Directions from Downtown Houston: Take I-45 South towards Galveston; Exit EL-Dorado Boulevard & Turn Left; Turn Right at Hwy 3; Barringer is the Fifth or Sixth Street on the Left ...The following locations are operating Points of Distribution sites for Sunday, September 21, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 1. La Porte High School 301 E. Fairmont Pkwy., La Porte 77571 Harris County will have its first round of ground-based mosquito spray operations Sunday, from around 8:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. in the western portion of the 610 Loop. The insecticide, Scourge (EPA-approved), is routinely used to combat mosquito-borne disease and will be used during the spray operations in Harris County. As they collects additional surveillance data, the ground-based spray operation may expand to other portions of the county. While Scourge is considered to be safe for the environment, some people may be sensitive to direct contact with the chemical. Therefore, during routine operations ... Motorists should anticipate heavy traffic and delays near the Sam Houston Race Park, 7575 North Sam Houston Parkway West (Belway 8) Sunday. The Race Park will be used as a staging area for several hundred trucks that are trying to restore electrical power. Trucks have been exiting and entering the Race Park since 6 a.m. Sunday. The following areas will be especially clogged: Fallbrook at Gessner Red Cross emergency feeding efforts are focused on areas where residents need food due to flooding and/or power outages. Red Cross mobile feeding routes and fixed feeding sites will be adjusted daily to meet local needs. The American Red Cross has delivered clean up kits to central locations throughout the area to help residents of hurricane impacted areas make their homes livable again. Clean Up Kits include such things as a mop, broom, bucket, gloves and bleach for general clean up. These supplies are free of charge. ... American Red Cross feeding sites in Calcasieu Parish for Sunday, Sept 21st will serve hot lunches between 11am - 1pm and hot dinners between 4pm and 6pm. The locations are: ... Cancellation of the Boil Water Notice for the following water systems: Brazoria County MUD 31 PWS ID# 0200645 Boil water alert issued for Memorial Hills MUD. ...U.M.C.O.R. (United Methodist Committee on Relief) will be delivering a second wave of flood relief buckets and health kits to League City United Methodist Church (281.332.1557) Monday or Tuesday to be distributed to flood victims. Residents repairing and rebuilding their homes after Hurricane Ike should be cautious when hiring contractors, warn officials of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Texas Governor's Division of Emergency Management (TXGDEM). ...A disaster recovery center is open from 9 am to 6pm at the Orange County Courthouse at 123 South 6th Street. A disaster recover center is open from 9am to 6pm a First Baptist Chruch at 300 Carson Street in Kennard. ...Klein ISD Transportation Center is under a boil water notice. ...A disaster recover center is open from 9 am to 6pm daily at Home Depot located at 6810 Gulf Freeway in Houston. A disaster recovery center is open from 9 am to 6pm daily at Home Depot -- 10707 North Freeway in Houston.
A disaster recovery center is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily in Harris County at Home Depot, 500 Chimney Rock in Houston. Two more Houston food stamp offices that have been without power will re-open Sunday to help hurricane victims apply for help. ... In addition to First Baptist of Galveston meeting at Carnes Funeral Home, many of the area churches are combining services in order to accommodate displaced worshipers in the Galveston County area. ...Brazoria County 1st Presbyterian Church 130 S. Arcola Angleton, Texas 77515
First Assembly Church 601 S. Market St. Brazoria, Texas 77422
Chambers County American Legion Hall 1704 S. Main Anahuac, Texas 77514
Winnie Stowell Community Center 202 S. Park Winnie, TX 77665
Harris County Bayshore Baptist 111315 Spenser Hwy La Porte, Texas 77571
Bear Creek United Methodist 16000 Rippl... Indo-American organizations are arranging Hurricane Ike assistance at India House, O.P. Jindal Building next two weekends 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. During the week timing is 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Online registration of FEMA forms and basic medical services are provided free of cost. Texas Senator John Cornyn and Harris County Judge Ed Emmett participate Saturday 11 a.m. ...Precinct 1 (North County) - Browder Traylor Road and FM 1484 South County -Woodlands - 610 Sawdust Road (Old Walmart) Oak Ridge North - Oak Ridge Baptist Church - Hanna Road West County - Dacus Baptist Church and Dobbin Community Center East County - Grangerland Fire Department FM 2090, Grangerland Oak Ridge Baptist Church (Hanna Rd) ...A disaster recovery center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Bexar County at the old Big Lots store in Bexar County at the old Big Lots store 5454 Evers Rd. in San Antonio. Residents are encouraged to register with FEMA before visiting a DRC. There are two ways to register: log on to www.fema.gov or call FEMA's toll-free number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Both numbers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice. At the DRC, visitors can: Receive infor... A FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is open in Kountze to provide face-to-face assistance to those who suffered damage from Hurricane Ike. The DRC is located at 300 Monroe/Hwy 326, Kountze, TX 77625 The site will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice. Residents are encouraged to register with FEMA before visiting a DRC. There are two ways to register: log on to www.fema.gov or call FEMA's toll-free number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Both numbers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice. At the DRC, visito... HOUSEHOLD BATTERIES DROP-OFF SITES The Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) is now accepting household batteries (such as AA, AAA, C, and D etc.) at its four neighborhood depositories (see below) as well as the following recycling drop-off sites: Westpark Recycling Center, 5800 Westpark (Mon-Sat. 8-5pm) Center Street Drop-off Site, 3602 Center Street, (open 24/7) Ellington Field Drop-off Site, Highway 3 @ Dixie Farm Road, (open 24/7) SWMD has opened its neighborhood depositories 7 days a week ... The curfew in Conroe has been lifted as of Saturday. ...Because many wastewater plants are still without electricity, there may not be enough power for their sewer lines (lift stations) to push the sewage to the wastewater plants. This may cause sewage to back-up into your home through places like toilets and bathtubs. Sewage contains germs that can cause illness, including E.coli, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Hepatitis A, and Shigella. Symptoms from being exposed to sewage may include diarrhea, stomach pain, fever, chills, and vomiting. Seek medical attention right away if you experience any of these symptoms. You can help keep sewage from backing up in... Information is posted at www.cityofpearland.com and available at all City facilities. Volunteers please call 281-652-1673 - especially needed for the weekend. If you have additional questions, please call 281 - 652-1100. Volunteers please call 281-652-1673 - especially needed for the weekend. 1. Water - Your drinking water is safe. Please conserve water - don't use sprinklers, don't wash residential vehicles, etc. 2. Sewer - The system is on emergency power - minimize usage as much as possible. 3. Relief Supplies -Relief supplies - including food - are available at Berry Miller Juni... An Army Corps of Engineers Right of Entry (ROE) stand will be set up at the Lowes on N 336 loop in Conroe. People can be signed up to have a blue roof patch placed on their house. A form will have to be filled out. Please note this form must be signed to give the Army Corps of Engineers permission to enter your property. The stand will be open Saturday mid morning until 6 p.m. and Sunday 8-6. ...The temporary roofing team with the Army Corps of Engineers has been relocated to the Lowe's at 1920 Westview Blvd in Conroe. It is no longer at the Home Depot. Homeowner must go to Lowe's. If there was a tree that fell on the roof, the tree must be removed. Can't be hard surfaces, metal or flat roofs. The service is provided from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. ...Beginning 6 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24, all residents will be able to re-enter Galveston Island. Bring with you photo identification that verifies your Galveston address or place of business at all manned checkpoints. The City of Galveston will distribute advisories as returning residents and business owners enter the island. There are 1.08 million customers with restored CenterPoint Energy service as of noon Saturday. The total customers with power is 1.19 million, or 53 percent of total customers, while there are still 1.07 million without power. ...Eight mobile and one fixed Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) are open throughout the Southeast Texas region. They are open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For more information go to the FEMA web site listing of sites at Harris County Sites Ellington Joint Reserve Base The Windsor Village United Methodist Church at 6000 Heatherbrook Dr. in Houston will have services this weekend. ...The Solid Waste Management Department will proceed with normal garbage and yard trimmings collection operations on Monday, Sept. 22. They will not be picking up recyclable materials, since they are focusing on vegetative storm debris collection. The normal heavy trash schedule has been suspended. DRC, the City of Houston's private storm debris hauler has 272 DRC trucks deployed to debris zones to assist City of Houston crews with storm debris removal. SWMD has opened its neighborhood depositories seven days a week to accommodate small amounts of storm debris from Houston residents. One pickup tru...
Catholic Charities Staff and Volunteers will be giving out food and water at St. Christopher Catholic Church at 8150 Park Place Blvd in Pasadena. They will also be servicing the public High Island Saturday, Sept. 20. Food and water distribution will begin 10 a.m. at St. Christopher and noon in High Island. Catholic Charities is targeting its emergency food distribution sites to those most affected by Hurricane Ike. Those interested in volunteering may call Nancy in Volunteer Services at 713-305-8268. ...For those needing help with repairing a roof, a temporary roofing team with the Army Corps of Engineers will be located at the Home Depot at 1341 W Davis in Conroe Saturday to assist the public. ...Low-income families in disaster areas may be eligible for up to two months of emergency food stamp benefits if they meet income and asset requirements. A family of four earning up to $2,915 this month may qualify for assistance. Applicants also will have to answer questions about their bank account balances, household and expenses. People who provide additional documentation may qualify for benefits for a longer period. Hurricane victims also may pick up and drop off applications at Abundant Life Cathedral, 11230 Harwin Drive in Houston. HHSC staff will be available to answer questions and take applications... The Texas City HEB POD in Galveston City is now closed as of Saturday morning. ...En-Touch Systems, Inc. has 95% of service as of 10:15 a.m. Saturday restored with small, localized outages in the communities of Summerwood and Gleannloch Farms. ...Willis - Browder Trailer Road and FM 1484 South County -Woodlands - 610 Sawdust Road - Old Walmart parking lot Oak Ridge North - Oak Ridge Baptist Church - Hanna Road Montgomery - Montgomery Jr. High School East County - Grangerland Community Center - West of FM 2090 on FM 3083 in Grangerland The mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse recovery services at the MHMR authority for Galveston that were up and running for several days has been shut down. All individuals who were receiving this help should contact the Gulf Coast Center's Texas City Clinic at 7510 FM 1765 in Texas City. You can also call 409-935-6083. Those who were receiving mental retardation supports please contact their service coordinator at 1-888-839-3229. ...As of 5:11 p.m. on Friday, Centerpoint Energy has restored electricity to a million customers. Now, 47 percent of the 2.15 million customers who lost power after Hurricane Ike have been restored. Current Restoration Forecast
Based on current damage assessment, Centerpoint estimates that the following ZIP codes are estimated to have approximately 80 percent power restoration by the end of day on Friday, Sept. 19. These are estimates, not guarantees. There will be individual customers in each zip code who will receive... Walmart will make a donation to benefit Houston residents Saturday. The donation takes place 9 a.m. at 9520 Homestead. Walmart will provide the following: Donation of 24 trucks of water and 24 trucks of ice to the Houston area. Water was distributed in 10 Wal-Mart parking lots throughout the region. Donation of 2 trucks of water and 2 trucks of ice to special needs populations in Houston. This will be distributed to assisted living facilities throughout the city. Donations of clothing for 2,000 adults and 300 children to the George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston. Braeswood Assembly of God will be distributing ice, food, water and juice to the community on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 9:00am to 1:00pm or until supplies are depleted. As of 5:11 p.m., CenterPoint Energy has restored electricity to a million customers. Now, 47 percent of the 2.15 million customers who lost power after Hurricane Ike have been restored. ...
Galveston residents looking to check the Internet or make phone calls with free long distance can do so at the Island Community Center at 4700 Broadway in Galveston. The Coast Guard Captain of the Port of Houston-Galveston has opened the Houston Ship Channel 24 hours a day with the following restrictions: From the Sea Buoy to Sims Bayou the channel is open to all vessel transits up to project depth. From Sims Bayou to the Houston Ship Channel Turning Basin the channel is open day and night to transits for vessels with drafts of 34 feet or less. Mariners are advised that aids to navigation may be off station and it is recommended to use extreme caution when transiting through the area. Local, state and federal agencies are continuing to survey all COTP na... There are currently no Point of Distribution (POD) operating within the city of Pasadena. After Hurricane Ike, a POD was located at PAL Gym, located at the intersection of Red Bluff and Southmore, and later relocated to Pasadena Memorial Stadium. During its operation, the Pasadena POD processed an average of 500-600 vehicles per hour and, in total, provided assistance to more than 19,000 people. The City also advises citizens that the Deer Park POD, which had been located at Clyde Abshire Deer Park Football Stadium (710 West St. Augustin), reportedly also permanently closed, effective at 3 p.m. tod... All POD sites open 8 a.m. Saturday. Willis - Browder Trailer Road and FM 1484 South County -Woodlands - 610 Sawdust Road - Old Walmart parking lot Oak Ridge North - Oak Ridge Baptist Church - Hanna Road Montgomery - Montgomery Jr. High School East County - Grangerland Community Center - West of FM 2090 on FM 3083 in Grangerland ...The City of Pasadena has lifted its boil advisories for all zip codes, including those that were under a mandatory evacuation. City officials say that residents should take the following precautions before drinking or bathing:
... Command Labor is looking for 2000 local workers to assist in the hurricane clean-up efforts. Workers will be paid for their services. Houston - West: 9376 Richmond Ave. "C" North Freeway, Houston, 77018 Saturday, September 20, 2008 IH 610-NORTH LOOP Eastbound and westbound at LIBERTY RD. Alternate lanes in the u-turn. Closed daily from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Saturday, September 20 to Friday, September 26. Wallisville Eastbound and westbound at IH 610-NORTH LOOP. Alternate lanes. Closed daily from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Saturday, September 20 to Friday, September 26.
IH-10 EAST Westbound from MERCURY DR to GELLHORN DR. 1 inside lane. Closed daily from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday,... On Friday afternoon, the FEMA Point of Distribution site at Friendswood's Centennial Park, 2200 S. Friendswood Drive, shut down operations. ...Approximately three out of four TNMP customers have restored service. About 84,000 customers had power Friday morning. "As we near the one-week anniversary of Hurricane Ike, we are pleased with the progress we have made but know we still have much work ahead," said Neal Walker, TNMP vice president of Texas operations, in a press release. "Ike caused extensive damage, and getting all systems back to normal will take time and patience." Catholic Charities distributed food and water Friday at the site of Prince of Peace parish in La Marque. Saturday, starting at 10 a.m., they will be at the site of St. Christopher Parish at 8150 Park Place Blvd. in Houston. At 1 p.m., they will also be at Highs Island ISD, 2125 5th. St. in High Island. The Office of the Attorney General Consumer Complaint Hotline, which has been overwhelmed with calls, will be staffed to take calls this weekend from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Callers are asked to call during those hours to report price gouging or give other complains. You can also file online at the Texas Attorney General website. The Safe Shelter Hotline will be staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. this weekend. Because of the damage caused by Hurricane Ike, many credit unions in the Houston/Galveston region are either closed or operating out of mobile branches. Pappas Catering is providing a limited time offer to offices and groups affected by Hurricane Ike. The temporary price Pappasito's fajita lunch/dinner has been reduced to $13.75 per person if you have under 150 Guests or $11.95 per person for 150 or more. The package includes Beef and Chicken fajitas, rice and beans, flour tortillas, cheese, pico de gallo, chips and salsa, iced tea, plates, and plastic ware. This special price also includes full catering service at your location including set up, buffet service, and clean up. For more information, please call Pappas Catering, 713.952.9782,... CVS/Pharmacy will donate ice and water to residents in Houston and Galveston 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20. In Galveston, it will take place at 2326 61st St. Each person will receive two bags of ice and two gallons of water, until supplies last. The Galveston store is open as of Friday. ...The boil water advisory has been lifted for all areas of Matagorda County. All of the water systems in the Sargent area have been tested, and the water is safe for regular use. Also, taxpayers impacted by the storm will have until midnight Sept. 22 to meet their tax filing obligations without incurring late filing and payment penalties. This gives residents seven extra days to file the taxes. Residents are also asked to put their debris into four separate piles: 1) Regular household trash - Separate from storm debris. This will be picked up by the regular service provider on the regu... The University Federal Credit Union in Galveston, which serves the employees, doctors and nurses at UTMB, has opened a mobile branch in the parking lot of Amoco Credit Union's branch in Dickinson. The Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council is hosting a city-wide blood drive in Houston for the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center next Friday, Sept. 26 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. It will be hosted at its administrative building at 3110 Southwest Freeway. Call 713-292-0367 for more information or to sign up. The Texas Department of Public Safety says that Hwy. 73 between the England road area and Taylor's Bayou is unsafe for vehicular traffic. This stretch of roadway will remain closed until it is deemed safe by the department. There is no definite date for re-opening Hwy 73. The Texas City VA Outpatient Clinic will re-open for normal business on Monday, Sept. 22. The clinic is located at 9300 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway, Suite 206 near the Mainland Mall. As an interim, a VA mobile health clinic was deployed this past week to Texas City to evaluate and treat medical problems, administer immunizations, and assist with prescriptions. It will now be transferred to another community to help veterans affected by Hurricane Ike. Veterans who need medical advice should call the VA Network Telecare Center Hotline at (713) 794-8985 or toll-free 1-800-639-5137. Registered n... Port Neches residents are asked to remain at their evacuation site until further notice. In the area, the curfew is still in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. The services are limited, with little medical or food services. There is a point of distribution site set up at 4000 Grant Ave. (off of 39th Street) in Groves. It is a First Baptist Church. There will be water, ice and MREs at the location. There are no public shelters open in the city. Go to the Red Cross Beaumont website for details. Tarp distribution begins 3:30 p.m. Friday in the City of Conroe and will be located at the Activity Center across the street from the Aquatic Center at 1209 Callahan. You may enter the distribution site off of Bettes Street. They will continue dispersing the tarps until they run out. There are no MREs, ice or water available. A Disaster Recovery Center is open in Houston to provide assistance for those who suffered damage from Hurricane Ike. FEMA said that the DRC site is located at: Harris County The center will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week. Residents are encouraged to register with FEMA before visiting a DRC. There are two ways to register: log on to www.fema.gov or call FEMA's toll-free number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Both numbers are available 24 hours a day, sev... Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center continues asking individuals to give blood to replenish the blood supply following Hurricane Ike. Blood collections resumed Tuesday after a four-day hiatus due to Hurricane Ike. Ten Neighborhood Donor Centers and two mobile blood drives will be open to the public on Saturday. Port of Galveston officials say that the vehicles of passengers, crews and other cruise ship workers may have been flooded by more than seven feet of salt water, which would have submerged most vehicle engines and pushed many vehicles from their original parking locations. They say that the vehicles will probably inoperable. ...The curfew in Bellaire has changed from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. to 5 a.m., until further notice. ...Those that want to secure building permits in Missouri City can go to the City's Building Permits Divison Saturday, Sept. 20 from 8 a.m. to noon. The city is waiving the cost of obtaining the permits for storm-related repairs. The issuance of these permits with the fee waiver is effective immediately though Dec. 16. Forms and permit applications may be obtained online on the City's website by going to "Services" and then "Forms." Permits may also be picked up at City Hall, 1522 Texas Parkway. The building permits are required for construction projects covered by building, roofing, plumbin... The following Macy's stores in the Houston area are open as of Friday, Sept. 19: Baybrook Mall IBC Bank has opened all of its branches, which now are in normal business hours. 35 locations are open to serve customers. Customers also can access account information through IBC Bank Online, IBC Mobile and IBC Voice. Visit the IBC website for continuously updated information and a list of all IBC locations. For more information, call 1-866-527-9523. There is a number set up by the HHS' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for those who with mental health concerns. If you are having suicidal thoughts or are experiencing emotional strain, call 1-877-SAMHSA7 (726-4727). This hotline helps with all types of emotional stress or problems, including help with drug or alcohol dependence. Texas will be providing emergency food stamps to Hurricane Ike victims who qualify and will automatically replace benefits for program participants in the storm's path. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) sought and received a federal waiver to make the emergency assistance available to low-income individuals and families living in any of the 29 counties that have been declared disaster areas. Eligible Texans in disaster areas can receive up to two months of food stamp benefits by calling 211 or applying at any HHSC benefits office through Oct. 17. The person submitting the appli... Star of Hope staff will work alongside the homeless to distribute 500 bags of ice Friday to an eight block area still without power around Scott Terrace. That will happen 5 p.m. Friday at the Transitional Living Center, 6801 Ardmore, Houston, 77054. The bags come from the Mission's downtown Men's Center. They were donated from the Houston Food Bank. The City of Conroe has adjusted its curfew hours from 12 midnight to 5:00 a.m. for Friday Sept. 19, Saturday, Sept. 20 and Sunday, Sept. 21. The curfew will be lifted on Monday, September 22, 2008 The following private water systems remain under a "boil water" notice. Persons using these systems should follow these steps for purifying their water: Bring water to a full boil (it will bubble) and keep it boiling for two minutes. Or add eight drops of non-scented, non-colored chlorine per gallon of water. Wait 30 minutes before using. BRAZORIA COUNTY As of Friday, Sept. 19, the boil water notice for all customers served by the Harris County WCID #21 water system has been lifted. Water samples collected for microbiological analysis came back negative for coliform organisms in all areas. ...Due to Hurricane Ike, Bank of America is providing status updates on banking center operations. All banking centers in Texas are operating business as usual, with the following exceptions, listed by county: Galveston - Closed, except for the following locations: Harris - More than 60 banking centers are o... Texas Southern will face Texas College Saturday in the Rose City Classic in Tyler, Texas. This is the 14th meeting between TSU and Texas College. The Tigers lead the series 9-3-2. The teams' first meeting in 1946 ended in a 6-6 tie. The last meeting was in 1961 when TSU won 22-13. FEMA plans to close its point of distribution in Sugar Land when ice supplies are exhausted Friday. Many businesses in Sugar Land have reopened and now have ice available. FEMA will continue to offer ice at a point of distribution in Stafford, 13755 Greenline Drive. ...Members of any fitness club can go to a 24 Hour Fitness facility and work out through Sept. 30. Those who are not currently members of any club can receive a free seven-day pass to work out at a 24 Hour Fitness club site of your choice. As of noon Friday, 24 Hour Fitness has reopened the following clubs in the Houston area: • Westheimer II Active, 11320 Westheimer Road, Houston Those who evacuated for Hurricane Ike through the Texas Transportation Assistance Registry are asked to remain at their current sheltering locations until further notification. When a resident's home jurisdiction has been secured, they will be notified. Officials from affected communities warn residents that there are still mass power outages, with services limited. ...City of Friendswood officials say that approximately 70 percent of the area has electric power and anticipate full power within the next few days. Food supply, they say, is adequate, with groceries and businesses open. Fuel supply is available, but anticipate lines. All Friendswood roadways are open for traffic. FISD and CCISD schools are still closed until further notice. Officials ask residents to make sure that their household trash is bagged as usual. Any green waste that is placed in trash bags should be placed alongside the household trash. Wooded storm debris does not...
The USPS says that all of the mail destined to Galveston is securely held in the North Houston Processing and Distribution Center. The mail was untouched by Ike. The USPS is finalizing a temporary location near Galveston Island, probably in Texas City or La Marque, that will be ready to provide mail to Galveston residents by Thursday, Sept. 25. There, residents will be able to pick-up their mail. The location and the date of the site will be announced once the location lease is signed this week. Until then, the USPS has made special arrangements to Galveston residents only to pick up thei... As of noon Friday, Sept. 19, there are still 1.21 million, or 54 percent, CenterPoint Energy customers still without power. Of the 2.15 million Ike-affected customers, 941,000 have restored power. ...Port of Houston Authority facilities resumed normal operations at all terminals Thursday in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. The U.S. Coast Guard granted PHA clearance for all of its facilities late Wednesday. Carnival Cruise's Conquest arrived at the Port of Houston Authority's new Bayport Cruise Terminal yesterday and disembarked 380 passengers. Today, Carnival's Ecstasy will disembark approximately 550 passengers. These passengers opted to remain aboard... Waste Management is reporting that there has been a big jump, around 40 percent to 100 percent, in the volume of garbage placed at the curb for collection. The company is collecting garbage from its residential and commercial customers on a majority of its routes in the Houston metro area. They expect that this growth in the amount of garbage will continue for the next week at least, as more power and water services are restored. Residents and businesses should follow these steps to assist in the speedy collection of their garbage: • Separate household garbage from storm-related debris. Th... Clear Creek ISD students have come together to launch Operation CRAYON (Children Rallying Assistance for Youth of Need) to help young Ike victims. It is a clothing and school supply drive run by students of Clear Creek ISD. Businesses and individuals interested in participating in Operation CRAYON can help CCISD collect the following items for students in need: - New or gently used clothing You can make your donation at McWhirter Elementary, 300 Pennsylva... Families meeting HUD 50% of median requirements for low income housing and want to stay in Third Ward, can contact RHCDC. Row House CDC has five (5) vacancies (four brand new 3-bedroom units and one 2-bedroom unit). For more details read below or contact the CDC offices at 713-521-2600. HUD Maximum Income Guidelines are: Texas taxpayers who were adversely affected by Hurricane Ike qualify for tax relief from the Internal Revenue Service, including the postponement of tax filing and payment deadlines until Jan. 5, 2009. Following the hurricane's landfall on Saturday, Sept. 13, the federal government declared the following Texas counties a presidential disaster area qualifying for individual assistance: Angelina, Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Cherokee, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San J... ELECTRIC OUTAGES COMPUTERS, POWER STRIPS/PHONES AT CITY HALL FOR RESIDENT USE Forty-one Shriners Hospitals for Children-Galveston patients, families and hospital staff, who evacuated last week from Hurricane Ike, arrived Thursday, Sept. 18 at the Shriners Hospital for Children-Houston in the Texas Medical Center. All of them were evacuated to a College Station middle school. The Shriners Hospital for Children-Galveston, meanwhile, remains closed for an undetermined length of time. Galveston hospital officials are in the process of regrouping their more than 300 employees who evacuated. A meeting is scheduled set for Saturday, Sept. 20, 11 a.m. in the ... IkeHelpCenter.org is offering resources for managing health, safety, housing, money and other recovery issues. The site is a one-stop source for the online tools and information people need to find temporary relief and long-term assistance as they rebuild after Hurricane Ike. At IkeHelpCenter.org, visitors will find information about: •Resource Locator: Which businesses have reopened; where can you go for help •Health & Safety: What to know when returning home; how to protect your health; how to get replacement prescriptions; making sure your drinking water is safe •Housing: ...
Post offices throughout Houston are operating, but things re different along the Texas Coast. Post Office Box service for customers served by the Crystal Beach (77650), High Island (77623) and Port Bolivar Post Offices has relocated to the Winnie Post Office at 3234 Highway 124 in Winnie. Mail for Post Office Box customer served by the Gilchrist Post Office (77617) has relocated to the Stowell Post Office at 3608 State Highway 124 in Stowell. Post Office Box service for Wallisville (77597) Post Office customers has been relocated to the Mont Belvieu Post Office at 16043 Eagle Drive in Mont B... Pearland Library, a branch of Brazoria County Library System, will be closed until further notice. All regularly scheduled library events, including story time, toddler time, book club and computer skills workshops are also canceled until further notice. As power returns to the area, please go to www.bcls.lib.tx.us for news and updates about restoration of library services at Pearland Library, located at 3522 Liberty Drive. ...On Tuesday, Sept. 23, Congressman Michael McCaul will put teams of Congressional staff in Katy, Cypress and Tomball to assist with hurricane recovery and FEMA assistance. FEMA packets for residents who need information about the federal claims process and hurricane aid will be given to people. The assistance provided will include: Cypress The Chrysler Foundation on Friday donated $200,000 that will be used to buy food and supplies for victims of Hurricane Ike. The foundation is also giving the Houston Food Bank three 2008 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickup trucks to continue distribution efforts. The food will be distributed Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the following locations: - St. John Neumann, 2730 Nelwood, Houston, 77038 Parts of the Houston Ship Channel are open to commercial traffic, with restrictions. The following openings and restrictions are in effect: The Houston Ship Channel is open at all times to maritime traffic with a draft of 16 feet or less, but will remain open for daylight transit only from the sea buoy to Sims Bayou at project depth and Sims Bayou to the Turning No changes to draft limitations have been made to all other affected waterways. To view the draft limits on all waterways not listed click here: http://www.d8externalaffairs.com/go/page/425/25407 Mariners are advised that aid... Capital One Bank has dozens of locations open in metropolitan Houston and the Beaumont area. The locations that have reopened include: In metropolitan Houston: UTMB patients who are pregnant and expect to deliver in the next 30 days and pregnant women who need to schedule prenatal care at UTMB maternal child health clinics throughout Texas can still receive care at many locations. The following clinics are open between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.in the following places: - Angleton: 979.849.0692 - Dickinson: 281.534.2576 - Katy: 281.391.7001 - Pearland: 281.485.3220 - Pasadena: 713.473.5180 - McAllen: 956.686.4224 - Victoria: 361.576.2110 - Nacogdoches: 936.560.0515 - Huntsville: 936.295.7474 UTM... As of Friday, Sept. 19 the following Harris County Hospital District facilities are open: The following locations are operating Points of Distribution (PODs) sites for Friday, Sept. 19 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. P Inside the Houston city limits, these sites will not have water. Most will only have ice and some will have MREs. The POD at Clyde Abshire, Deer Park Football Stadium will close permanently today at 3:00 PM. Harvest Time Church 17770 Imperial Valley, Houston 77060 According to Carolyn Campbell here are new numbers for the Red Cross related to Ike. Red Cross Shelters - 1-800-733-2767 or 1-800-RED-CROSS Red Cross Missing Person's - 713-526-8300 Hotline Phone Bank - 713-368-2741 ...For those that need to fill out FEMA applications or access the Internet, all Fort Bend County libraries are equipped to handle those services. Printing will be free for those making FEMA applications. They anticipate long lines since the application process is lengthy. The libraries are located at: Albert George Branch, 9230 Gene Street, Needville, 979-793-4270 The Learning Care Group has several sites that are open for those who want to find child care. These sites offer drop-in care after Hurricane Ike, should you need to go to work and require someone to watch after your children. Families interested in using one of these programs are encouraged to call to secure a space. Zurich in North America insurance customers have five channels through which to report a claim.
Several Women, Infants and Children (WIC) offices located in Harris County opened today. Those include:
Impact Houston Church of Christ will be handing out free ice at 1712 Depelchin, just off Houston Avenue Friday. When - Saturday September 20 from 10 am to 4 pm Event - Food Drive for Ike Relief Who - Cub Scout Pack 548, Katy TX Where - La LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch 23501 Cinco Ranch Boulevard - Katy, TX 77494 Contact - Andi Oldner 281-392-7067 ezradoga@yahoo.com What we need - Water, Non-perishable food items, Canned Fruit, Cereal, Rice - 1 lb. bag Long cooking varieties, Baby Items - Diapers, Wipes, Formula (Similac Blue Can), Personal Care Items, Trash Bags ...Fort Bend County Fair will proceed as planned with Fair Day on Friday, September 26, 2008. ...After evacuation of all three shelters, Houston's Star of Hope Mission has now re-opened the facilities and is once again meeting the needs of Houston's homeless men, women and children through structured recovery programs. ...CenterPoint has restored 916,000 customer with power as of Thursday night - 45% of their customers. There are still 1.23 million without power. Randalls Fuel Station in Galveston is now open! Fuel available while supplies last - additional supplies continue to arrive. ...Braeswood Assembly of God will be distributing ice and meals to the community on Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or until supplies last. The Coast Guard Captain of the Port of Houston-Galveston has re-opened portions of the Houston Ship Channel to commercial traffic, with restrictions. ...Cancellation of the Boil Water Notice for the following water systems: Tattor Road MUD PWS ID# 1010625 The Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS) is conducting a rapid community health assessment to help link residents impacted by Hurricane Ike with health care and human services. Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center continues asking individuals to replenish the blood supply following Hurricane Ike
All facilities and programs will be closed through Sunday, September 21. If electrical power is restored, it is anticipated that normal business hours will resume on Monday, September 22, 2008 . Please call your center of choice to verify reopening. ...In the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, Chase has opened 106 locations and 320 ATMs in Greater Houston. More branches are opening daily, as electric service is restored. All Whataburger employees are encouraged to call 1-800-6 Burger if they need assistance or information. ...A vast majority of mayors have lifted the evacuation restrictions for several cities near Galveston Bay. Residents are welcomed back, but city mayors remind returning residents that cities are still without power and many still have boil water notices in effect. ...When will the electricity be back up for my neighborhood? iT'Z Family, Food and Fun. The store did not sustain any damage and is operating at business-as-usual. The recent hurricanes have left many homeowners with damaged roofs. In order to mitigate additional damage that could result from rain, homeowners can have plastic sheeting installed over the damaged area by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractors - called the Blue roof program. ...Recognizing the need for long-term recovery assistance along the Gulf Coast following Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, Shell Oil Company and Motiva Enterprises LLC have committed $4 million to support disaster relief efforts. Shell and Motiva have also provided fuel to emergency response organizations across the affected areas and are actively supporting recovery efforts with volunteers. Catholic Charities Staff and Volunteers will be giving out food and water at LaMarque's Queen of Peace Catholic Church located at 1200 Cedar Road 77568 begining at 10 A.M. on Friday, September 19. ...Debris and Garbage pickup in League City will begin Friday, Sept. 19, 2008. City of League City residents are asked to place any storm-generated debris on the curb and off the street. Please also make sure that is away from utility poles, gas meters, water meters, fire hydrants, and other utility services. Only debris placed on the curb will be collected. The water is safe to drink in League City ...League City is no longer under curfew ...
UFCU Galveston branch remains closed in wake of Hurricane Ike. A temporary service center is now available at AMOCO FCU's Bay Colony Branch located at 3350 Cross Colony, Dickinson, Texas. ... The Mayor has amended curfew times from 12:00 a.m. Midnight to 5:00 a.m. This mandatory curfew will be in effect until further notice. ...Debris removal began in La Porte on Thursday. The debris must be separated into four groups as follows: normal household garbage, Construction & Demolition materials, vegetative debris, and appliances. This is crucial to ensure fast and efficient clean up of the city. ...For Friday, September 19th, METRO plans to run Park and Ride service on a normal schedule as was done today, with buses running in the main lanes. The HOV lanes will remain closed until power has been fully restored to all safety critical systems. ...Shell redeployed nearly 200 people on Thursday, bringing the number of personnel on Shell-operated facilities offshore to about 1,020. ...Gov. Rick Perry today surveyed storm damage surrounding the Angleton and Livingston areas and visited with local officials, assuring them of the state's continued support through the entire restoration process. Due to Hurricane Ike, the September 23 Job Fair has been re-scheduled to October 30, 2008. Below are the updates for the City of Pearland: 1. Water - Your drinking water is safe. Please conserve water - don't use sprinklers, don't wash residential vehicles, etc. ...The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has hired PB Inspections and PaRR Inspections to inspect properties for Hurricane Ike damages in order to determine those eligible for assistance. IBC Bank continues to reopen branches impacted by Hurricane Ike. In addition to the 30 branches that reopened this week, IBC Bank will reopen four more branch locations on Friday to serve customers. The following Comerica Bank banking centers will reopen at 7:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 19: ...The City of Webster is no longer under curfew. Officials of Mainland Medical Center said the hospital on the Galveston County Mainland reopened its doors on Thursday. The Harris County Administrative Judge Don Stricklin said because of ongoing problems because of Hurricane Ike, jury duty calls for Sept. 22 and 23 have been canceled. City of Galveston employees will be able to be paid, even as the island tries to get back on its feet after Hurricane Ike. City Manager Steve LeBlanc announced on Thursday that checks for city employees would be handed out on Friday afternoon. RediClinics are located inside the following Houston-area H-E-B stores: ...IKEA Houston has re-opened its doors in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. Five trucks have just delivered 6,500 cases of water, which will be sold for $3.00 each. ...Many Harris County Public Libraries are now open, with power & Internet. Our website is >> Continue reading: Most Harris County libraries open Copy Doctor, Inc. announced today that it would provide free computer usage and fax services for victims of Hurricane Ike. "A significant number of our neighbors are still without power or internet access, yet the direction from their insurance companies, or assistance agencies, such as FEMA, is to contact them online. We want to help these people by allowing them free access to our computers so that they can contact family through email, contact their insurance, file a FEMA claim, or contact other agencies", said Rex Baggett, Vice President, and operator of the Houston based digital copy center. "It will be up... A decision regarding the opening of CCISD schools will be made today at 4 pm. Please visit their website at www.ccisd.net Cooling Center Transportation is available for the elderly and people with special needs. To arrange transportation call 281-554-1000. League City Land management City Public Works Department crews have been busily re-establishing water service across the island. Most areas behind the Seawall now have water, but residents and emergency personnel are under a strict conservation advisory. "We are asking everyone to use our limited water resources very sparingly," urged Deputy City Manager Brandon Wade. "Our system has diminished capacity from storm damage and is suffering from many leaks. We are asking our workers and residents to use water conservatively until further notice." The Clear Creek Independent School District serves more than 36,000 students across 13 municipalities, including Seabrook, Nassau Bay, League City, Kemah and the greater Clear Lake Area. As of Thursday, September 18, 2008, a significant number of schools and neighborhoods still remain without power. Of the 38 CCISD schools, CCISD has determined seven suffered significant damage due to Hurricane Ike. CCISD maintenance crews and area contractors are working to repair roofs, remove water and debris, and restore power to all schools as quickly as possible. At 4 p.m. Thursday, a meeting will be held with admini... The UTMB Montgomery County Health Department will offer free tetanus shots to residents on September 18 and 19. The vaccines will available at 701 E. Davis (105 W) in Conroe from 3 - 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. The Department urges residents to be extremely cautious around debris and other storm hazards because of the increased risk of exposure to tetanus. Individuals can be exposed to tetanus through the soil, structural fragments (especially dirty nails), and human and animal feces. Tetanus is a serious but preventable disease that causes severe muscle spasms, lockjaw and even death. ... The Animal Incident Command Center - Galveston Island, set up to rescue stray and stranded animals in the wake of Hurricane Ike, rescued 200 animals in the two days they were open. "We are close to capacity and we have no doubt we will exceed our resources by the end of today," stated Caroline Dorsett, Animal Incident Command Center Director. "We are hoping to reunite animals with their owners as quickly as possible," she added. Due to the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services (HCPHES) cautions residents that mosquito activity is increasing. The combination of storm debris and standing water left behind has produced many more mosquito breeding sites. HCPHES Mosquito Control is currently conducting county-wide surveillance to detect disease-carrying mosquitoes and determine pest mosquito populations. Ground-based operation (evening spray truck) and aerial treatment operations will be implemented according to on-going surveillance information. Now is the time to eliminate mosquito... Dickinson I.S.D. has been "closed for students until further notice". The earliest that students will return will be Wednesday, September 24, 2008--- subject to continuing assessment of operational capabilities; issues such as utilities, transportation, food services, and appropriate staff availability. Several campuses still do not have electrical service as of early Thursday, September 18. All employees who are able to safely do so are asked to report to Dickinson High School on Monday September 22, 2008, at 9:00 a.m. to assess the district's ability to provide essential services. In the meantime, the di... Conn's Rosenberg now has generators back in stock over 100 at the Rosenberg location. 23835 Brazos Twn Crsng, TX, 77469 McCoy's Building Supply wants their Houston-area communities to know that they have generators available for purchase. "We quickly sold out of our generator stock that we had before Hurricane Ike made landfall, and put in an order with our supplier," said McCoy's Vice President of Operations, James Lewallen. "We've shipped more than a thousand additional generators to the Houston area and are working hard to keep stock available... Tomorrow, Sept. 19, Kroger is providing the City of Houston 10 truckloads of ice at various PODs. You can pick up ice at any of the locations listed below at 9 a.m. this Friday: Woodbridge Baptist Church Community of Faith Ripley House Greater Jerusalem Fountain of Praise Zion Lutheran St. Agnes Church Without Walls Grace Community Veterinary Emergency Referral Group is open 24 hours a day and seeing most emergencies. Located at 8921 Katy Freeway. About 25 percent of the Galveston's water system is up and running, but the city's sewer system is down. ...Volunteers are urgently needed to assist with Hurricane Ike relief efforts. Individuals who are interested in volunteering can assist at various locations throughout Houston and Harris County, including the Points of Distribution Centers (P.O.D.s) and area non-profit agencies and shelters. To volunteer or for more information, please call the volunteer line at (713) 853-8802 between the hours of 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Non-profit agencies needing volunteers may also call the volunteer line with their requests. ...
Social Security Assitance: 1-800-772-1213 (if you haven't received your assitance / sí no ha recibido su asistencia) TXDot: 713-802-5076 or 1-800-452-9292 (Road Closures/ Cierre de Calles) FEMA: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or www.fema.gov (Housing Assistance / Asistencia de Vivienda) Red Cross 713-313-5286 (Shelters/Albergues) Missing Persons/Personas Perdidas: 713-313-1656 Report Price Gouging / Reportar Estafas: 1-800-252-8011 or/o 713-755-2648 SPCA Pets / Mascotas: 713-861... The City of West University Place has lifted the boil water notice. The water has been tested and is safe for consumption. For more information, contact our call center at 713-668-4441. Fort Bend County is beginning its recovery process in the wake of Hurricane Ike. A Debris Management plan has been enacted to facilitate the removal of debris left by the hurricane. This program consists of three separate "passes" with the first pass beginning Tuesday, September 16. The first pass will be for vegetative materials. The next pass will take place two or three weeks later with the last pass two or three weeks after that. Remaining materials at the curb will be picked up on the second and third passes. If you do not get all your debris curbside for the first pass and pick up, you may continue to place... In the wake of Hurricane Ike, Cricket Communications has opened eleven of its corporate locations to assist customers with wireless service issues they may have encountered during the hurricane. Cricket is also offering free phone calls and internet access via its broadband service to loved ones who were affected as a result of the storm. Residents throughout the Greater Houston area are invited to visit any of the open Cricket stores to make free phone calls or send an e-mail. Additionally, the Cricket CARE Team will be assisting those in need at select Red Cross Shelters and PODs. The United Way of Greater Houston today announced the establishment of the United Way Hurricane Recovery Fund. The fund is designed to help with the long-term recovery needs of Houston's most vulnerable populations such as the elderly, the working poor and others in circumstances where they simply can't rebuild their lives without assistance after the devastation of Hurricane Ike. Effective today, September 18, 2008, the telephone number for the Hurricane Ike Hotline operated by the Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management has changed from 713-881-3100 to 713-368-2741. ...We are no longer discouraging our citizens from returning to their homes. The Kroger here in La Porte is open; they are taking ten people at a time into the store. City Hall is open for citizens to conduct their usual business. The Recreation & Fitness, Special Programs, and Senior Citizens Centers are closed due to no power. Municipal Court dockets for this week have been cancelled. Citizens will be notified of their new court dates. If citizens have a new mailing address it is their responsibility to notify the court of such. Payments can be dropped off at the drive thru drop box at City Hall (604... GULF COAST IKE RELIEF FUND Mayor Bill White has established a relief fund to help fill unmet human needs for victims of Hurricane Ike in Houston, and Harris and Galveston Counties and other affected areas. The Fund is being administered by Albert Myres, senior vice president at Reliant Energy, with fundraising and distribution overseen by a special citizens advisory board. The Fund is now accepting donations and is assessing hum... FEMA continues to provide ice at a distribution center at Mercer Stadium, 16403 Lexington Blvd. Water is also available, though Sugar Land's water is safe to drink. For Hurricane Ike evacuees from a declared disaster location who need Any evacuee who needs a prescription filled must have one of the Other proof of an existing prescription If in a specia... NASA'S Johnson Space Center in Houston is scheduled to reopen Monday, Sept. 22, ending its closure related to Hurricane Ike. Johnson shut down Sept. 11 as Ike approached the Texas coast. International Space Station flight control is scheduled to resume from Mission Control in Houston during the morning of Friday, Sept. 19. Station flight control was transferred to a backup facility near Austin, Texas, and later, to another facility at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. The Mission Control Center and other key Johnson facilities are largely unscathed, partly because of extensive pre... In the wake of Hurricane Ike, many animals have been lost, abandoned, and injured on Galveston Island. The Houston SPCA is asking the community to help give these storm victims a second chance at life by participating in "Operation Save a Life." The Houston SPCA's "Operation Save a Life" is asking every family who is able to foster a Galveston pet for ten days. If after ten days, the displaced animal is not reclaimed by its original owner, the foster parent has the option to adopt the animal or return him/her to the shelter for placement. There are a few requirements to participate in "Operation Sav... METRO is now running Park & Ride service on its normal schedule. However, due to continuing electrical outages on the region's HOV-lane system, buses will continue to operate on the main lanes. Mayor Bill White today announced that city of Houston building officials will authorize temporary emergency connections by a licensed electrical or plumbing contractor to expedite certain repairs for homeowners. If your electrical or gas system has been damaged and requires reconnection, you are asked to contact a licensed electrical or plumbing contractor who is registered with the State of Texas Department of Licensing and/or the City of Houston Code Enforcement Division. "Our goal is to speed up the process for making repairs for electrical, gas, and plumbing systems during this time of emergency... The University of Houston will serve as a Point of Distribution (POD) center Thursday through Saturday, providing water, ice and packaged meals to the public. The POD will operate from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Houston Rockets players and staff will join the Hurricane Ike relief effort by distributing food and toiletry items at the University of Houston's POD site on Thursday. Team owner Leslie Alexander and the Rockets organization, working with Feed the Children, have purchased four semi trucks loaded with pre-packaged, non-perishable food and essential toiletry supplies that will be distributed to area r... City of Conroe Announces Food Pods Set Up For Thursday, September 18, 2008 · Grand Theatre - I 45 North Six Library locations are providing services as of Thursday, September 18th. Others will open in the following days depending on availability of power and water, as well as the determination of damages to individual facilities on a case-by-case basis. NOW OPEN -- Clayton Library, Center for Genealogical Research, 5300 Caroline, 77004, 832-393-2600 St. Luke's Kirby Glen Diagnostic and Treatment Center is now fully operational, including MRI. ...Grangerland Baptist Church will be cooking hot meals. An estimated 3,000 meals can be served to the public. UPDATE: POD LOCATIONS for September 18, 2008 The Laura Recovery Center offers a way for those with missing family and friends as a result of Hurricane Ike to quickly create a missing person flyer on-line. From any computer simply access: Follow the "CREATE FLYER" link at the top of the page. The flyer creation process will prompt the user to upload a picture of Flyers have been proven to be among the most effe... The Methodist Hospital, 6565 Fannin St., is holding a blood drive today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call 713-441-3415. ...If your payment or ticket was due from Sept. 11, through Sept. 17 during the wake of Hurricane Ike you are strongly encouraged to contact the court immediately. You can reach the court at 281-337-6297 or 281-337-6264 if you are unable to call you can mail in your request for a court date or mail in your payment to Dickinson Municipal Court, 2716 FM 517 East, Dickinson, TX 77539. If you have been ordered to attend court, you are required to contact the court by phone to determine the status of your court date. Failure to contact the court, comply with payment agreement, attend your court date or address y... CT Church will continue distributing food, ice and water today, Sept. 18, from 10 a.m.-4 a.m. and Friday, Sept. 19 from 10 a.m.-4p.m. CT Church is located at Despite the widespread destruction of many communities in the Houston region, Sugar Land was very fortunate. Our major impact remains widespread power outages and storm debris. Daily State of the City briefings will co... Conroe curfew adjusted to 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. until further notice. The City of Conroe Emergency Management offices will be open monitoring the situation as it develops and making any necessary adjustments. ...The Laura Recovery Center, in cooperation with the Galveston County The hotline is available by calling the Center at 1-866-898-5723 or Those calling should have their contact information available, as well . Des... FEMA is not handing out vouchers today at the George R. Brown Convention Center. This report by a local radio station is incorrect. FEMA assistance can be obtained by calling 1-800-621-3362 or registering online at www.fema.gov. ...St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital's Blood Center is hosting three community blood drives this weekend to help meet the continuing critical blood needs brought on by Hurricane Ike. Join St. Luke's in donating blood or platelets and commit for life to help our patients! Hotline - 281-554-1496, Call Center - 281-554-1000 or 311, Emergency - 911, www.leaguecity.com Cooling Station Electrical The City of Conroe, Public Works crews have Started Storm Debris Removal Efforts. The Emergency Management Operations for the City of Conroe has asked the Citizens of Conroe to separate construction debris and move tree debris only to the front of their property and place just behind the curb for pick-up by city Public Works Crews. Please do not place this debris into the street. Additional press releases will follow with estimated pick-up schedules. The City of Conroe public works department is presently picking up tree limbs and trees first. We are requesting you announce a cancellation of the Boil Water Notice Greens Parkway MUD PWS ID# 1012389 As Texans along the Gulf Coast begin rebuilding their lives and homes in the wake of Hurricane Ike, the Texas Association of Builders (TAB) and its affiliates offer suggestions to protect homeowners from unscrupulous contractors and builders. "Thousands of Texans are just beginning the long, emotionally difficult task of trying to salvage their property and make their homes livable again," said Scott Norman, interim executive director of TAB. "TAB and local home builder associations along the coast do not want these storm victims to be taken advantage of during the rebuilding process." When select... Northwest Assistance Ministries will be distributing bags of ice on Thursday at their 3645 FM 1960 location in Houston from noon until 5 p.m. ...Crisis Intervention of Houston is offering around the clock phone support and referral services for those in crisis. Trained phone counselors are prepared to help people cope with the psychological aftermath of the storm by providing anonymous, confidential telephone counseling. ...In Texas and Louisiana, 28 Kohl's stores were impacted by Hurricane Ike. Currently, 24 of the stores have re-opened for business. Due to local curfews imposed by the cities and other operational considerations, some stores may be operating at reduced hours. ...The federal government will reimburse the state of Texas and affected local governments for 100 percent of eligible emergency debris-removal work and emergency protective measures performed for a 14-day period retroactive to Sept. 13, the date of President Bush's major disaster declaration for Hurricane Ike. The reimbursement can be for work undertaken by state and local authorities. It can also cover costs of direct assistance provided by federal agencies if state or local government cannot perform or contract for the work. "This reimbursement will provide a valuable boost to Texas communities laun... Sugar Land Rotary's Annual ShrimpFest has been rescheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20, at 5:30 p.m. at the Fluor Building in Sugar Land. Go to www.sugarlandrotary.org for additional information. Please help us get the word out. "We're bringing the community and world together with positive results!" Ttwo additional POD sites will be added tomorrow (Thursday) morning. CenterPoint Energy announced today that based on damage assessment data obtained over the last few days, the company projects the following time line, indicating approximately 80 percent restoration per region: Denver Harbor Clinic still has no power and needs generators in order to open up the clinic on a limited basis to see expectant mothers and children that are ill in the neighborhood. To lend a generator and donate fuel, please contact Paule Anne Lewis at 713-820-3327. For more information on Denver Harbor please go to their website at www.denverharborclinic.org or call me. Thanks so much! ... Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center continues asking individuals to give blood to replenish the blood supply following Hurricane Ike. Blood collections resumed Tuesday after a four-day hiatus due to Hurricane Ike. Special extended hours will be observed Thursday at 10 Neighborhood Donor Centers. Several mobile blood drives also will be open to the public on Thursday. B1 (Thiamine), one of the simple B vitamins, taken by mouth daily keeps mosquitoes from biting. 10mg is supposed to be enough. 50mg is commonly available and just fine. There really aren't side effects related to B1, but if you check with your medical professional first and make sure it's OK for you to take that's best. Then, after 2-3 days of taking it you will no longer be being bitten. ...In the aftermath of the devastation of Hurricane Ike, thousands of people are without basic provisions including shelter, food, water and electricity. Dealing with the emotional trauma and sense of loss created by the storm is a key part of recovery. Crisis Intervention of Houston (CIH) offers 24/7 phone support and referral services for those in crisis. Highly trained phone counselors are prepared to help individuals cope with the psychological aftermath of the storm by providing anonymous, confidential telephone counseling services. CIH's crisis counseling hotlines, including a number for bilingual serv... After conferring with officials from the City of Houston, the University of Houston Police Department, and the Houston Police Department, the Houston Dynamo have rescheduled their home game against the San Jose Earthquakes, originally scheduled for Saturday, September 20, to Wednesday, October 15, it was announced today. Power Mid County East County Sc...
Farmers and ranchers in counties affected by Hurricane Ike who were attempting to meet the Sept. 16 deadline for certain disaster assistance programs but couldn't due to Hurricane-related temporary Farm Service Agency (FSA) office closures now have an extension. Farmers and ranchers who are eligible for disaster assistance under certain new Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance programs for losses caused by natural disasters in calendar year 2008, but who are not fully covered by crop insurance or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), now have until ten business days after the... Noah's Ark has been severely damaged by hurricane Ike. The cattery has been flooded, outside kennels crushed and the roof of the horse barn damaged from fallen tree limbs. Among many of our immediate needs, is re-erecting a 700'-9' fence that partially encloses our dogs yard that allows the dogs supervised free play time. Re-erecting this fence frees the volunteers to work on other necessary projects instead of walking dogs on a leash. Please visit our website to see a few pictures of the damage. Thank you so much for anything you can do to help our animal shelter. Noah's... Health officials continue to urge kidney dialysis patients affected by Hurricane Ike to call (866) 407-3773 to locate dialysis services. Many dialysis patients have evacuated from coastal areas to other parts of Texas. Others have remained in counties where their usual treatment services are not available. The toll-free emergency locator service is available 24 hours a day and is provided by the Texas End Stage Renal Disease Network and the Texas End Stage Renal Disease Emergency Coalition. Dialysis patients are encouraged to watch fluid-intake and to heed dietary precautions. People on ... Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Reopens Thursday, September 18, with Free Admission through Sunday, September 21 Area residents and community-oriented agencies who want to help the Houston area recover from Hurricane Ike are being encouraged to contact Volunteer Houston by email at volunteerhouston@gmail.com. The special email was set up today specifically to help match area volunteers with the neediest causes. A special phone number established just this morning, 713 853-8802, has already yielded over 1,500 phone calls - thus the need for the new email address as well. Area citizens are encouraged to use the email option if at all possible. The Montgomery Country Animal Shelter at 8535 Hwy 242 in Conroe is in a TERRIBLE PLIGHT! They have 120+ dogs and 200+ cats, all rescued in this area from Hurricane Ike, many pure breeds as well as mixes. The shelter has no power, and the confinement area is wet, totally in the dark with no windows and no air circulation. The conditions are horrible. They are desperate for fosters in order to save these animals. If anyone is willing to foster, please go to the shelter from 8 a.m. to noon. ...WHO: Local Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venturers Last Thursday the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) launched Operation Safe Shelter, a new emergency service that provides registered sex offender information to evacuation shelter personnel. Since Operation Safe Shelter's launch, emergency shelters have provided 5,555 evacuee names for OAG personnel to compare with the Department of Public Safety's sex offender registry. As of today, the OAG review uncovered 18 confirmed sex offenders. An additional 36 possible matches remain under review but have not yet been confirmed by OAG personnel. The evacuee lists containing confirmed matches were provi... Online service is available at >> Continue reading: Two Social Security offices open, rest closed St. Vincent de Paul Society has enacted their mass home visit program known as Arms Wide Open in which volunteers visit the sick and the elderly. DONATIONS ARE NEEDED. In particular: Similac baby formula, Boost Drinks for the elderly, flour tortillas, graham crackers, cleaning supplies, trash bags, flashlight and batteries. The donations can be delivered at the St. Vincent de Paul store located at 5236 Cedar Street, Bellaire Texas 77401 until Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. or to the St. Vincent de Paul food depot on 610 Memory Lane, Houston, Texas 77037, also until Friday from 9a.m. to 3 p.m. ...Catholic Charities is still in need for volunteers to unload the trucks that carry supplies. Anyone interested in helping need to show up tomorrow in front of the offices of Catholic Charities at 2900 Louisiana Street, Houston Texas 77006. Anyone interested in financial donations can go to www.catholiccharities.org ...Citizens of Galveston County WCID#1 There is relief on the horizon for drinking water here. We received confirmation late yesterday that tests on our source water from the Gulf Coast Water Authority came back good. That means the water entering our system is safe. At this time we are in the field taking our own samples for safety testing at the Galveston County Health District. We should have results in the first half of the day tomorrow, Thursday, September 18, 2008. Until that time however, we remain on a BOIL WATER NOTICE. Continue to boil water before consuming it. Citizens may help us by reporti... Hurricane Ike has hit the city of Houston hard, leaving many people without electricity, water, food and even shelter. In an effort to give back and help those in need, The Tasting Room (TTR) will donate $1 from every pizza, glass of wine and bottle of wine sold at all three of its locations, now through Saturday, to the Houston area chapter of the Red Cross. Drop-boxes have been set up at all three TTR locations for donations of cash, clothing and non-perishable food items. This is your chance to get involved! Hurricane Ike has left many Texas homeowners with damaged roofs. Repairs to these roofs can take time. In order to mitigate additional damage that could result from rain, homeowners can have plastic sheeting installed over the damaged area by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractors, in a program provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The toll-free BLUE ROOF hotline number is 1-888-ROOF-BLU or 1-888-766-3258. In anticipation of a temporary roofing mission, the Corps has established two mobile Right of Entry collection sites. Anyone needing a... The City of Jersey Village has lifted the "boil water" notice. The water has been tested and is safe for consumption In the wake of Hurricane Ike, H-E-B is serving a hot meal this evening to first responders, city officials and evacuees registered at the George R. Brown Convention Center. The H-E-B Eddie Garcia Mobile Kitchen, a 45-foot-long food preparation facility, will be staffed with the H-E-B Mobile Kitchen crew who will prepare and serve approximately 2,500 hot meals per hour. WHO/ WHEN: Wednesday, September 17, 2008 WHERE: George R. Brown Convention Center Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce member contractors: http://www.houstonhispanicchamber.com/images/hhcc/Ike.pdf.pdf ...Updated Red Cross shelter list: American Legion Hall The Bel Air, the apartment community at 2121 Allen Parkway, has units available and is offering short-term leases for evacuees and people temporarily displaced by the hurricane. Their telephone number is (713) 529-7700. Neartown Animal Clinic is one of the few animal clinics open in the area. It's seeing an influx of sick animals from other clinics and is prepared to continue accepting patients by appointment only. It's open Thursday and Friday from 7:30am to 6:30pm and Saturday from 9am to 1pm. Their telephone number is (713) 526-1502. The curfew for Rosenberg has been lifted. ...Houston-area YMCA facilities that have power are opening their doors to the community for showers and battery charging. Even if you do not have a YMCA membership, you may go to any open YMCA and charge your cell phone and laptop or take a shower. So far, power has been restored to 13 YMCA facilities, 10 of which have showers available for public use. The YMCA is opening facilities daily as power is restored and damage to buildings is repaired. The following YMCAs newly opened today: • M.D. Anderson Family YMCA, 705 Cavalcade, Houston, TX - 713-697-0648 Following Hurricane Ike many healthcare facilities in Houston and the surrounding areas have been compromised in someway. River Oaks Surgical Center only suffered minimal damages and is now open for business. At this time of tragedy to our city we would like to extend an invitation to other physicians in the Houston area who might need a surgical facility ready and able to serve their patients. Our center has served the Houston metropolitan area for over a decade and takes pride in our commitment to serve the medical community. Please feel free to contact our office for more information. ...
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