October 04, 2005

LIBERTY COUNTY
HURRICANE RITA RECOVERY UPDATE
October 4, 2005

GENERAL INFORMATION
The following counties have been named in the disaster declaration and residents
will be eligible for FEMA assistance.
Counties included in the disaster declaration are:
Angelina, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Hardin, Harris, Liberty, Jasper, Jefferson, Montgomery, Newtown, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Tyler, Walker

To meet with a MCUW Community Resource Coordinator, please drop in from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday at one of our offices:
Conroe: 731 West Davis or
The Woodlands: 1600 Lake Front Circle

For more information, please call the MCUW Helpline at 888-844-6289 extension 235 (English) or 888-825-9682 extension 235 (Bi-Lingual). Updates to this memo can be found at our website: www.mcuw.org.

Looking for someone who was in Rita’s path?
Ø The Salvation Army has set up a web site to help people connect. Please go to www.satern.org to get the process started.
Ø American Red Cross missing persons’ number is 877-568-3317.
Ø Another resource is 382-607-3139 or go to the following website:  http://www.familylinks.icrc.org/home.nsf/home/webfamilylinks
Ø Or contact the National Call Center through FEMA by calling 866-326-9393.

1. WHERE TO GO FOR HELP:
a. CASH ASSISTANCE:
i. ARC: American Red Cross is making one time cash assistance to Hurricane Rita victims based on the number of people in the family. To receive the funds, call the ARC at 800-975-7585. The ARC staff will open a case on the family and make arrangements to have funds made available.
ii. UPDATED 10/04/05 - FEMA: Cash to help pay for basic daily needs is being offered by FEMA through their registration process. A Rita victim family must register with FEMA either by calling 800-621-3362 or go their website www.disasterhelp.gov. FEMA will be reviewing information submitted and make funding determinations. The preferred form of payment is direct deposit in a bank. If an evacuee does not have an accessible bank account, it is recommended a local bank account be open to expedite the process. NOTE: In filling out or responding to the FEMA questions, please put “yes.” If your county is included in the disaster area, you are eligible for assistance payments. If you have answered “unknown” or “no” please call FEMA immediately to change your answers.
iii. In order to cash a FEMA or American Red Cross check, banks are requiring a valid ID –Texas. See the section on Driver’s Licenses to learn how to obtain one.
iv. FEMA ASSISTANCE CENTER: FEMA has opened an assistance center in Houston located at 6059 South Loop (610) East at the Wayside exit.

b. NEW 10/04/05 - unemployment benefits:
i. Unemployment benefits: Disaster unemployment funds can be obtained by calling 1-800-939-6631 or going to the web site www.texasworkforce.org . To be eligible for help under the Presidential Disaster Declaration FEMA-1606-DR, you must: have worked or been schedule dto work in the disaster area, but because of the disaster no longer have a job, a place to work in the area, or you could not get to your place of work because of disaster damage Have been prevented from working by an injury or illness as a diret result of the disaster; OR have become the head of household and need employment because the head of household died as a result of the disaster. Each claim is considered individually. Workers have until November 30, 2005 to apply for this benefit.
ii. SELF-EMPLOYED: Business owners who are self-employed are not aware of potential benefits to which they may be entitled. If you are self employed, but havelost all or part of your livelihood as a result of this disaster, you may well be eligible for benefits. You must call 1-800-939-6631 to fill a claim.

c. SHELTER (RITA ONLY): American Red Cross has shelters open in for people from the Liberty, Beaumont, Port Arthur and Orange area who were affected by Hurricane Rita. To be eligible for the full complement of ARC services, please go to one of these shelters:

BAYTOWN:
Eastside Baptist Church – (Capacity 100 – full)
1700 Danubina Street, Baytown

Wooster Baptist – (Capacity 150 – OPEN)
7007 Bayway Drive, Baytown

McCloud Park Community Center (Capacity 75 – Full)
On Hwy 146 just north of I-10 (Langston Road)

Memorial Baptist Church OPENING 9/29/05 – (Capacity 200 – OPEN)
600 West Sterling, Baytown

i. CLEVELAND: PROJECTED OPENING 9/29/05
Calvary Baptist (Capacity 400 – Open)
316 North Blair, Cleveland

d. NEW 10/4/05: EVACUEES LIVING IN HOTELS: FEMA has now agreed to pay for Rita evacuees who are staying in hotels. Hotels should bill FEMA directly. However, if a hotel does not want to, evacuees need to send copies of the receipts to FEMA for reimbursement.

e. FOOD: Water, Food & Ice

CITY OF CLEVELAND
Stancil Park on Peach Street
8:00 am to Dusk

EAST MONTGOMERY COUNTY & LIBERTY COUNTY RESIDENTS
SPLENDORA CITY HALL
26090 FM 2090, Splendora
Will give out until it is gone

DAYTON
(Ice, Water, Sandwich)
401 West Clayton, old Thrifty mart store

f. UPDATED 9/30/35 - FOOD: Prepared Meals:

Hull-Daisetta High School: Canteen

Liberty Sheriff’s Department: Canteen

Dayton – Brookshire Brothers Grocery Store: Canteen

g. NEW 9/30/05 - FOOD STAMPS: The Texas Department of Health and Human Services commission is providing food stamps to qualified applications from the nine Texas counties noted above. Please go to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services to apply for this benefit. Eligible families can receive up to 90 days of food stamp funds. The address is 608 North Loop 336 E. Conroe, TX. The number is 936-539-1161.

h. NEW 10/04/05 - SOCIAL SECURITY OR SSI CHECK: If you receive your Social Security, SSI or Disability check by mail, you can go to the Conroe office of Social Security Administration, 2017 N. Frazier, Conroe, to have your check mailed to a different location. If you do not have a residence, Social Security will allow your check to be mailed there for your pick up. Arrangements have been made with Woodforest National Bank located at 3105 West Davis Conroe, to assist with direct deposit and cashing of Social Security and SSI checks. The local Social Security office is open 9-4 Monday - Friday. You can also call 800- 772-1213 is open from 7:00 -7:00 Monday - Friday to process changes. Local Phone: 936-539-2058.

i. NEW 10/04/05 - SCHOOLING FOR CHILDREN: If you have school age children, please go to the school closest to your place of temporary residence to enroll them in school.
i. Conroe Independent School District: For evacuees in Conroe, Grangerland, Cut N Shoot, Oak Ridge, Shenandoah and The Woodlands: If you are unsure about what school in which to enroll your child, please call 936-709-7751 or go to www.conroeisd.net. If you need school supplies and clothing for students, please see the school counselor. They have grade appropriate supplies.
ii. Magnolia Independent School District: 281-356-3571
iii. Montgomery Independent School District: 936-582-1333
iv. New Caney Independent School District: 281-354-1166
v. Splendora Independent School District: 281-689-3128
vi. Willis Independent School District: 936-856-1204

j. MEDICAL: VETERANS:
i. The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) will return to normal operations on Wednesday, September 28, 2005. This includes all outpatient clinics, as well as compensation and pension appointments, at the Houston location. The VA outpatient clinics in Galveston and Texas City will reopen on Wednesday, September 28, 2005. The Charles Wilson VA Outpatient Clinic in Lufkin is also expected to reopen on Wednesday, September 28, 2005. Because of power, water, sanitation, and transportation outages in the Beaumont area, the Beaumont VA Outpatient Clinic remains closed until further notice.
ii. To reschedule cancelled appointments, veterans may begin calling the VA Network Telecare Hotline at (713) 794-8985 or (800) 639-5137.
iii. 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 nurses, pharmacists, and administrative clerks are ready to answer veteran health care questions 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The VA Network Telecare Center is not for life-threatening emergencies. Veterans with life-threatening emergencies should immediately call 911.
iv. For the latest reopening information and updates, please call the MEDVAMC Information Hotline at (713) 791-1414, ext. 3647.

k. NEW 9/30/05 – MEDICAL:
i. Prescription Refills: DSHS and Wal-Mart have put into place a prescription drug coverage program through October 12th, 2005 to help people in shelters and other individuals from the affected areas receive prescriptions. Individuals do not have to be staying in a shelter to access this program. Wal-Mart will fill an emergency seven day supply of prescriptions. Wal-Mart will honor prescription requests even if an actual prescription is not available. An old prescription bottle or other reasonable evidence on the description of the drug or drug name will be accepted or new prescription issued by shelter or hospital or physician. Wal-Mart will ask for insurance or Medicaid/Medicare numbers from individuals needing the prescription. If valid insurance or Medicaid numbers are provided, Wal-Mart will bill them. If not, Wal-Mart will bill DSHS at the Medicaid rate for prescription. If a co-pay is due and not paid by the individual, Wal-Mart will bill DSHS for the co-pay.
ii. NEW 10/04/05 - Medical care is available at The Community Clinic. Call 281-364-7889 to make an appointment. Ask for Jane or Jackie to make a medical appointment or Lorene to make a dental appointment. Services are limited.
iii. NEW 10/04/05 - Pregnancy Testing & Counseling: Pregnancy Assistance North will provide free pregnancy testing, counseling and material assistance such as diapers, baby clothes and maternity clothes. Call to make an appointment before going: Spring: 281.367.1518 and Conroe 936-441-6442. Locations: 26402 I-45 North, Spring or 115 North San Jacinto Street, Conroe.
iv. NEW 10/04/05 - Anyone with active TB needs to contact UTMB at 936.525.2800 and ask for Amanda or Dr. Ibrahim to schedule an appointment and treatment.
v. NEW 10/04/05 - Women who are pregnant and in need or pre-natal care or in need of family planning assistance should contact UTMB at 936.525.2800.
vi. NEW 10/04/05 - The Lone Star Family Health Center will work people into their schedule and are making a special track for urgent care of evacuees.  You can receive continuation of prenatal care, newborn and pediatric care as well as adult care through geriatrics.  They deliver babies and provide other inpatient care at Conroe Regional Medical Center.  They will accept Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance and sliding fee scale. Individuals evacuated from hurricane zones will be seen regardless of ability to pay.  Immunizations are available at the clinic without a doctor visit from 8:30 AM until 11:00 AM for those evacuees who were exposed to the flood waters.  Patients who are seen at the Lone Star Family Health Center can then fill their prescription at the clinic’s pharmacy.  The address is: 704 Old Montgomery Road in Conroe (just east of I-45); Phone:  936-539-4004 for appointments.  The hours are Monday through Thursday 8:30 AM until 8PM. Evening clinics are walk-in so no appointment is necessary.
vii. NEW 10/04/05 - TOMAGWA will see patients in the Magnolia/Tomball area. They will pay for some prescriptions. Address: 13414 Medical Complex Drive, Suite 1, Tomball, TX Monday – Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Phone: 281-357-A0747
viii. NEW 10/04/05 - Baytown Medical Clinic will see Rita evacuees living near Baytown. Call 281-837-2700 to make an appointment for the clinic located at 1602 Garth in Baytown.
ix. NEW 10/04/05 - SPECIAL NEEDS: Families with individuals who have special needs should call United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) for services and special needs equipment at 936-760-4179 extension 472.

l. UPDATED 10/04/05 - WORK:
i. A local website: BearsInAction.com has a section set up to match jobs with workers. If you are willing to do post Hurricane Rita yard work or other day labor work, please go to this website to find potential work in the Montgomery County.
ii. Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) has programs and services for adults and children 0-3. Helps people with disabilities find jobs, learn to live independently in the community or prepare your children with disabilities go to school. For more information, please contact 800-628-5115.
iii. Wal-Mart Distribution Center is hiring a large number of people for shift work, weekends, both part time and full time. Applications are accepted 24 hours a day at 20131 Gene Campbell Blvd, New Caney.
iv. The WorkSource is a one-stop shop collaboration for people seeking employment or unemployment benefits. There are 2 locations in Montgomery County:
1. Conroe: 2018 I-45; Phone: 281-756-0042/936-441-0037
2. The Woodlands: 2170 Buckthorne Place; Phone: 281-363-1640
3. Huntsville: 901 Normal Park Drive, Suite 7; Phone: 936.291.3336
4. Humble: 9668 FM 1960 Bypass Rd W; Phone: 281.446.4837
v. Link Staffing has set up an 800 number to assist evacuees find jobs. Four people will be manning the phones between 8am and 6pm tomorrow. 1-877-645-5465. This line will be established for those affected by Rita and looking for temporary or temp to hire employment effective 8am on Sept 1st. Hours for this line are 8am-6pm CST
vi. On line job bank managed by the South Montgomery County Woodlands Chamber of Commerce: www.majec.org
vii. There are a number of local and Houston Regional Employment agencies interested in working with Rita evacuees to place them in job openings. Please look at the local phone book or ads in the local papers for those services.
viii. The Permian Basin area companies are looking for employees. Go to www.mhywesttexs.com and scroll midway down to “Basin Employers looking to attract storm victims”, then under “Top Links” and click on “Jobs” to fill out a profile and/or got to the Jobs Quick Search for listings.
ix. Hurricane Rita victims can now go to the Chamber's website www.conroe.org and click on the target located on the homepage for current job listings nationwide.  Houston, Huntsville & Conroe all have jobs available.
x. Resume and career counselors are available Monday through Friday from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm to help evacuees create a current resume and find job opportunities. Location: The Woodlands United Methodist Church, 2200 Lake Woodlands Drive, The Woodlands.

j. NEW 10/04/05 - COUNSELING:
i. Crisis Counseling: Please call Tri-County MHMR Services Crisis Counseling at 800-659-6994. Arrangements will be made to meet at a convenient location with person in need of counseling when the call is made.
ii. Children and Youth Counseling: Please call Montgomery County Youth Services at the closest location for an appointment.
1. Conroe: 936-756-8682
2. East Montgomery County: 281-354-4873
3. Magnolia: 281-259-0440
4. South County 281-292-6471
iii. Interfaith Employee Assistance Center: Mental Health Counseling for Rita evacuees can be obtained by calling 281 363 1633. They are affiliates of most of the national EAP's and can provide counseling through the evacuees national EAP at no cost.
iv. The Montgomery County Satellite of DePelchin is available for counseling services to the children, adolescents and families of the victims of Rita. Anyone requesting services should call the Intake number 713.730.2335 and let the intake worker know they are a victim of Rita. 
v. Toll Free Hotline for people in crisis in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita: 800-273-8255. Callers will be connected to a network of crisis counseling from trained staff at the closest certified crisis center in the network.
vi. Call to make an appointment with the following volunteer Mental Health Professionals:
1. Rebecca Snyder, UCP 936-441-0789 or 936-760-4179 extension 472
2. Melinda Schoppe, 832-928-7290 – play therapy for children
3. Irena Miltijevic, Ph.D., 281-267-1742 – children, families, individuals, Post partum Depression

k. NEW 10/04/05 – BiG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS: If your child is in need of a Big Brother or Big Sister and you are in Montgomery County or North Harris County, please contact Rae Taylor at 281-292-4155 extension 238 to set up a match. BBBS will be overseeing the matches at local schools.

2. WHERE TO GO TO VOLUNTEER: UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME

3. IF YOU WANT TO DONATE, PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING:
a. Water: Several parts of the county are without electricity and water since they use electric pumps. Please take bottled water by one of the above noted shelters for people at the shelter and those who are not but need it. THANKS!!
b. To donate Gas Cards for Liberty County residents only: Please deliver donated gas cards to Montgomery County United Way offices at 731 West Davis in Conroe or 1600 Lake Front Circle, Suite 248 in The Woodlands. These cards would be used for people from the affected area. Please consider donating Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart Club Gift cards which can be used to buy gas at Sam’s and Wal-Mart locations. In addition, you can donate Shell and Exxon Mobil gas cards.
c. Cash Donations:
i. American Red Cross (Shelter expenses and immediate needs):
Phone: 800-435-7669 or 800-257-7575 (Spanish)
Online: www.houstonredcross.org or www.redcross.org
Mail: P. O. Box 37243
Washington, D. C. 20013
ii. The Salvation Army
Phone: 866- 448-2769
Online: www.salvationarmyhouston.org
Mail: 1500 Austin Street
Houston, TX 77002
iii. Montgomery County United Way (Needs not covered by ARC and FEMA)
Phone: 888-844-6289 extension 235 (English) or 888-825-9682 extension 222 (Bilingual).
Online: www.mcuw.org (local needs)
Mail: P. O. Box 8965
The Woodlands, TX 77387
NOTE: Please note donation is for “Rita for Liberty County”
Donations made to the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast are for Harris County only
 Anyone interested in coordinating efforts for people affected by Hurricane Rita is invited and encouraged to attend the Montgomery County Disaster Recovery Task Force meeting, which is coordinating the recovery efforts. The next meeting is:

Monday, October 3, 2005
3:00 pm
MCUW South County Service Center
1600 Lake Front Circle, Conference Room B
The Woodlands