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Where to go for help
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You are here: Home :: News & Features :: Where to go for help
Where to go for helpPosted Wednesday, September 24, 2008
  Rose Young, of Baycliff, in the Red Cross shelter at Frontier Baptist Church. "I was living in Baycliff till Ike came along. Now I don't know where I'm going." For answers to many questions about resources available to hurricane victims, visit the United Way of Brazoria County Office from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Thursday or 8 a.m. to noon Friday; call 800-971-6677 or 979-849-9402, or visit www.uwbc.org.  Food pantries operating Alvin Community Food Pantry Brazosport Cares Church of Christ  Angleton Community Food Pantry Heights Baptist Church Helping Hands, Willow Drive Baptist Church Interfaith Caring Ministries Mary Queen Catholic Church Salvation Army - Alvin Office  Two-month old Talena Houston, of Houston, in the Red Cross Shelter at Frontier Baptist church in Angleton. Sacred Heart Church The Food Basket  West Brazos Cares Zeta XI Foundation, Amazing Place Pantry Brazoria First Assembly of God Wesley First United Methodist Church  Molly McCormick teaches school on Friday at the Red Cross shelter at Frontier Baptist.  Soldiers from Texas Army National Gaurd units based in San Antonio hand out ice, water, and MREs in the parking lot of the Angleton Rec Center. Tetanus Shots Tetanus has long been identified as a top health concern for anyone working in disaster recovery areas. Protect yourself and your family by getting a tetanus shot if you have not received one in the last 10 years. Shots are available at the following Brazoria County Health Department locations:  432 E. Mulberry, Angleton (979)864-1484 260 George St. Suite 200, Alvin (281)585-3024 200 S. Hwy. 288B, Clute (979)265-4446 7313 Corporate Drive, Suite 200, Manvel (281)756-2440 400 Elm Street, Sweeny (979)548-2272 Individuals should arrive no later than 1 hour before the closing lunch time and one hour before final closing times). Dialysis  State health officials are urging kidney dialysis patients whose treatments have been interrupted by the hurricane to use an emergency locator service to find dialysis services. People on dialysis need to receive the blood-cleansing treatment three times a week. Patients also are encouraged to watch fluid-intake and to heed dietary precautions. The toll-free number, 866-407-3773, is available 24 hours a day. It is provided by the Texas End State Renal Disease Network and the Texas End State Renal Disease Emergency Coalition. FEMA Residents and business owners can begin the disaster application process by registering online at www.fema.gov or by calling Applicants registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, permanent address, phone number), insurance coverage and any other information to help substantiate losses.  Because of the high number of calls FEMA is receiving, applicants should expect long wait times and consider calling during non-peak hours. The hotline is open 24 hours. Applicants are strongly encouraged to register online if at all possible. FEMA is moving into the county to help with the registration of individuals who wish to file damage claims. Those who wish to file a damage claim on their property should go to FEMA.com or call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) to register. FEMA will also open a disaster recovery center in Brazoria County to assist residents with issues relating to disaster recovery. Those who register will need to provide information concerning their property, social security number, insurance coverage, and address of the damaged property.  Help with FEMA applications The First United Methodist Church at 219 N. Arcola, Angleton has a bank of computers with Internet access that individuals can use to apply for FEMA. Volunteers are available to assist those without computer skills. Hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Brazoria County Center for Independent Living, 1104 D East Mulberry, Angleton, is providing individuals with disabilities assistance with applications for FEMA and Food Stamps. The agency also offers information and referral, coordination of services, peer support and advocacy. For information call 979-849-7060.  A site is available at First Assembly of God, 900 S. Brazosport Blvd. in Freeport, where individuals can use the Internet to apply online for FEMA assistance and also complete and fax the Food Stamp application. Hours of Operation Sept. 23 - 27: Columbia-Brazoria Independent School District is opening two campuses from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. so individuals can use the computer lab facilities on Wednesday at Barrow Elementary in Brazoria and West Columbia Elementary in West Columbia. Red Cross Shelters  For current shelter list information go to www.houstonredcross.org People coming to Red Cross shelters should bring pillows and bedding, diapers and formula for children, prescription medicines, toiletries, and food to meet any special dietary needs. These shelters cannot accommodate pets. Red Cross shelters in our area: First Assembly of God Church  Frontier Baptist Church First Presbyterian Church Points of Distribution (PODS) Points of distribution for water and ice have been set up at the following locations. Items are available during the day while supplies last. Package meals are not available at most sites.  Additional water/ice distribution is available at: Brookside Village - Fire Department Meals  The Salvation Army at 1618 N Avenue J in Freeport is serving breakfast at 7 a.m., lunch at 1 p.m. and dinner at 5 p.m. They have also set up mobile kitchens at the Oyster Creek Park and the Valero Station in Surfside Beach. Drive-by hot meals are being served each day at Second Baptist Church, 1817 Shanks Road from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Diapers, formula and baby food The Pregnancy Help Center, 327 Garland Dr, Lake Jackson, 979-297-3622. The agency is also accepting donations of diapers, formula and baby food. Roof damage Officials will be available Monday morning to receive applications from Brazoria County storm victims who need to obtain Blue Roofs to cover their homes or businesses and prevent rain damage until more permanent roofing can be installed. These officials are located in the West Annex of the Brazoria County Courthouse, which is the two-story building located directly across Velasco Street (SH 288-B) from the main courthouse. Veterans Services  The Veterans Service Office provides information to all veterans and their families about the benefits to which they are entitled. Call 979-864-1287 for more information. Veterans who need medical advice should call the VA Network Telecare Center Hotline at 713-794-8985 or toll-free 800-639-5137. Registered nurses, pharmacists, and administrative clerks at the VA Network Telecare Center are ready to answer veteran health care questions. Evacuated veterans with urgent care needs may contact any VA facility across the country by dialing 800-507-4571. This number may also be used by families and friends requiring information about patients from those VA facilities affected the hurricane. Veterans may call with questions such as where to access health care, how to receive their prescription drugs, or any other concerns they may have about their care  American Legion Emergency Grants The American Legion's National Emergency Fund is set up to aid Legionnaires and Sons of The American Legion (SAL) members and their families during a disaster to provide immediate assistance for food, clothing and shelter. To be eligible, Legion and SAL members must be current on their membership and in an area in which a mandatory evacuation was issued by a government agency. They have activated a process where they can take grant applications directly over the phone (800-588-3365) for those needing immediate assistance (up to $500), and who are residing in a county or parish that was ordered evacuated. Once the application is called in they will mail the check back to the member directly.  Those members not in dire need can apply using the regular procedure and can download the NEF Grant Application at http://www.legion.org/documents/legion/pdf/nefapplication_1007.pdf. Social Security If you do not receive your regularly scheduled payment from Social Security as a result of the hurricane, you can go to any open Social Security office and request an immediate payment. To find the nearest open Social Security office, call 800-772-1213 (TTY 800-325-0778) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or go online at www.socialsecurity.gov. Employment  Unemployment Insurance benefit services are available on the Internet, 24 hours a day and by telephone Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Generally getting help on the Internet is faster than using the telephone. For information via the Internet go to www.twc.state.tx.us. By phone, 800-939-6631. Deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired customers may contact Relay Texas: 800-735-2989 (TDD) and 800-735-2988 (voice). The following information was provided by Lone Star Legal Aid: If you are self-employed and cannot work because of the disaster, you may be able to get assistance even if you do not have an employer. If you were self-employed or scheduled to begin self-employment you may be eligible.  If you have not filed a claim with the Texas Workforce Commission in the last year, you may get up to 65 weeks of unemployment assistance. If you are already getting unemployment assistance, you may get an extension. The deadline to apply is October 15, 2008. When you call or apply online you must be ready to provide the following information: * Your social security number Individuals who are unemployed and not eligible for Unemployment Insurance should call FEMA at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or 800-462-7585 (TTY). The WorkSource Solutions (Lake Jackson office) has been moved to the Freeport City Hall, 200 W 2nd Street, 979-233-3526. Hours are 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. until further notice.  Prescription Assistance Programs HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt announced up to $2 million in individual assistance for victims of Hurricane Ike from affected counties in Texas, through a new Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP) administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The program provides a way for pharmacies to process claims for prescription medications and certain durable medical equipment items for individuals who do not have any form of health insurance policy and who are from the Texas emergency area.  EPAP covers one-time, 30-day supplies of medication and certain medical equipment such as canes, walkers, wheelchairs and diabetic supplies. With a written prescription, eligible individuals may receive assistance for essential pharmaceutical and durable medical equipment lost as a direct result of Ike. The supply can be used to treat an acute condition and to replace maintenance prescription drugs or medical equipment. Only claims with a date of service between September 12 and September 22, 2008 are eligible for processing under the EPAP Ike Activation at this time. Eligible individuals must have a new prescription from a licensed health care practitioner, a current prescription bottle, a prescription phoned in by a licensed health practitioner, or proof of an existing prescription in order to receive a prescription fill and/ or certain medical equipment.  The HHS website is featuring a link to public health and safety information specifically related to hurricanes at www.hhs.gov/hurricane. The EPAP-Ike Activation can be accessed at Food Stamps Texas will be providing emergency food stamps to Hurricane Ike victims who qualify and will automatically replace benefits for programs participants in the storm's path.  If you already get food stamps: * HHSC will replace some of your September food stamps For ALL Brazoria County residents: * You might be able to receive emergency help if you lost income this month due to the storm You will need to register to use the website to send in an  *You will need to show proof of your identify and home address, such as a drivers license. To check the balance on your Lone Star Card call the Help Desk at Insurance  For questions about insurance, the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), has set up a toll-free Consumer Help Line, 800-252-3439, to assist individuals with insurance questions. Extended hours are being offered, operating Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. TDI has introduced a Hurricane Ike Consumer Resource Page on the website at Child support  Due to mail delivery disruptions caused by Hurricane Ike, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today urged affected parents who receive child support through the mail to call (800) 252-8014 for information about their payments. The hurricane disrupted mail delivery to Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Harris, Jefferson, Liberty, Matagorda, and Orange counties. The Texas Child Support Disbursement Unit will re-route child support payments normally mailed to those areas as soon as parents contact child support officials with their new locations. Parents who do not call will get their checks at their current address as soon as mail delivery resumes. Parents who pay child support may call (800) 252-8014 to hear automated information about their child support cases. An eight-digit member identification number is needed to obtain a record of the parent’s last four child support payments; dates and locations of pending court hearings; dates of service on current legal actions; availability of genetic test results; and amounts due for current and past-due child support. To avoid hurricane-related delays, parents can sign up for direct deposit or the Texas Debit Card. Visit the child support section of the Attorney General’s Web site at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov for more information.  |
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