Houston Flood Relief Resources

Rock and roll song by Coldplay – Houston #1 (Live in Miami)

Coldplay – Houston #1 (Live in Miami) from Coldplay


HURRICANE HARVEY HOUSTON FLOOD EMERGENCY RESOURCES


(Last Update: 8/30 7:54PM)
*** THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS UNDER CURFEW from 12PM TO 5AM 8/30. ~GR. *** (The Mayor is instituting this to help prevent property crimes against evacuated homes.)
VOLUNTEERS: If you have a high-water vehicle or boat and can help with rescue efforts, call Harris County: (713) 881-3100
* TO REQUEST HELP OR OFFER HELP, GO TO: http://houstonharveyrescue.com/
* FOR DISPATCHERS: TO SEE or ADD LOCATIONS OF VOLUNTEER BOATS: http://www.texasrescuemap.com/
(Boat volunteers: Please download Zello to connect with volunteer rescue teams -> http://blog.zello.com/2017/08/28/getting-help-in-houston-floods/)
EVACUEES & VOLUNTEERS: TEXT YOUR ADDRESS TO 346-214-0739 TO FIND YOUR CLOSEST SHELTER!
* MAP TO THE NEAREST SHELTER: http://houstonsheltermap.com)
* MAP WITH NEEDS TO DONATE TO YOUR NEAREST SHELTER: https://sketch-city.github.io/harvey-needs/
* TO SUBMIT A NEW SHELTER OR NEED (for both shelter and individual needs): http://harveyneeds.org/


Live Updates from Mayor Sylvester Turner (On Twitter: @SylvesterTurner)
Live Updates from Official Agencies: https://twitter.com/gracerodriguez/lists/houwx-emergency-resources
Current Road Conditions: http://conditions.drivetexas.org/current/conditions.asp
For a medical/functional emergency call 211.
For shelters or help, inside Houston, dial 311. Outside Houston, dial 211
For a life-threatening emergency ONLY call 911.
If you need to be rescued, call 281-238-3430


FLOODING & EVACUATION ASSISTANCE
Volunteer Rescuers: If you have a high-water vehicle or boat and can help with rescue efforts, call the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office: (713) 881-3100
TO GET OR GIVE HELP: http://houstonharveyrescue.com/
(Full map of people who need help: http://houstonharveyrescue.com/rescuesindex.php)
Texas Search and Rescue: Download the Zello app — https://zello.com/app — and go to one of these channels (more info: http://blog.zello.com/2017/08/28/getting-help-in-houston-floods/)

Texas Search and Rescue

The Cajun Navy Dispatch

Boaterstexas

When submitting your request for the rescue clearly state:

The complete address of the rescue location, and any information which would help rescuers finding you

Contact phone number and your name

Number of people needing help and their condition

Zello channels are experiencing high traffic so the easiest way to get your information through is to write it down and send a picture to the channel.

Cajun Navy: 318-224-2984 (Text the word HELP) / https://www.facebook.com/LaCajunNavy/

U.S. Coast Guard: The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting urban search and rescue in the city of Houston. If you are in need of rescue, call the U.S. Coast Guard Houston Command Center:

281-464-4851 or 281-464-4852 or 281-464-4853 or 281-464-4854 or 282-464-4855

Additional Coast Guard #Harvey emergency response number: 202-372-2100. Please call and provide name, # trapped,# pets, address, phone number.

Other County Emergency Operation Centers:

Brazoria: 979-864-1064
Montgomery: 936-523-3900
Harris: 713-881-3100
Galveston: 281-309-5002

Stay calm, do not panic. Get to high ground immediately.

Do not go into the attic, rescuers from the air cannot see you.

Mark the roof to be seen from the air. Wave sheets, towels, to be noticed from the air

More than 300 requests for urban search and rescue have been received by the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Houston Command Center. Currently there are five MH-65 Dolphin Helicopters conducting rescues in Houston, with four additional HH-60 Jayhawk Helicopters requested. Three Flood Punt Teams are locally poised to connect urban search and rescue.

Road Closures & Conditions: http://traffic.houstontranstar.org/layers/ (See real-time road conditions via Camera Views: http://traffic.houstontranstar.org/cctv/transtar)

Watershed flood gauge: https://www.harriscountyfws.org/GageDetail

Harris Country Watershed Information: https://www.hcfcd.org

FEMA Evacuation Hotels list: http://www.femaevachotels.com/index.php


EMERGENCY & GOVERNMENT AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION

IMMINENT DANGER: Call 911 if you need immediate medical attention or your life is in danger.

If you can’t get through to 911 on first try, keep calling and stay on the line.

Houston Police Non-Emergency Number: 713-884-3131 / http://www.houstontx.gov/police/
City of Houston Office of Emergency Management: 713-884-4500 / http://www.readyharris.org/
City of Houston Emergency Information: http://www.houstonemergency.org
FEMA Disaster Recovery: 713.837.0311 / http://www.houstonemergency.org/disaster-recovery/
Evacuation Routes: (800) 452-9292 / http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/division/traffic/safety/weather/hurricane.html

INFORMATION AND OTHER AID/ASSISTANCE

If you lost your job because of Hurricane Harvey, you can apply for unemployment benefits online at https://apps.twc.state.tx.us/UBS/security/logon.do.

Due to the impact to mail delivery, we encourage you to select direct deposit as your payment method.
Power Outages: 1-800-332-7143 / Downed Power Lines: 713-207-2222 http://gis.centerpointenergy.com/outagetracker/?WT.ac=OC_Image_Callout

Price Gouging: Texas Attorney General 1-800-621-0508 https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/cpd/price-gouging

Disaster Assistance and Insurance Claims Filing: https://www.disasterassistance.gov/

(File by September 1st, if you can! https://www.texastribune.org/2017/08/28/harvey-insurance-claims/)

General info: http://www.readyharris.org
General help: http://unitedwayhouston.org/flood

If you need assistance with cleanup after the storm, call 1-800-451-1954 or 844-965-1386 to be placed on a list. Disaster recovery organizations will contact you if they are able to help you with clean-up efforts in your area.

The Harris County Animal Shelter will be open Tuesday, August 29, 2017, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. to allow owners to reclaim lost pets that may have entered the shelter on or before Saturday, August 26, 2017. Fortunately, the shelter has not flooded from the Hurricane Harvey’s torrential rains and all animals are safe. However, minimal staff are able to get into the shelter safely to offer full services.


HOUSTON AREA SHELTERS

  • TEXT YOUR ADDRESS TO 346-214-0739 TO FIND YOUR CLOSEST SHELTER! *

NRG Stadium: NRG Parkway, Houston TX 77054

Toyota Center: 1510 Polk St, Houston, TX 77002 (Map)

Red Cross: (713) 526-8300 http://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/find-an-open-shelter

Houston Area: http://www.homelesshouston.org/helpcard/shelters/print.html

Fort Bend Area: http://fbcoem.org/emergency-shelters-in-fort-bend-county/

(NOTE 8/29 7PM: GRB is no longer accepting evacuees or donations. Evacuees: Divert to Toyota Center; Volunteers: Bring donated items to BBVA Compass Stadium (2200 Texas Avenue.)

If you’re meeting people at George R Brown Convention Center: Enter at Hall E. http://www.grbhouston.com/george-r-brown-emergency-center/)


OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND TIPS

Sketch City Houston Tech Volunteers: http://sketchcity.herokuapp.com – add yourself to the “Hurricane Harvey” channel by Clicking on “Channels” and searching for #harvey.

Reddit community (r/houston) thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/houston/

Open Kroger Grocery Stores: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1rnfl_vOr_99z478j8pCpQunvKfc&ll=29.922691310183772%2C-94.77470605000002&z=9

Other Grocery Stores Open Right Now (updated by Houston Press): http://www.houstonpress.com/restaurants/houston-grocery-stores-that-are-open-right-now-9743142

Hou Can Help group’s resource list: https://facebook.com/groups/1804275643234657?view=permalink&id=1806723022989919

More safety tips: hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes. Also in Spanish.

SAVE YOUR PHONE BATTERY FOR EMERGENCIES!

If you have an iPhone go to Settings > Battery >Turn On Low Power Mode. This feature will help you save battery, make sure to reactivate this when your phones on 100% battery.

Houstonians in flooded dwellings may seek temporary shelter by walking to a neighborhood Multi-Service Center or other designated facility. Only consider this option if it is safe to do so. Driving in flood waters is discouraged: Turn around; Don’t drown!

  • REMEMBER: TEXT YOUR ADDRESS TO 346-214-0739 TO FIND YOUR CLOSEST SHELTER! *

FOOD BANKS

To get help for yourself or community, call 2-1-1 or your local food bank to learn about public food distributions and open agencies.

Once a federal disaster area is declared, Texas will also have the option to activate “D-SNAP,” a federally-funded program that provides food relief through EBT debit cards. However, community leaders in affected areas have to activate the program. They can do that by petitioning Texas Health & Human Services Commission at 877-787-8999.
To help out, contact your closest food bank and consider staples: Pop-top (canned) meat and fish, powdered milk, cereal, canned fruit, fruit cups, peanut butter and jelly. Cleaning supplies such as bleach and paper towels will also be accepted. In addition to donating at food bank facilities, local grocers may provide collection points for donations.

Contact information for all local food banks:

Houston Food Bank: 832-369-9390 / houstonfoodbank.org / DONATE: http://www.houstonfoodbank.org/donate/

Galveston Food Bank: 409-945-4232 / galvestoncountyfoodbank.org

Food Bank of the Golden Crescent (Victoria): 361-578-0591 / victoriafoodbank.org

Corpus Christi Food Bank: 361-887-6291 / foodbankcc.com

Southeast Texas Food Bank (Beaumont): 409-839-8777 / setxfoodbank.org

Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley (Pharr): 956-682-8101 / foodbankrgv.com

Brazos Valley Food Bank (Bryan): 979-779-3663 / bvfb.org

Central Texas Food Bank (Austin): 512-282-2111 / centraltexasfoodbank.org

San Antonio Food Bank: 210-337-3663 / safoodbank.org

For more information on all of these food banks head to feedingtexas.org.


DONATE! WAYS TO GIVE & SUPPORT RELIEF EFFORTS

TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP WITH RELIEF AND RECOVERY EFFORTS: HTTPS://GOO.GL/FORMS/NZGSAFSQXGVO1PG62

Tax-exempt charities that have indicated they are accepting Harvey-specific donations include:

Greater Houston Community Foundation Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund: Visit the GHCF website: https://ghcf.org/

Baker Ripley (formerly Neighborhood Centers): https://www.bakerripley.org/get-involved/donate

United Way Houston: http://unitedwayhouston.org/flood or Text UWFLOOD to 41444

Houston Food Bank: 832-369-9390 / houstonfoodbank.org / DONATE: http://www.houstonfoodbank.org/donate/

Interfaith Ministries: https://www.imgh.org/

Coalition for the Homeless: http://www.homelesshouston.org/

Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org/donate/hurricane-harvey / Call 1-800-RED CROSS / Text HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation

Americares (http://www.americares.org/): https://secure.americares.org/site/Donation2

Catholic Charities (CCUSA’s disaster-specific website): https://catholiccharities.org/donate-now-and-help-our-neighbors-recover-from-disaster/ / Text 71777 to donate

Global Giving. To make a financial donation, visit their website or text HARVEY to 80100 to donate $10 to Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.

Salvation Army. To make a financial donation, visit www.helpsalvationarmy.org, call 1.800.SAL ARMY, or text STORM to 51555.

(Please note that these are not endorsements of a specific charity. If you’re not a fan of those organizations listed, there are many other charities which would welcome your support.)

Corporate donor sites and giving challenges include:

GoFundMe has created a landing page that aggregates the campaigns already created to help those affected by Harvey.

United Airlines will match the first $100,000 raised through its charitable campaign. United MileagePlus members who donate a minimum of $50 to any of United’s charitable partners will receive up to 1,000 bonus miles (details, which download as a pdf, are here). Remember that for tax purposes, if you receive something of value in exchange for a donation, your charitable deduction must be reduced accordingly.

In addition to financial donations, what else can you do?

The SPCA of Texas seeks foster homes to help care for displaced animals: www.spca.org/foster. They also need financial donations and in-kind donations, including cat litter, litter boxes, towels, blankets, large wire crates, toys, treats, pet beds, newspaper and gas gift cards.

Donate blood: Find your nearest donation center by entering your zip code here.

Buy a first responder and volunteers a meal! Groups like the Houston Police Department are trying to bring food to their people who are working hard in the field. By buying someone a meal, you help give them the energy to keep on helping others.

TO ADD MORE RESOURCES TO THIS LIST, PLEASE SUBMIT THEM HERE: HTTPS://GOO.GL/FORMS/M8BRTV1QFKBB4K343

 

From RadioNowHouston:

    • Food safety after power outages
      • http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/charts/refridg_food.html
      • Your food should be safe as long as power is out no more than 4 hours
      • Keep the door closed as much as possible
      • Discard any perishable food (such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers) that have been above 40 degrees F for over 2 hours
    • Legal hotline
      • The State Bar of Texas has established a legal hotline at 1 (800) 504-7030 to help people find answers to basic legal questions and connect them with local legal aid providers following the recent flooding

Please only call 911 for immediate medical, fire or police emergencies.
Call 311 to report flooding or debris in streets.