• Hurricane Katrina (Overview)[PDF]

    Hurricane Katrina Recovery (Louisiana Recovery Authority)

  • Road Home Program (The Road Home program - the largest single housing recovery program in U.S. history - was developed by Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco to help our residents get back into a home or apartment as quickly and fairly as possible. This Web site offers homeowners and rental property owners details about the program and tools and resources. Through The Road Home, eligible homeowners affected by Hurricane Rita or Katrina may receive up to $150,000 in compensation for your losses to get you back into your homes.)
  • Journey Home Center opened in Houston
  • Houston Hurricane Recovery.org (Now Open! Journey Home Center for Survivors in the Houston Area. The Office of Mayor Ray Nagin of New Orleans, is pleased to announce the opening of the "Journey Home Center," an information center for Houston area evacuees wanting to know the most up-to-date information and current status in and around New Orleans. Hours are 8:00am - 5:00pm. Journey Home Center, Multi-Service Center, 3RD Ward, 3611 Ennis St., Houston, TX 77004)
  • Katrina Recovery Links (New Orleans Public Library)
  • Hurricane Katrina Recovery Information (FirstGov)
  • A Failure of Initiative: The Final Report of the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina
  • The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned (White House)
  • GAO Reports and Testimonies Related to Disaster Preparedness, Response and Reconstruction (Includes reports on topics such as homeland security, public health, the response to the September 11, 2001, attacks, and response and recovery efforts for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.)
  • Katrina: One Year Later (FEMA)
  • Katrina: One Year Later (NOLA.com/New Orleans Times-Picayune)
  • Katrina: First Anniversary (SunHerald.com/South Mississippi's Home Page)
  • Hurricane Katrina: One Year Later (Charity Navigator)[What went right/what went wrong re charities and the response to Katrina survivors]
  • Rebuilding the Gulf Coast
  • Gulf Coast Recovery Resource Guide (especially Louisiana & Alabama)
  • Hurricanes Katrina & Rita Web Archive
  • New Orleans Hurricane Protection Projects (US Army Corps of Engineers)
    FEMA / Govt. | Red Cross | Donations (Money / Time) | Scams | Find Loved Ones | Stricken Area (incl. TV Stations) | Satellite Photos | Shelter / Housing | Legal Aid | Medical Aid | Jobs / Small Business | Schools |
  • FEMA Online Individual Assistance Center [Register for Aid or Review Your Claim] | Call to register at 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362) | 1-800-462-7585 TTY | 24 hr. hotline. Best time to call 1 AM-5 AM | Direct bank deposits or checks only. |
  • Declaration of Applicant (Self-declaration of US citizenship or resident alien, etc.)
  • KatrinaTexas (One-stop Web site & phone bank for information & help)
  • KatrinaRecovery.gov (DisasterHelp.gov)
  • Hotel Occupancy Tax Refund for Hurricane Katrina Evacuees
  • How to apply for Hotel Occupancy Tax Refund | Exemption Form |
  • Hotel/motel state sales tax waived if staying for 30 days or more (Texas Comptroller's Office)
    [This is a different tax from the occupancy tax]
    Governmental Resources
  • White House response to Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts
  • GovBenefits.gov (Find Out What Governmental Benefits You May Be Entitled To) | Social Security |
  • Hurricane Katrina Recovery (FirstGov) | Harris County Katrina Recovery | City of Houston Katrina Recovery | Texas Responds to Katrina (Gov. Rick Perry's Office) |
  • Hurricanes: Links to Health Information (including toxicology and environmental health)[National Institutes of Health]
    Red Cross
  • Evacuees are to call 1-800-975-7585 to get help from the Red Cross. | Or go to the new Red Cross Service Center at St. Agnes Baptist Church, 3730 S. Acres Drive, Houston, TX 77047 (in southeast Houston). |
  • A Red Cross "Relief Store" is open 10 AM-6 PM at San Jacinto Mall (IH 10 at Garth) for evacuees.
  • Evacuees may also go to the Salvation Army Disaster Services Center at 5950 Fairmont Parkway, Pasadena, TX for food, clothing, school supplies, personal hygiene products, & household items. | 281-204-3890 |
    How to Help: (Donations of money or time or both)
    Give money / goods for Houston-area relief specifically:
  • Houston Katrina/Rita Fund (IRS 501(c)(3) charitable organization modeled after the 9/11 Fund) [Harris County Judge Robert Eckels-Houston Mayor Bill White]
  • Bush-Clinton Houston Hurricane Relief Fund
  • Houston Food Bank | End Hunger Network |
  • Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief (United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast)
    Give money / goods for Hurricane Katrina relief nationally:
  • Red Cross | 1-800-HELP NOW | 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish speakers) |
  • Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund (Donations to go to LA, MS, & AL governors for hurricane relief in their states)
  • Salvation Army | 1-800-SAL-ARMY |
  • Donate cash at Kroger's (Red Cross) | Randall's (Red Cross) | Wal-Mart / Sam's Club (Red Cross and/or Salvation Army) |
  • Houston Food Bank Katrina Disaster Relief Drive (Give groceries)
  • Rebuild the Coast Fund (John & Renee Grisham)[Mississippi Gulf Coast]
  • Hurricane Victims Need Your Help Today (NetworkForGood.org)[Donate online to many relief charities]
  • Donate money (only) to Navy Marine Corps Relief Society (To aid active duty, reservist, & retiree personnel of all armed forces branches)
  • Disasterhelp.gov | United Way Hurricane Katrina Resource Guide |
    Scams / Fraud
  • Tips on Disaster Relief Appeals (Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance)
  • Information on Charitable Giving (Use IRS list to check out that charity!)
  • This is a scam: Email purportedly from the Salvation Army soliciting donations to be mailed to a Palm Bay, Florida address [Houston Chronicle 9/10/2005 p7B]
  • Hurricane Katrina Scams (ScamBusters.org)
    Give your time:
  • Hurricane Katrina Relief Projects
  • Operation Compassion (Interfaith effort to feed those at George R. Brown Convention Ctr.)
  • Neighbors2Neighbors (City of Houston program implemented by Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston) | [Background information here] |
  • Star of Hope | Salvation Army |
  • Care for Elders
  • Habitat for Humanity needs volunteers to help build homes in areas impacted by Katrina. Call 1-800-422-4828

    Information for Evacuees:


    Find Loved Ones after Katrina
  • Family News Network (International Committee, Red Cross)[In English and French] | Or call 1-877-568-3317 |
  • Full Coverage, especially people-locating Web sites (Yahoo!)
  • National Next of Kin Registry | SATERN (Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network) |
  • National Center for Missing & Exploited Children | Missing due to Hurricane Katrina (Kids/Parents/Adults) |
  • Katrina Survivor Locator (hosted by Yahoo!) | Operation Get-In-Touch (For Katrina victims) |
  • Separate message boards for both searching for someone and for announcing "I'm OK" (WWL TV Ch. 4)
    Information about LA, MS, & AL
  • Hurricane Katrina (State of Louisiana Official Site)
  • City of New Orleans (Official Site) | Hurricane Assistance Links (State Library of Louisiana) |
  • New Orleans TV Station WWL (Ch.4) | Hurricane Center (Everything New Orleans) |
  • New Orleans TV Station WDSU (Ch.6)
  • Biloxi / Gulfport / Pascagoula TV Station WLOX (Ch. 13) | Everything Alabama (Mobile, Birmingham, Huntsville, etc.) |
  • Louisiana Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness
    Satellite Photo Sites
  • Terraserver.com | Katrina (Terraserver) |
  • Hurricane Katrina NOAA | Disaster Images (GlobeXplorer) |
  • Katrina (Google Earth)
  • Hurricane Katrina Media Gallery (DigitalGlobe.com)
  • Earth Scan Lab (LSU)
  • New Orleans by Satellite (interactive)[Note: broadband recommended] (Associated Press)
  • Maps, Satellite Photos, Aerial Images (UT Perry-Castaneda Library)
    Information about Houston for hurricane evacuees
  • Emergency Prescriptions filled by CVS, Walgreens, Wal-Mart, & Sam's Club pharmacies (Filled without doctor's approval for 30 days. Bring bottle if you have it. Mayor Bill White's office.)
  • Emergency Prescriptions also filled by Kroger pharmacies (according to Houston Chronicle, 9/6/2005)
    Shelter / Housing Information
  • Joint Hurricane Housing Task Force (Housing for evacuees)
  • Angel Alliance (Resources & Assistance)
  • Red Cross Shelters | 1-866-GET INFO or in Houston 713-313-5480 for shelter locations |
  • Hurricane Katrina Resource Page (US HUD) | Call 1-888-297-8685 to find evacuee housing |
  • The Open House Project (For Those Willing to Open Their Homes to Those in Need from Hurricane Katrina)
  • Share Your Home.org
  • Make a Home Project (Call KPRC at 713-393-8732 weekdays 3:30 PM-6:30 PM to talk to Houston Young Lawyers volunteers to find private housing for evacuees)
  • Housing Resource Center (Harris County)
  • Dial 211 in Houston or dial 713-957-HELP for shelter information (United Way)
  • Star of Hope: Offering Hope and Help to Victims of Katrina
  • Low-income seniors in need of affordable housing can call 1-800-401-3340
  • Evacuee Housing (Apartments, etc.) in Houston area (Houston Apt. Assn.)
  • Help for Hurricane Victims (Texas Apartment Assn.)
  • Hurricane Katrina Housing (Move.On.org)[Private individuals offering spare bedrooms, etc.]
  • Housing Opportunities for Katrina Survivors
    Job-Hunting
  • Katrina / Rita Hurricane Recovery Job Connection (US Dept. of Labor)
  • Katrina Job Relief | Hirexposure.com |
  • Hurricane Katrina Evacuees (WorkSource)
  • Houston Workers Center, 2506 Sutherland, Houston, TX 77023 now open to give hurricane victims instant access to computers, benefit from their union's health plans and find basic relief | Operated by Harris County AFL-CIO | Call 1-877-AFLCIO9 to get assistance from the union movement and to reach out to hurricane victim's union |
    Small Business
  • Emergency Office Space in downtown Houston for victims of Hurricane Katrina
  • Commercial Gateway (Houston Assn. of Realtors)[Help find office space in Houston for victims of Hurricane Katrina]
  • Greater Houston Partnership helps Katrina evacuees re-establish small businesses (plus job offers)
  • Katrina & Rita Assistance (Small Business Development Center, NHMCCD)[Call 832-813-6674 for assistance]
  • Get Back in Business Fast! (Partnership of Southeast Texas)
  • Disaster Recovery Mission (SBA)
  • Economic Effects of Hurricane Katrina (US Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis)
    Unemployment Assistance
  • Texas Workforce Commission | To apply for disaster unemployment assistance: 1-800-818-7811, 8 AM-7 PM weekdays | To offer a job to Katrina victims: 1-800-695-6879, 8 AM-6 PM weekdays |
  • Lousiana: Unemployment Claims (Louisiana WORKS)
  • | 281-893-1100 (Houston area) | 1-800-939-6631 (outside greater Houston area) |
  • Mississippi Dept. of Employment Security (Unemployment claims for MS residents)
    Schools
  • Gulf Coast Hurricanes Rebuilding & Recovery (Education & Workforce Committee, US House of Representatives [Congress])
  • Hurricane Help for Schools (US Dept. of Education)
  • Information for Hurricane Katrina Displaced Louisiana Students, Faculty, and Staff
  • Louisiana Dept. of Education
  • Katrina Update (Chronicle of Higher Education)[Announcements from affected colleges, and from associations & govt. agencies}
  • CampusRelief.org(Campus to Campus Assistance in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina)[Colleges & universities]
    Free Legal Help
  • Katrina Legal Aid Resource Center
  • State Bar of Texas will assist people with basic legal questions at 1-800-504-7030
  • Houston Young Lawyers Association
  • American Bar Assn.
    Medical Care for Evacuees
  • Hurricane Katrina-related Information (Texas Medical Center)[including community-based clinics providing health care to evacuees]
  • Hurricane Katrina evacuees are to use 713-633-CALL to find nearest greater Houston-area community health care clinic.
    Counseling for Evacuees
  • Counseling regardless of ability to pay available for Katrina evacuees via the Krist Samaritan Center for Counseling & Education. | 18 locations in Harris, Galveston, Brazoria, Montgomery, and Fort Bend Counties. The Center provides child, adult and family counseling on a [normally] sliding fee scale. Many insurance plans are also accepted. | Call 281-480-7554 for hours and locations. |
  • Hurricane Katrina (Houston Chronicle)[Special Report]
  • Hurricane Katrina (Librarian's Index to the Internet)
  • Hurricane Karina (CNN Special Report)
  • Hurricane Insurance Information Center (Insurance Industry Organization)[Includes tollfree numbers for insurance companies]
  • Katrina (TX Dept. of Insurance)
  • Food Drive / How to Help / Services for Evacuees (KPRC-Ch. 2 NBC)
  • Food & Entertainment Discounts for Evacuees (KTRK-Ch. 13 ABC)
  • Houston YMCAs | 713-659-5566 |
    YMCA of Greater Houston is opening up its more than 30 YMCAs to the hurricane victims, offering free, temporary membership privileges. Though there will not be housing available, YMCAs will be open during their regular business hours, for individuals and families to use showers or to participate in any of the activities offered at individual facilities.
    Language or Cultural Barriers
  • HARK (Houston Asian Relief from Katrina Fund) (Call Jerome Vielman, Executive Director of APAHA at 713-784-1112)
  • OCA Greater Houston Chapter (Advocacy for Asian/Pacific Islander American Community)
  • Managing Anxiety in Times of Crisis
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    Last Modified: 9/12/2007