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Links to Emergency Services

Page last updated: 02/01/07  

P&A Agencies | Government Resources | Other Resources | Resources for those involved in disaster relief | Ways to Help

This page will be updated as new information becomes available. Please email webmaster@ndrn.org if you are aware of additional links. Thank you!

FEMA disaster relief assistance
Victims should be encouraged to include information regarding disabilities or chronic health care needs on their FEMA applications in order to receive the full range of federal disaster relief assistance.
FEMA registration numbers:
1/800-621-FEMA
1/800-462-9029
1/800-462-7585 TDD/TYY
http://www.fema.gov/about/process/

More direct disaster relief information:
www.ndrn.org/katrinarelief.htm

State Protection & Advocacy (P&A) agencies

Katrina Aid Today factsheet (PDF)

Get help in the state you're in:

Louisiana P&A (The Advocacy Center)
Information, Referral, and Possible Legal Assistance for Persons with Disabilities
http://www.advocacyla.org/ 1-800-960-7705

Texas P&A (Advocacy Inc.) Information and Referral for hurricane survivors
http://www.ndrn.org/aboutus/states/tx_katrina.pdf

Governmental links

Emergency Response Resource Map

http://www.pbs.org/now/society/emergencymap.html

 

US Department of Labor Hurricane Recovery Assistance for Income Supports and Jobs

http://www.dol.gov/index.htm

 

Unemployment and Employment Programs Available to Workers from Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi Affected by Hurricane Katrina

http://opencrs.cdt.org/rpts/RL33084_20050915.pdf

 

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Katrina Response

Medical Consultation Services: call 1-866-887-2842

http://www.nih.gov/about/director/hurricanekatrina/index.htm

 

Centers for Disease Control

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/

 

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Emergency News
http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/offices/links.asp?ID=145

Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness

http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/

 

US Government Official Web Portal

http://www.firstgov.gov/

 

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

http://www.fema.gov/press/2005/resources_katrina.shtm

FEMA issues Disaster-Specific Guidance for FEMA personnel in conversion of evacuee assistance from emergency shelter to housing assistance and determinations of eligibility for housing assistance under Section 408 of the Stafford Act. (3/26/2006)
http://www.femaanswers.org/images/f/f1/DSG_-_Conversion_of_Assistance_403-408_-_Signed.pdf

 

FEMA's Answers to Questions submitted about its Individuals and Households Program (10/18/05)

http://nlihc.org/news/101705.html

ADA access requirements for FEMA funding

http://www.fema.gov/rrr/pa/9525_5.shtm

 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminitration

http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cmhs/katrina/

Information on Medicaid for Katrina victims
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/katrina/

Social Security for Emergency Checks - updated 10/14

http://www.ssa.gov/emergency/

 

Health and Human Services

http://www.os.dhhs.gov/katrina/index.html

US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) response:

http://www.hud.gov/news/katrina05response.cfm

Toll-free number: 1-888-297-8685

  • HUD’s Reoccupancy Policies for Pre-Disaster HUD Assisted and Special Needs Families Displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (posted 2/1/07) –

    Notice PIH 2007-3 describes reoccupancy policies for households that, prior to hurricanes Katrina and Rita, lived in public housing, had a tenant-based or project-based voucher, or lived in special needs housing  but does not apply to those who lived in housing assisted by one of HUD's Office of Housing programs, such as those with a Section 8 contract.

    Displaced households who were receiving any HUD housing assistance prior to the hurricanes are entitled to receive temporary "disaster" vouchers, which are funded through September 2007.  Disaster vouchers are administered by local housing authorities.

    Notice states that:

    •  Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) should keep households informed of the status of their pre-hurricane units.

    •  PHAs should help Disaster Voucher Program (DVP) families negotiate an early release from their DVP lease if they want to return to their pre-hurricane unit.

    •  Households that lived at project-based units must be given written notice at least 60 days before their pre-hurricane unit will be ready, and households must have at least 30 days from the date their unit is ready to return.

    •  Sample generic letters are offered, informing displaced families that their unit is available and requesting the family certify its intent to reoccupy that unit.

    •  Families that did not receive DVP must still have the opportunity to reoccupy their former project-based unit or resume tenant-based voucher assistance in their original jurisdiction.

    Link to Notice:  http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/publications/notices/07/pih2007-3.pdf
     
  • The HUD Disaster Voucher Assistance Program was designed to largely track the requirements of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. (24 CFR 982).  However, under the statute that provided funding to HUD for Katrina and Rita relief, HUD was permitted to waive certain HCV statutory requirements regarding monthly assistance payment, definition of eligible family, annual review of family income.  An additional number of regulatory requirements were also waived by HUD including the minimum rent requirement.  (4-2006)
    A complete description is in the 4-3-2006 Federal Register: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/06-3170.htm
  • HUD 2-14-2006 Press Release on Disaster Voucher Program (2-2006)
    http://www.hud.gov/news/release.cfm?content=pr06-017.cfm
  • HUD PIH 2006-12 Disaster Voucher Program Operating Guidance (2-2006)
    http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/publications/notices/06/pih2006-12.pdf
  • HUD 11-14-2005 FHEO Letter. Allows Housing for Older Persons Act (HOPA) to admit under age 55 Katrina evacuees. HOPA exempts from the "family status discrimination" provision of the Fair Housing Amendments Act, Housing for older persons if housing is intended for older persons (80% of all occupied units, occupied by household with a least one person 55 or older).(01-06-06)
    http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/library/HOPA-HurricaneQnAs.pdf
  • HUD Provides more insight into KD HAP Program (10/20/2005)
    http://www.nlihc.org/mtm/mtm10-41.html#9

Departmnet of Homeland Security: Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities

http://www.dhs.gov/disabilitypreparednessicc 

 

Federal Reserve direction to financial services community:

http://www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/press/bcreg/2005/20050901/default.htm

 

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/katrina/

Other resources

Brochure Compiled by the American Council for the Blind: Emergency Preparedness for your Service Animal or Pet (PDF)

 

disaster relief information for people with disabilitiesKatrina Disability Info

http://www.katrinadisability.info

 

Katrina Legal Aid Resource Center

http://www.katrinalegalaid.org/

 

National Organization on Disability - Report on Special Needs Assessment for Katrina Evacuees (SNAKE) Project

http://www.nod.org/Resources/PDFs/katrina_snake_report.pdf

 

ECRI Katrina Medical Technology Information Clearinghouse

http://katrina.ecri.org/default.aspx

 

Louisiana Assistive Technology Access Network (LATAN)

Hurricane Katrina Equipment Distribution Program and Equipment left behind at Louis Armstrong International Airport (New Orleans)

http://www.latan.org

 

American Public Human Services Association (contains governmental disaster policies and assistance in one central place)

http://www.aphsa.org/katrina/

 

Katrina Mortgage and Insurance Hotlines

http://www.acornhousing.org/TEXT/katrinalenders.pdf

 

National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty - Housing After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

http://www.nlchp.org/Katrina/Housing.cfm

 

National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/topics/katrina.html

 

Coalition on Human Needs

http://www.chn.org/issues/katrina/index.html

 

Relief Assistance for People with Disabilities

http://www.ilru.org/html/whatsnew/announcements/katrina.html

 

Louisiana Disability Information Resource

 http://www.katrina-la.net/

 

The ArcLink - Katrina Special Needs Relief

http://www.thearclink.org/news/article.asp?ID=710

 

National Center on Emergency Planning for People with Disabilities
http://www.disabilitypreparedness.org/katrina.htm

 

Katrina Disaster Relief Information for People with Disabilities
http://www.katrinadisability.info 

 

NAMI Responds to the Tragedy of Hurricane Katrina
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Hurricane_Katrina&
Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=26242&lstid=566

 

"Emergency Evacuation Preparedness: Taking Responsibility For Your
Safety- A Guide For People with Disabilities and Other Activity Limitations" http://www.cdihp.org/products.html

Disaster Resources for People with Disabilities and Emergency Managers http://www.jik.com/disaster.html

Emergency Preparedness Initiative (EPI) - National Organization on Disability http://www.nod.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageID=11

Disaster Food Stamp Guide
http://www.frac.org/pdf/dfspguide06.pdf

Disaster Unemployment Assistance:
How Families Can Access the Program After Hurricane Katrina"
http://www.nelp.org/ui/federal/initiatives/duakatrina.cfm

National Association of School Psychologists
http://www.nasponline.org/NEAT/katrina.html

National Center for Homeless Education
http://www.serve.org/nche/katrina/katrina.php

Hurricane Katrina Disaster Assistance Information for People with Disabilities, Including Special Education Needs
http://uniquelygifted.org/katrina.htm

National Center for Learning Disabilities - Katrina and Services for Students with Learning Disabilities
http://www.ld.org/Katrina/

"The Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation says if you have been displaced and need mental health, mental retardation or substance addiction services, call (800) 367-0955."
http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/050911/information.shtml

National Health Law Program (NHeLP)
http://www.healthlaw.org/library.cfm?fa=detail&id=82840&rootfolder=23177&appview=folder

FEMA's 10/18/2005 Answers to Questions submitted about its Individuals and Households Program
http://nlihc.org/news/101705.html

Resources for Those Involved in Disaster Relief

Register to volunteer through FEMA

https://www.swern.gov/emergency/asset_index.php

 

Disaster Assitance Legal Resources

http://www.povertylaw.org/disaster_assistance.htm

 

American Bar Association (ABA) Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief

http://abanet.org/katrina/

 

National Legal Aid and Defender Association (NLADA) Disaster Relief Resources

http://www.nlada.org/News/Disaster_Relief 

 

LawHelp disaster referral and information
http://www.lawhelp.org/Nationalhelp.cfm  

 

Helping Handbook

http://www.mofo.com/about/socalfirehelp/

 

Providing Shelter for People with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity http://immuneweb.org/dg/katrina/mcsshelter.html

 

Providing Shelter for People with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia http://immuneweb.org/dg/katrina/cfsshelter.html  

Ways to help

Louisiana P&A (The Advocacy Center) Information and Special Funds for Rebuilding
http://www.advocacyla.org/ 1-800-960-7705

 

Donate adaptive equipment to Katrina victims with disabilities
http://www.tkmartin.msstate.edu/

 

Emergency housing

http://www.hurricanehousing.org/

 

Easter Seals Gulf Coast Fund
https://secure2.convio.net/es/site/Donation?
ACTION=SHOW_DONATION_OPTIONS&CAMPAIGN_ID=3704&
autologin=true&JServSessionIdr011=a5w7qjan12.app28a

 

United Cerebral Palsy Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief Fund

https://www.ucp.org/ucp_generalsub.cfm/1/5/26
 
 
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