HOW TO HELP/ INFORMATION
Temporary School Enrolment
For assistance in identifying the closest school to your location, call 713-892-6699 weekdays from 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Students living in temporary living arrangements due to loss of housing will most likely qualify as "homeless" students and may enroll in the school district where they are physically present without proof of residence. Parents temporarily housed within HISD's borders can go to the school nearest their temporary residence to enroll their school-age children.
Donations and fund-raisers
Astrodome- ARAMARK is in need of volunteers to hel[ at the Astrodome with serving food and beverages to the Hurrican Katrina evacuees. Please reply to brant-jesse@aramark.com or blackford-fred@aramark.com
The Houston Food Bank needs volunteers and paper goods, cleaning supplies, bottled water, peanut butter, heat-and-eat foods, single-serving foods and snacks that don't require refrigeration, and cash. Information: 713-223-3700 or houstonfoodbank.org/katrina.htm.
KSBJ-FM and the Greater Houston YMCA are collecting prepaid grocery, gasoline and phone cards. Donations will be accepted today at Sharpstown Mall, Thursday at Memorial City Mall and Friday at Almeda Mall, noon-7 p.m. each day. Houston-area YMCAs will accept cards through September.
The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston will conduct a special collection at weekend Masses. Funds will go to Catholic Charities USA.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston is accepting tax-deductible donations at www.houstonjewish.org or Jewish Federation of Greater Houston Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief Fund, 5603 S. Braeswood, Houston, TX 77096.
The Islamic Circle of North America is taking donations at www.icna.org and by mail at ICNA, P.O. Box 572181, Houston, TX 77257.
The West Houston Church of Christ, 17100 West, is collecting phone, gas and grocery cards through September for distribution to Red Cross shelters. Call 281-856-0001 or visit www.westhoustonchurch.org.
The Katy Chamber of Commerce, 2501 S. Mason, Suite 230, Katy, is taking donations of goods and services. Visit www.katychamber.com or call 281-828-1100 for more information.
The United Way Katrina Refugee Relief Fund will raise money for evacuees staying in Houston. Donations are to be made at any Amegy Bank of Texas or mailed to United Way Katrina Refugee Relief Fund, Account No. 3601021, Attn. Teller, P.O. Box 27459 Houston, TX 77227.
To volunteer your time or donate bedding or other items, call the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast at 713-957-4357 or 800-833-5948 or call 211
The East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry Food Pantry, 425 Stafford Run in Stafford, is collecting nonperishable foods 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Call 281-261-1006.
The Greater Southwest Houston Chamber of Commerce, Intown Chamber of Commerce, and Galleria Chamber are excepting donations for the hurricane victims. All three Chambers are accepting men and woman’s clothing, baby supplies, pet supplies, canned food, bottled water and blankets.
Greater Southwest Houston Chamber of Commerce
6900 South Rice Avenue
Bellaire, TX 77401
The Galleria Chamber of Commerce
5075 Westheimer Ste. 660
Houston, TX
713-629-5555
The Intown Chamber of Commerce
3015 Richmond Ave Ste 200
Houston, TX
713-524-8000
Media and more
The Buzz, KTBZ-FM (94.5), is auctioning off autographed guitars and rock memorabilia at www.thebuzz.com.
Telemundo affiliate KTMD (Channel 47) and La Mera Mera KROI-FM (92.1) are collecting checks, payable to the Red Cross, as well as bedding, water, toiletries, new undergarments for children and adults, diapers, baby formula and first-aid kits at Telemundo offices, 1235 North Loop West.
Randalls shoppers may add donations to the Spirit of Texas Hurricane Relief Fund and the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to their grocery bill through Sept. 11. Co-sponsored by KHOU (Channel 11) and radio stations KTRH-AM (740), KHMX-FM (96.5) and KKRW-FM (93.7).
Food drive sponsored by KPRC (Channel 2) and H.E.B. Make donations 6 a.m.-6 p.m. at Channel 2, 8181 Southwest Freeway, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at several H.E.B. locations.
Religious organizations
The Chabad Lubavitch Center, an Orthodox Jewish organization at 10900 Fondren, is seeking volunteers to provide Jewish refugees with hospitality, kosher food, clothing and emergency cash; 713-777-2000 or relief@chabadtexas.org.
St. Luke's United Methodist Church is accepting donations. Send checks marked ``Disaster Response'' to the church at P.O. Box 22013, Houston 77227.
St. Vincent de Paul Society, 2403 Holcombe, needs volunteers. Call 713-741-8234. Also needed are nonperishable food, clothing, new underwear, new children's sleeping bags, pillows, slippers, pajamas, crayons, coloring books, personal hygiene items and pet food. Drop off donated items, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, at Washington Thrift Store, 2020 Washington; Bellaire Thrift Store, 5236 Cedar; and Ozanam Outlet, 610 Memory Lane.
Episcopal churches will take an offering Sunday to buy food gift cards for evacuees. Send contributions to Hurricane Relief, Episcopal Diocese of Texas, 3203 W. Alabama, Houston 77098.
The Union for Reform Judaism is collecting donations online at urj.org/give; mail checks payable to URJ Hurricane Relief at Congregation Emanu El, 1500 Sunset, Houston 77005.
The Houston-based Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church is accepting donations through local Methodist churches. Online donations may be made at www.methodistrelief.org.
Share your home
Operation: Share Your Home is an organization founded in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina hit. Its purpose is to match people willing to share their homes with evacuees who need temporary shelter.
Sports relief
Texans owner Bob McNair has issued a $1 million challenge. The Houston Texans will match pledges contributed during tonight's game between the Texans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Details will be announced on KTRK (Channel 13) during the game broadcast.
To find out about conditions in your home parish, you can find a listing of homeland security and emergency preparedness offices and telephone numbers at www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/Parish/parishoepnumbers.htm.
Disaster aid
To apply for federal disaster aid, call the Federal Emergency Management Agency at 800-621-3362; for hearing/speech impaired, TTY 800-462-7585. You can also apply online at www.FEMA.gov. Assist with all needs including: lodging, clothing, and monetary assistance.
Greater Houston Partnership- Helping business locate free office space in order to assist in keeping business running: ghp@houston.org 713-844-3600
MENTAL HEALTH:
The Mental Health Association of Greater Houston, 713-522-5161
MHMRA Neuro Psychiatric (Crisis) Center 713-970-7070
Crisis Hotline 713-228-1505
Shelters
RED CROSS SHELTERS: Hotline Number is 1-866-GET-INFO (1-866-438-4636)
Shelter locations as of 5:30 p.m. Wednesday
Mont Belvieu Senior Center: 11607 Eagle Drive, Mont Belvieu (full - 112) Baytown Community Center: 2407 Market Street, Baytown (full – 250) Memorial Baptist Church: 600 W. Sterling, Baytown (full – 135)
Lee College Gym: 200 Lee Drive, Baytown
Missouri Street Church of Christ: 3400 S Highway 146, Baytown
Hilliard Elementary School: 6511 N. Wayside Dr., Houston
St. Mary's Catholic Church: 701 Church Street, Huntsville (capacity 200)
1st Baptist Church: 1229 Ave. J, Huntsville
New Life Central: 2104 Underwood, LaPorte
Fairmont Park Baptist Church: 10401 Belfast, LaPort
1st United Methodist Church: 4308 W. Dallas, Conroe (capacity 200)
1st Baptist Church: 906 Ave A, Katy
1st Baptist Church: 906 Ave, A, Katy
Kingwood United Methodist Church: 1799 Woodland Hill, Kingwood
Also a Red Cross information hotline number regarding locations of shelters is available for Hurricane Katrina victims. Call Red Cross 1-(866) GET-INFO. Local information Hotline number (713) 313-5480.
Pasadena: The Salvation Army East Harris County has opened a shelter at 2732 Cherrybrook Ln. in Pasadena. The phone number is 713-378-0020. They can use food, bedding, baby products and any other product one might need in a shelter. They do not need clothes. To donate, call 1-800 SAL-ARMY.
The Star of Hope homeless shelter will keep its facilities open all night and day to feed and house Katrina victims. The locations: The Women & Family Emergency Shelter, 419 Dowling (713-222-2220); The Men's Development Center, 1811 Ruiz (713-227-8900).
The Salvation Army East Harris County has opened a shelter at 2732 Cherrybrook, in Pasadena. Phone: 713-378-0020.
FOOD:
For Meals, call United Way's Helpline at 800-833-5948
The United Way, Target Hunger and the Houston Food Bank (713-226-4953) are distributing food and basic need items for those with Louisiana ID's at:
North Channel Assistance Ministries - 13837 1/2 Bonham from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays and Mondays
St. Peter Claver, 6500 N. Wayside 8:00 – Noon Thursdays and Tuesdays
Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, 12955 Memorial – Free hot lunch from 11:00 a.m.to 1:00 p.m. from today through Friday (713-468-8356)
First Baptist Church, 7401 Katy Freeway – Free Supper from 5 PM-6 p.m. 9/1- 9/4/05
10:00 am – 1:30 Pm Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 6-8 PM Wednesdays, East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry Food Pantry, 425 Stafford Run, Stafford
Free Dinner 6:00 PM 9/1-9/3/05 Deer Park First Baptist Church, 438 East 8th.
Copperfield Chursh, 8350 Texas 6 North. For food and shelter availability, call # 281-856-2273
Kosher meals from the Chabad Lubavich Center, 10900 Fondren; 713-777-2000 or relief@chabadtexas.org
11 Am – 2 PM Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Lnagston Family Center, 2814 Quitman
BAPS Care International is ready to start providing Indian Vegetarian food to anyone who are effected by Katrina. Their facility is located at BAPS Care International, 1150 Brand Lane,Stafford, TX –77477. They can also call me at 832.515.5645 or 281.499.7974 x102 or send me an email at vikram.patel@shell.com
NEED A COMPUTER:
Public Libraries – To find your nearest Public Library branch, call 832-393-1313
ATTRACTION AND MUSEUM OFFERS – VISITOR CENTER
713/437-5200 - Ask for Visitor Information or http://www.visithoustontexas.com, then go to “Hurricane evacuees click here”
http://old.mises.org:88/NO2 If you've been following the Camp Crystal blog below, you should be!, this is a link to his live camera feed!
:: 9/2/2005 9:56:53 AM http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9164073/ You saw it on my blog first... now it's national news! I told you read it!!!! first hand account not some sensationalist news reporting!
:: 9/1/2005 10:46:56 AM http://amasci.com/weird/unusual/e-wall.html Cool! Force Field! Seriously... I don't know how practical but the science involved here could lead to something! I wonder if it's true?
:: 9/1/2005 11:27:42 AM http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/01/obliterated.town.ap/index.html You know the N.O. thing is a levee break deal and while it's Katrina related the wind and 'cane did not really hurt N.O. that bad it was the break after that did. East of there was different story and we seem to be forgetting that! Waveland Mississippi got wiped out! I mean gone! This guy said the wind blew his clothes off his body! Let's not forget about the others outside of N.O.
:: 9/1/2005 11:49:20 AM http://www.livejournal.com/users/interdictor/2005/08/28/ You know it had to be out there... this guy stayed in a high rise in N.O. and blogged through the storm... I'm deep linking to the begining of the storm... riveting!
PLEASE PAY ATTENTION! I have a little soap box to get up on... 1st when people hurt we hurt and we help.
WE = You and I as Americans...
Tsunami relief... we rocked and in a time of crisis well when you need it I hope WE are there to help you too. This being said... where is the UN and all the other nations we've helped over the years? ...
I got this email from my friend Jennifer today, I live in Baytown and this situation is dire. People do not have enough money to buy gas(Up 27 cents as this post) to get back see if their home is even still standing.
Please read this! YOU, ME, WE can make a difference!
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As you know, my Aunts own and run one of the largest full service catering companies in Houston, Mélange Catering (had to put the plug in before I start this very serious email). Last night they fed 250 refugees from the Hurricane at a shelter in Baytown. Today the shelter hit the maximum they can hold with 650 people. The Houston area will continue to see a growth in the displaced Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama residents, especially with 25,000 people coming to the Astrodome.
Mélange has started a relief fund to help the people in the Baytown Shelter, and other shelters that are calling them. They have been and will continue to help feed the Baytown refugees. They have gone beyond just ordering and making food, they have ordered paper products so the shelter can continue to house them.
The shelter needs items like diapers, laundry detergent, toilet paper, etc, basic life necessities. They have found a Washateria that has donated the use of their washer and dryers, but people have no detergent or money to buy detergent. Once phone lines are reestablished, these refugees will need to call their family member long distance. They will need calling cards. Even gift cards to places where they can get basic living items will be necessary.
We are asking for your help in any way possible. If you are interested in donating diapers, laundry detergent, phone cards, or other items please contact Laurie Dodson by phone or email (or you can contact me). Feel free to send this out to other you know. When you call Laurie you might reference this email. It is on the kindness and generosity of strangers that these refugees will recover. Thank you for your help.
Jennifer
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Jennifer A. Kerber
Director, Homeland Security
Enterprise Solutions Division
Information Technology Association of America
1401 Wilson, Ste 1100
Arlington, VA 22209
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This is probably the point where I lose the compassionate in compassionate conservative, but there is nothing that pi**e* me off more than watching all these idiots being rescued from their homes after Hurricane Katrina. (Yes, there are some people who get legitimately stuck..but I am not talking about them.) What part of MANDATORY Evacuation is confusing? Not only do they CHOOSE to take their own lives in their hands, they put the lives of first responders in jeopardy when they have to go rescue them. And who do you think is paying for that Helicopter or Coast Guard boat? That right folks, you and me.
I do recognize that my views could be slightly tainted as I have a family of first responders. But I think when I run for office I am going to campaign on a platform that promotes the prosecution of people who ignore the mandatory evacuation orders for the offense of being profoundly stupid. (I love the media excuse, these people have been asked to evacuate in the past and the storm missed them…yes..that is called a miracle or a blessing. but not a tragedy or an excuse). Those people convicted under the profoundly stupid offense will be billed for the cost of the equipment, man-hours, and operational expenses that went into effect to rescue them. And if I can figure out a way to determine the cost of pain and suffering for the worried family members of the first responders whose job it is to go rescue you, then I will add that cost in as well. And stating you could not evacuate because you are poor, elderly, or handicap is not a defense. That is why they have Shelters! You can get to a shelter. Someone will take you to a shelter. I will start the first pre-hurricane shuttle service..me and my Honda civic..one person at a time. I am sure emergency personnel would be happy to give you a ride to the shelter BEFORE the storm rather than give you an airlift off your roof. In fact, as part of my law, there will be funding to “shuttle” people who have transportation issues to shuttles. Also, the kicker on my “Preventing Stupidity During Mandatory Emergency Evacuation Situations” bill (Might have to change it to something more positive to actually get it through Congress “Securing Americans in eVacuation Emergencies” then we can call it the SAVE bill..we do that all the time up here) would be to allow Law Enforcement to Shoot Looters on Site…or maybe we just hang them in the town square. Either way, looting should be an offense punishable by death.
Hurricanes are scary and cause catastrophic damage. By choosing to “ride it out” when you have been asked to leave by trained emergency professionals is just unacceptable. And you and I pay the cost. Last year the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) spent $5.6 Billion to give aid to Florida, and that was barely a drop in the bucket for what they needed to recover. That money is from the federal budget, which is made up of your tax dollar. I would not be surprise if Congress passes and emergency supplemental to give FEMA additional funding to pay for Hurricane Katrina recovery effort. We absolutely need this funding, and more, for situations like this …but what I don’t want to pay for is someone else’s epiphany that staying at home 2 miles from the Gulf wasn’t a good idea.
Jennifer
(Yes, my tirade is over).
man·da·to·ry (mnd-tôr, -tr) adj.
Required or commanded by authority; obligatory: Attendance at the meeting is mandatory.
Evacuation n 1: the act of removing the contents of something 2: the act of evacuating; leaving a place in an orderly fashion; especially for protection
We took pillows and water to the Baytown Civic Center last nite and we asked what else they needed and they responded with any type of personal hygiene stuff. My mom had a a good idea.....the small bottles of shampoo/conditioner you get from your stays at hotels.....donate them. If you go to these shelters be prepared it is very sad and the ones we talked to were very greatful. My best friend's family is staying with her because they found out yesterday their house has 10-12 ft of water in it. Just keep them all in your prayers.
:: 8/31/2005 11:03:28 AM http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/o/nov04/nov04c.html WOW! Nov 2004... all of what is now coming true in New Orleans was predicted... the only difference is this was an overflow not a breakdown scenario! it's incredibly acurate to the events unfolding and a possible prediction of what's yet to come. sad...
:: 8/29/2005 11:19:38 AM http://www.lego.com/eng/factory/default.asp?bhcp=1 The LEGO factory... damn cool! DL this app, build your virtual LEGO creation, then order a custom kit with instructions and the pieces you need to make your custom creation! Is that cool or what! Look for those who are all up in the why LEGOs? Dade like them, they promote the kind of inventive thought I want my son to be having. It's much better than a mindless vidgame. It promotes creativity. It helps teach engineering skills. It helps him learn about some physics and soon robotics and programming. All in all mind candy for a 7 year brain that is like a sponge right now... this is the kind of info I want that sponge absorbing!
:: 8/29/2005 1:29:55 PM http://www.soufoaklin.com/tattooartist.html So you want a tatoo of some chinese symbol... you better know what it looks like before you get it! HA! this is funny but sucks for those who got them!
Comments now show on the page below the stories for each day so feel free to comment away.
It would be nice to know what you guys are thinking sometimes... but none of this you can't speel fer sht stuff... I often think faster than I can type so you get what you get. When I take the time to edit the blog it gets to sterile, so it's better this way!
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S
Hey ding dong, Fantasy Football draft is Sunday. I'm taking Peyton this year. The guy with the laptop will be missed. Maybe next year you might want to play again.
Yea... I'm already regretting it! Seriously look me up if y'all need more blood next year...
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S
You can play next year if you want. The jackass that replaced you showed up late and added about 30 minutes to our draft because he couldn't figure out how to highlite a player's name that had been picked already. What do expect from a lawyer anyway?
:: 9/2/2005 9:56:53 AM
:: 8/29/2005 9:53:18 AM