Post-Hurricane Hours and Information
This page has information regarding library operations after Hurricane Ike.
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Post Ike Recovery Guide
Includes phone numbers and printed tips for those without electricity who have quick access to the Internet and a printer. However, some Web sites contain too much information to include here. Please access those sites from the library or ask a friend who has Internet access.
Rice University Post Ike Resources
Rice University Post Hurricane Services
Lists a wide array of services including ice give-aways, child care, counseling, available showers, and check cashing.
Community Involvement Center Volunteer Opportunities
Ike at Rice Photos
Contribute Your Ike Story
Disaster Assistance
American Red Cross Greater HoustonSee which shelters are open. Call 1-800-Red Cross (1-800-733-2767) to verify space is available.
Greater Houston Area Red Cross phone: 713-526-8300; after hours 713-526-0636.
Safe and Well List
Provides a place to register so that family and friends know you are well.
FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
Includes a step-by-step guide about how to apply for disaster assistance and a link to register online.
To apply by phone for assistance call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for people with speech or hearing disabilities.
See also the FEMA Disaster Help page.
Participating FEMA hotels
FEMA will pay for hotels and motels for residents who cannot return to their homes. The agency will pay the bills directly to participating hotels or motels from Sept. 14 until Oct. 14. The program will not reimburse for any hotel or motel expense before Sept. 14.
Disaster Assistance Housing Program -- Housing assistance for those left homeless by Hurricane Ike. Moves people from hotel/motels to apartments. Apply through FEMA (see above). Provides first 6 months rent free. On the seventh month those receiving assistance pay $50 with an increase of $50 per month until the 18 month limit.
Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services
Salvation Army - Houston
Salvation Army Command Center: 713-752-0677
Salvation Army Social Services: 713-552-0186
Salvation Army after hours: 713-224-2875.
United Way Houston - After the Storm Resource Guide
Points of Distribution (PODS) - Galveston County. As of Monday, Sept. 22, FEMA PODS in Harris County are closed.
Repairing Your Flooded Home (PDF, 776KB)
Pets
Hotels/motels listed as taking pets -- Also call Marriott (1-888-236-2427 ), Choice Hotels(Quality Inn, Comfort Inn, etc.) (1-877-424-6423), and Best Western (1-800-780-7234).Houston SPCA's Hurricane Ike Disaster and Animal Rescue Hotline - 713-435-2990
Animal Rescue Central (Houston SPCA) City of Houston
Houston METRO - 713-635-4000
Check the site to see when METRORail service will begin. Presently buses are running rail routes.
Park & Ride is running on regular schedule using freeway main lanes.
MetroLift resumes normal operations Thursday, Sept. 18. MetroLift phone - 713-225-0119
Damage Report Form
This online form is NOT intended to replace disaster assistance from FEMA or other relief agencies.
Solid Waste Management
Storm Debris Removal
Beginning Tuesday, September 16th, SWMD will open its neighborhood depositories 7 days a week to accommodate small amounts of storm debris from Houston residents. One pickup truck load or less will be accepted. Hours of operations will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Storm Debris Drop-Off Locations:
NORTHEAST AREA -- 5565 Kirkpatrick, 713-675-3208 (Key Map 455N)
NORTHWEST AREA -- 6023 Windfern, 713-895- 1003 (Key Map 410W)
SOUTHEAST AREA -- 2240 Central St., 713-837-0311 (Key Map 535C)
SOUTH AREA -- 5100 Sunbeam, 713-738-1936 (Key Map 474A)
Debris Set-Out Methods:
*Place hurricane-related debris along the public right-of-way.
*Make reasonable attempts to not obstruct sidewalks or traffic as they may pose a threat to public health and safety.
*Cut trees and branches in approximately 8-12 foot lengths and stack in large piles along the right-of-way.
*Do not obstruct mailboxes, utility access points such as electric and water meters or fire hydrants as these could be damaged by heavy equipment during loading.
*Do not mix household garbage, treated wood (such as fences), tires, or roof shingles with the vegetative debris.
*Do not mix hazardous material, such as paint cans, aerosol sprays, batteries, or appliances with vegetative debris.
Garbage Collection Resumed Monday, Sept. 14, 2008
Recycling dropoff sites closed - Curbside Recycling crews are assisting Yard Trimmings crews with vegetative storm debris collection and, therefore, will not be collecting the recyclable materials from the green bins.
County Information
Harris CountyHarris County Homeland Security & Emergency Management Newsroom
Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services
Report low/no water pressure - 713-884-3131.
NOAA Extreme Weather 2008 Information Sheet
Includes links to Texas state agencies, emergency management and sheriff department numbers for counties with weather-related problems. Also lists selected national agencies.
Helpful phone numbers and links
Galveston County
Re-entry Information
Texas Agencies
Governor's Office
Includes response by the various Texas agencies.
Controller's Office
Includes sales tax and emergency management contracts information.
Price Gouging
File a report with Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott.
Texas Department of Insurance Hurricane Ike Resources
Texas Department of State Health Services
Information about health concerns (mosquitoes, mold, foodborne illnesses, etc.) after a hurricane and flood.
Disaster Recovery - Governor's Division of Emergency Management
Disaster recovery manual and worksheets.
Texas Department of Transportation
Cleanup and recovery efforts.
CenterPoint Energy
Report power lines down on your street - 713-207-2222
Report gas leaks - 713-659-2111
Projected Service Restoration Timeline by Zipcodes
Reliant Energy Beat the Heat Centers - Provide hot meals, water, ice, snacks, and phone charging in the following Multi-Service Centers: Third Ward (713-527-4005), Sunnyside (713-732-5030 ), and West End (713-803-1050). As energy is restored call to be sure centers are still operating. Customer care representatives are available at 1-866-222-7100, and tips and schedules for those without power are available at 1-888-272-8200.
Poststorm Tips: Electric
Post-storm tips quoted from CenterPoint: • Limit calls to CenterPoint Energy during the first few days to only true emergencies. We have technology in place that indicates locations of widespread power outages.
• The company’s first priority in restoring service is to keyfacilities vital to safety, health and welfare, such as hospitals,water treatment plants and public service facilities. Then we repair those major lines and circuits that will restore power to the greatest number of customers in the shortest amount of time.
• Stay away from low-hanging or downed power lines.Treat all downed power lines as if they are energized. Report anylow-hanging or downed power lines by calling 713-207-2222.
• Stay away from standing water – energized power lines could be submerged in the water.
• If you have evacuated and want to know if your home has power please do not call CenterPoint Energy in the first few days following the storm as we are busy handling emergencies. Instead, you can: call your answering machine to see if it picks up, call neighbors, monitor the news, check CenterPointEnergy.com for general outage information.
• If water has risen above the electrical outlets, contact a licensed electrician before turning on the main circuit breaker.
• Any submerged appliances or equipment will need to dry for at least one week and be checked by a qualified repair person prior to being turned on.
• Check the weatherhead, which connects the overhead power line to your home or business. Any weatherhead problems will need to be repaired by an electrician prior to service being restored.
• Do not connect generators directly to wiring in a house or building without having a licensed electrician disconnect the the wiring from CenterPoint Energy’s service. It can create a safety hazard for CenterPoint Energy’s linemen.
Never run generators indoors or in a garage. Gasoline-powered generators can produce carbon monoxide, and the odorless fumes can be deadly.
Poststorm Tips: Natural Gas:
• As you return to your home or business, please be alert for leaking gas. If you smell gas, leave the area immediately, and tell others to leave, too. Do not turn the lights on or off, smoke, strike a match, use a cell phone or operate anything that might cause a spark, including a flashlight or a generator. Also, please do not attempt to turn natural gas valves on or off. Once safely away from the area, call CenterPoint Energy and we will send a trained service technician immediately.
• Customers are asked to know where their natural gas meter is located. As you are putting out debris for heavy trash pick-up, please make sure it is placed away from the meter. In some areas the meter may be located near the curb. Trash collectors are using mechanized equipment to pick up heavy debris, and if the debris is near a gas meter, the equipment could pull up the meter damaging it causing a potentially hazardous situation. If this does happen, please leave the area immediately and call CenterPoint Energy.
• If your home was flooded, call a licensed plumber or a gas appliance technician to inspect your appliances prior to requesting a service reconnection. (Don’t forget about outdoor appliances such as pool heaters and gas grills.) • Call 811 to locate utility lines prior to digging on your property while conducting clean-up.
Listed by the Houston Chronicle. Please contact someone with Internet services to check on a specific school.
Family Activities
Ready Kids
Activities from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Houston Museum District Map and Events
Houston Children's Museum 713-522-1138
Houston Zoo 713-533-6500
Houston Museum of Natural Science 713-639-4629 or en espanol 713-639-4603
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston 713-639-7300
The Health Museum 713-521-1515; (discount admission through Sunday, 9/21/08)
Harris County Library Branches
Check which branches are open and the hours of operation.
Houston Public Library
Check which branches are open and the hours of operation.
Houston Chronicle Blog divided into the following categories: Restaurants; Hardware and Home Stores; Supermarkets; Movie Theaters; Pharmarcies; and Banks.
Houston Area YMCAs Sept. 17 Press Release.
Indicates which branches are open and have showers available for public use. See also theYMCA of Greater Houston. 713-659-5566
Find Gas by Zipcode
Houston Chronicle interactive site to locate open area gas stations.
Greater Houston Builders Association Consumer Advice
Consumer Protection - Attorney General of Texas
Roof Repair
Locations as of Monday, Sept. 22, 2008:
*Bayshore Baptist Church 11315 Spencer Highway La Porte, TX
*Big Lots Parking Lot 5400 Red Bluff Road La Porte, TX
*Webster Community Center 311 Pennsylvania Drive Webster, TX
*Walmart 150 West El Dorado Boulevard Friendswood, TX
*Lowes 1000 Gulfgate Center Mall Houston, TX
*Wallisville Project Office 20020 IH 10 East Feeder Road Wallisville, TX
*1st Baptist Church 405 S. Magnolia Street Anahuac, TX
After a Disaster - Comprehensive list of publications to remediate the effects of a disaster. Includes seven publications about roof repairs.
Houston-Area Better Business Bureau Roofing Contractor Reports - Search "roofing." Also see their Hurricane Ike Recovery Kit for information about clean-up, moving and storage, pest control businesses, automobiles, and damaged appliances and equipment.
Pest Control
Mosquito Control (EPA)Fight the Bite Mosquito bite prevention tips from the CDC.
West Nile Virus in Texas - Information from the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Aerial/Satellite Photography
Legal
Houston Bar Association Legal Advice for Victims of Hurricane Ike
Free legal advice related to the hurricane from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Mon. - Fri. through Oct. 1, 2008.
Volunteer/Relief Activities
Volunteer/Relief Fund OpportunitiesBush-Clinton Coastal Recovery Fund -- Established by former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Money will go to local governments and organizations such as churches, hospitals, and schools along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast.
Gulf Coast Ike Relief Fund -- C/O Greater Houston Community Foundation, 4550 Post Oak Place, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77027. Established by Mayor Bill White. Money will go to small organizations in the Houston-Galveston area that provide shelter and temporary housing, food, household supplies, transportation, and child care.
Texas Disaster Relief Fund - 1-866-292-5357 -- Office of the Governor,
Texas Disaster Relief Fund, P.O. Box 12878, Austin, TX 78711-2878. Established by Governor Rick Perry. Money will go to local governments and organizations.
Texas Library Disaster Relief Fund and Status of Libraries in Southeast Texas as of 9/22/08 and as of 9/25/08 (Library Journal).
United Way Hurricane Recovery Fund 713-685-2800 -- United Way of Greater Houston, 50 Waugh Drive, Houston, TX 77007. Money will go to organizations in Harris, Fort Bend, and Waller counties that offer such services as case management, long-term mental health counseling, and minor home repairs among others.
