Hurricane Katrina ResourcesThe Solano Community Foundation has opened a fund (The Gulf Coast Hurricane Relief Fund) to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina. Anyone who would like to donate can be assured that 100% of the funds will reach those affected in an efficient and effective way. All donations are tax deductible. Checks can be sent to: The Solano Community Foundation 744 Empire Street, Suite 210 Fairfield, CA 94533 Please include The Gulf Coast Hurricane Relief Fund on the memo line of the check. For more information, you can contact Stephanie Wolf at 707-399-3846, fax: 707-399-3849, website: www.solanocf.org. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Solano County Healthcare for the Homeless Patrick Stasio (pstasio@solanocounty.com) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FEDERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION ON HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF These sites are primarily about federal policies and programs targeted at relief. FEMA: http://www.fema.gov/ FNS: http://www.fns.usda.gov/disasters/disaster.htm CMS (Medicare and Medicaid): http://www.cms.hhs.gov/katrina/ DOL: http://www.dol.gov IRS: http://www.irs.gov SSA: http://www.ssa.gov/emergency/ HUD: http://www.hud.gov/katrina/index.cfm HHS: http://www.hhs.gov/katrina/index.html The Shriver Center: http://www.povertylaw.org/disaster_assistance.htm The American Public Human Services Administration: http://www.aphsa.org/katrina/ The National Immigration Law Center: http://www.nilc.org/disaster_assistance/index.htm FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES The National Disability Rights Network (formerly the National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems): http://www.napas.org/katrinalinks.htm The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund: http://www.dredf.org/katrina.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FEMA resources: Victims are strongly encouraged to register with FEMA via telephone as quickly as possible to ensure their qualification for various forms of disaster relief. Registration with FEMA will serve as the starting point for referral to other agencies offering relief services. Failure to register prior to receiving other forms of relief may disqualify evacuees for immediate federal relief and relocation funding totaling thousands of dollars. FEMA Telephone Registration: You can apply for Federal Disaster Assistance by telephone by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or for the hearing/speech impaired at TTY: 1-800-462-7585. The current hours and days of operation are 24 hours per day 7 days per week. Online Registration to apply for disaster assistance: http://www.fema.gov/register.shtm FEMA Applicant’s Guide to Individual and Household Assistance Programs: http://www.fema.gov/pdf/about/process/help_after_disaster_english.pdf Social Security and SSI: Information for how affected people can get their benefits: http://www.ssa.gov/emergency/ Food Assistance: In addition to state administered Disaster Food Stamp Programs in the affected areas, FNS has issued guidance on how receiving states should provide assistance to evacuees through its Food Stamp and Child Nutrition Programs. See attached CBPP memo for details. FNS Katrina page: http://www.fns.usda.gov/disasters/disaster.htm The Food Research and Action Center posts up-to-date information at: www.frac.org, FRAC’s Advocate’s Guide to Disaster Food Stamp Programs is at: http://www.frac.org/pdf/dfsp05.pdf Other Food Services: http://www.secondharvest.org/ Disaster Unemployment Benefits: Alabama - Claims may filed by (toll free) at 1-866-767-8103 Louisiana – individuals may report in person to the nearest Job Center, file over the internet at http://www.laworks.net. Or call 1-800-818-7811. Mississippi – UI and DUA claims are taken in person in Mississippi at job centers. An 800 number will be available at a later time. Information on filing for benefits and office locations may also be obtained by calling 1-877-US-2JOBS (1-877-872-5627) and office locations are available at www.servicelocator.org. US Department of Labor page on Katrina Disaster Unemployment Assistance: http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/hurricane.asp Information on Disaster Unemployment Benefits from the National Employment Law Project: http://www.nelp.org/ui/federal/initiatives/duakatrina.cfm Employment: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it will not sanction employers for hiring victims of Hurricane Katrina who are otherwise eligible for employment but are unable to provide the necessary documentation. Employers still need to complete the Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9) to the extent possible, but should note at this time that the documentation normally required is not available due to the events involving Hurricane Katrina. This policy will be in place for 45 days. At the end of 45 days, DHS will review the policy and make further recommendations. Press release form DHS: http://hq.demaction.org/dia/organizations/NILC/images/FINAL%20I-9%20Press%20Release1.pdf National Emergency Grants (NEGs): Impacted states can apply for NEG funds to temporarily employ dislocated workers. These funds can be used to employ workers on projects that provide food, clothing, shelter and other humanitarian assistance for disaster victims. Application information: http://www.doleta.gov/neg/apply_neg.cfm US Postal Service: Displaced People are encouraged to file a change of address online at www.usps.com, at the nearest Post Office, or by calling 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777). The Astrodome has been assigned a Zip Code of 77230 and is working to set up special ZIP codes for other sites being used to house evacuees. Postal employees at those locations are assisting people with the Change of Address process. Some State Responses Texas Arkansas Allowing hurricane evacuees to take begin Basic Adult Education courses, GED classes and tests, or English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for free Waiving out-of-state tuition and fees for students from the impacted areas of Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi who wish to enroll in an Arkansas college: http://www.kare.arkansas.gov/
Virginia Indiana North Carolina Georgia Story: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/09-06-2005/0004101000&EDATE Tennessee Tennessee Gov. Bredesen signed an executive order Tuesday temporarily modifying the Families First program to allow the one-time cash assistance to qualifying Hurricane Katrina evacuee households with children under 18 and without access to assets at home. The one-time grant will be $750 for one- and two-person households, $1,250 for three- and four-person households and $1,500 for households of five or more. The grant will be delivered on the same kind of electronic benefit cards Families First and Food Stamp recipients receive and which are accepted at retailers across the state.
Other Resources Crisis counseling hotline (referrals to local crisis counseling hotlines around the country): 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). HHS news release on hotline: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2005pres/20050907.html Resources for finding missing people: http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics/PublicSafety/Hurricane_Katrina_Recovery.shtml#vgn-find-family-and-friends-government-sources-vgn The American Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRS Tax Relief: The IRS is working to provide appropriate relief and assistance to the victims of Hurricane Katrina and information to their fellow citizens who want to help. Here's the latest information available: IR-2005-92, Treasury and IRS Expand Availability of Housing for Hurricane Victims. IRS and Treasury will waive rules that prohibit owners of low-income housing from providing housing to victims of Hurricane Katrina who do not qualify as low-income. The action will expand the availability of housing for disaster victims and their families, http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=108362,00.html IR-2005-91 - IRS Expands Relief Area for Katrina Victims. IRS has expanded tax relief to victims of Hurricane Katrina in the areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida eligible for public assistance, http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=108362,00.html IR-05-090 and Notice 2005-60 - IRS Grants Relief on Minimum Funding Contributions to Employee Benefit Plans Affected by Hurricane Katrina. IRS, Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation have announced relief for certain employee benefit plans and additional disaster relief with respect to the minimum funding standards of section 412 of the Code, http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=108362,00.html IR-2005-89 - IRS Waives Diesel Fuel Penalty: In response to shortages of clear diesel fuel caused by Hurricane Katrina, the IRS will not impose a tax penalty when dyed diesel fuel is sold for use or used on the highway, http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=147221,00.html IR-2005-88 - IRS Creates Disaster Relief Toll-Free Number: IRS announced yesterday the establishment of a special toll-free telephone number for use by taxpayers affected by Hurricane Katrina. People affected by Katrina who need help with tax matters can call 1-866-562-5227, http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=147180,00.html IR-2005-86 - IRS Urges Citizens to Seek Qualified Charities for Katrina Help: Guidance for citizens seeking to make donations to help Hurricane Katrina victims should seek out qualified charities, http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=147133,00.html We will continue to keep you advised of tax-related relief, guidance and deadline extensions as more information becomes available. For additional information, please visit IRS.gov. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- More Hurricane Katrina Resources | Hurricane Katrina News |