Commentary

HURRICANE HARVEY RESOURCES FOR HOUSTON AND SURROUNDING AREA RESIDENTS

As a woman that loves to find and report information in my regular profession, I felt a huge need to provide a plethora of resource tools and links to help Hurricane Harvey residents. Please utilize the information below and leave questions or comments if you appreciate this service. Thank you.

Stay updated on the latest authentic job positions available from FEMA here.

There are a lot of questions floating around about who qualifies for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. Click here for important details.

Homeowners can apply for assistance under the Mortgage Insurance for Disaster Victims Section 203(h). The U.S. Housing and Urban Development states, “Through Section 203(h), the Federal Government helps victims in Presidentially designated disaster areas recover by making it easier for them to get mortgages and become homeowners or re-establish themselves as homeowners.” Click here for more details.

 

The IRS states, “This broad-based relief means that a retirement plan can allow a victim of Hurricane Harvey to take a hardship distribution or borrow up to the specified statutory limits from the victim’s retirement plan. It also means that a person who lives outside the disaster area can take out a retirement plan loan or hardship distribution and use it to assist a son, daughter, parent, grandparent or other dependent who lived or worked in the disaster area.” Visit Hardship Distributions for thorough details.

 

 

If you need volunteers to assist you in removing debris from your home or gutting it out to prepare for restoration, visit Texas Muck Map to request help. Volunteers are also encouraged to sign-up as well.

 

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a valuable website to gain knowledge on the rules and procedures for drinking water safety.

 

 

 

Visit TexasWIC.org for details as well.

 

 

 

 

Don’t allow anyone to haul your damaged property away until you have completed ✅ your documentation. If you still have the receipts for big or small item purchases add this to your file as well. Following this key step is very important. The FEMA Inspectors and insurance claims adjusters will need this information.

 

 

 

 

Hurricane Harvey Tip: News you need to know in regards to cleaning up and disposal of debris. Harris County residents can call the debris hotline at 713-274-3880.

 

 

 

The IRS understands the challenges that Texans will face ahead. Therefore those that have been affected by the storm have until January 31, 2018 to file certain individual and business tax returns and make certain tax payments. Learn more about the IRS details here.

 

 

This is great opportunity to take advantage of free legal services. Visit TexasBar.com/Disasters.

 

 

 

Houston is slowly returning to normalcy. Commercial flights will resume Sunday/Monday in Houston.

 

 

Metro Houston resumes on a limited basis August 31st. Click here for more details about the routes.

 

Buses and boats are available for dialysis patients to receive care. Call 1-866-407-3773.

 

Stay updated on the current road conditions by visiting DriveTexas.org.

 

Please be mindful of sharing the correct information in regards to helping those in need. GlitterandGumbo.com is committed to providing updated, vetted, and thorough resources of information for our Houston and surrounding area residents.

 

 

 

 

School openings have been announced and any changes to the schedule above will be updated on the specific school district’s website or click here for more updates.

 

 

 

If you have 2 feet of water in your home, please do not contact the U.S. Coast Guard. Only contact the Commander Center when you are in imminent danger of drowning and can no longer stay inside of your home. Do not go into the attic, climb onto the roof, mark the roof or use a towel to get their attention. Update: You may also call 281-464-(4852) (4853) (4854) (4855).

 

 

 

A massive sink hole was discovered in the Rosenberg, Texas area. Please heed the request of the City officials and stay off the road.

 

 

 

Verizon Wireless has graciously stepped up and they are offering their support for customers affected by Hurricane Harvey. Free data is available for post paid customers until September 8, 2017.

 

 

 

There’s nothing worse than not being able to find your loved ones. FEMA has a system in place that can help families affected by Hurricane Harvey reunite with their families. Please call 1-800-588-9822 or visit the website FEMA.gov or disaster assistance.org to register your name within the database. Therefore if a family member is lost, hopefully you’ll be able to locate their whereabouts.

 

 

 

Disaster Assistance

 

If you are a flood victim or suffered damage to your home, please begin registering now to receive aid or assistance such as rental payments for temporary housing, unemployment payments, loans to cover residential losses not covered by insurance, and grants for home repairs and replacement of personal property, as well as other disaster-related needs.

 

Individuals who have speech disabilities or hearing loss and use TTY should call (800) 462-7585 directly; those who use 711 or Video Relay Service should call (800) 621-3362. Both toll-free numbers will be operational from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time seven days a week until further notice, according to FEMA.

 

 

 

 

The infographic above describes the steps you need to follow to file a flood insurance claim. If you paid for flood insurance from your home insurer at least 30 days before Hurricane Harvey arrived, this notice applies to your home.

 

 

Visit http://www.findmytowedcar.com for details on the retrieval of your car.

 

 

 

Do you have questions about determining if your food is safe? Click here for information from the health department.