Links and other Helpful Information
Donate to TVMF Disaster Relief Fund
Latest Updates
National Hurricane Center
Office of Gov. Rick Perry
Texas Workforce Commission Offers Unemployment Aid to Hurricane Victims
Microsoft Offers Temporarily Free Software to Ike Victims
IRS Postpones Deadlines for Texans Affected by Ike
Free Amended Tax Returns for Ike Victims by Liberty Tax
Important Assessment and Claims Information
GO HERE FIRST: Texas Dept. of Insurance - Hurricane Ike Resource Page
Loans for Damaged Small Businesses and Farms
State Farm Hurricane Insurance Claims
Allstate Hurricane Insurance Claims
FEMA Individual Assistance
Resources
Texas Extension Disaster Education Network
Central Texas Red Cross
Texas Animal Health Commission
Texas State Animal Resource Team
Texas Dept. of State Health Services
Texas Evacuation Maps
Pets America
Lodging and Shelter
If you are seeking shelter for pets and livestock, click here for information provided by TAHC and TXSART.
If you are looking for lodging or know of someone who needs to evacuate during Hurricane Ike, here is a website that you need to use:
http://www.tacvbemergency.net/
For assistance with shelter locations, etc. in the Austin area, call the Hurricane Hotline at: 512/974-1110. This is a City of Austin service, so it will probably only help members of the public who are interested in coming to Austin for shelter purposes.
Assistance/Volunteer Information
For veterinarians interested in volunteer opportunities, please contact Dr. Susan Culp at batbunny@aol.com. Again, this is for veterinarians who want to lend assistance – NOT for veterinarians who need assistance.
For veterinarians who are in need of assistance, please contact The Texas Animal Health Commission. Technically, veterinarians need to call their local emergency assistance office, but TAHC will be able to provide them with that contact information. The TAHC number is 512/424-2208, extension 3265.
Tara Energy Customer Information
If you are a Tara Energy customer and experience a power outage, call the utilities directly at the numbers below. Though we do not work directly to repair damaged power lines, we are taking extra pre-cautions to be able to keep everything up and running in order to answer our customers’ questions. A crew from our Houston office is being relocated to our Austin office to ensure we are able to provide information to our customers. For more information, click here.
Phone Numbers for Tara Power Outages
-Houston & Galveston Area - Centerpoint (Previously served by Reliant HL&P) 713/207-7777, 1/800-332-7143
-Beaumont Area - Entergy : 1/800-968-8243
-Galveston Area - Texas New Mexico Power (Previously served by First Choice): 1/888-866-7456
-Corpus Christi/Victoria Area - AEP Central (Previously served by CPL – South Texas customers): 1/866-237-7722
Checklist
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has issued the following checklist of health-related items people should take with them in the event of evacuation ahead of Hurricane Ike. Items include:
· Birth certificates
· Immunization records for children and adults
· Driver license, passports or other photo ID and Social Security cards
· Health insurance cards and policies
· Prescription medications and containers
· Any unfilled written prescriptions
· List of medications taken by family members
· Three- to five-day supply of water (one gallon of water per person per day)
· Three- to five-day supply of canned and other non-perishable foods
· Special foods for diabetics and others with special dietary needs
· Baby food, formula, diapers and other supplies for infants
· Food, medicine and supplies for pets
· Hand-operated can opener
· Water-purifier, such as unscented chlorine bleach or iodine tablets
· Soap, toothpaste, tissue and other personal hygiene supplies
· Alcohol-based hand sanitizer
· Disposable cleaning cloths or wipes
· First aid kit
· Extra eyeglasses, contacts and solutions
· Sleeping bags or blankets, sheets, pillows
· Road maps, cell phone and charger and cash.
DSHS officials also encourage people to notify a designated family member about evacuation plans and to follow all evacuation orders. More information is available online at www.dshs.state.tx.us and www.TexasPrepares.org.
