Media

Status Report-Hurricane Relief Effort-Emergency Operations Command Center

Release Date: October 7, 2005
Final Update

 

Memphis & Shelby County Emergency Management Agency Claude Talford, Director Office: (901) 324-8799 E-mail: eoc.esf02@memphistn.gov

Important Reminder To Displaced Citizens

• To apply for financial assistance, displaced citizens need to either call (800) 621-FEMA (3362) or register on line from any computer at www.FEMA.gov.

• FEMA has stated that States are now authorized to charge all sheltering costs incurred under Hurricane Katrina and Rita to the current Emergencies declared for sheltering Katrina evacuees. Should you have any questions, please call James Walke at (202) 646-2751 or Chuck Stuart at (202) 646-3691.

 

Rumor Control - No New Rumors to address at this time.

What’s New Today?

HUD’s Katrina Disaster Housing Assistance Program

Eligibility:

1. Section 8 voucher holders, public housing residents or HUD assisted
2. Individuals and families who were homeless in one of the federally-declared disaster areas within Louisana, Mississippi or Alabama prior to Hurricane Katrina and HUD assisted.

Steps for Assistance:

1. Register with FEMA by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
2. Receive ID number from FEMA.
3. Decide where you want to live.
4. Talk with your local Public Housing Authority (PHA)about relocation, or call HUD at 1-866-373-9509.
5. FEMA provides transportation to location choice.
6. PHA will provide your housing needs for up to 18 months.
7. FEMA will transport families back home when requested.

 

THIS IS THE LAST EMA BRIEFING FOR THIS DISASTER

• This will be the last EMA briefing for this Disaster

• Individuals who wish to continue receiving updates on local hurricane relief services may wish to subscribe to the LINChub email distribution list. LINChub is a service of Memphis Public Library’s 2-1-1 LINC service and the Information and Referral Alliance. Throughout the year, LINChub provides updates and information about a wide variety of social services, and has worked closely with EMA and direct service providers to help disseminate reliable, updated information about disaster services. To subscribe, simply send an email with your contact information (name, organization, phone and email address) to linchub@memphislibrary.org. If you are only interested in receiving emails related to local hurricane relief, you may feel free to send a notice to the same address to unsubscribe when we stop sending out regular disaster service emails.

• To get information about hurricane relief services by telephone, please call us on the Hurricane Hotline at (901) 543-5600. For more information about 2-1-1 LINC or non-disaster community services in the greater Memphis area, please call us at 2-1-1 or (901) 415-2700. Our hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays.

• You may also wish to check the Memphis Public Library link for Katrina/Rita Evacuee Resources (http://www.memphislibrary.org/about/katrina.htm), which is also updated frequently.

The Red Cross Shelter at Dunn Avenue Elementary School is closed

• The Red Cross Shelter at Dunn Avenue Elementary is closed. For more information, please contact The Red Cross at (901) 726-1690.

• Evacuees from affected areas CAN come to the local Disaster Assistance Center (DAC) at 315 South Hollywood. The operating hours for the DAC are Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

There are 244 evacuees currently staying at church shelters in Shelby County.

• Evacuees continue to receive spiritual support, meals, and recreational activities from churches throughout Shelby County.

The First Annual Safe Neighborhoods Family Fest

• There will be a number of daycare centers, community organizations, and churches on hand to lend assistance to hurricane evacuees.

• The event will be October 15, 2005 from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. For more information, please call (901) 643-1271.

The BlackAmericaWeb.com Relief Fund is providing support to families who are assisting those displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

• For more information, please visit: http://www.blackamericaweb.com/relief/

The UT Boling Center offers information for Hurricane victims.

• The faculty and staff of the UT Boling Center are available to offer information about supports and services to those persons who have a disability, or who have a family member with a disability.

• Please contact Family Support Coordinator, Laurel Ryan, at (901) 448-3737.  The Boling Center website, www.utmem.edu/bcdd , provides an overview of the Center as well as specific programmatic information.  There are also useful links to other local, state, and national resources on the website.  Brochures about the Center are available upon request.  The main number for the Boling Center is ( 901) 448-6511 , and TDD is ( 901) 448-4677.

Hurricane Katrina Evacuees Can Ride Free on MATA Buses

• Hurricane Katrina evacuees who show proper identification from an area affected by Hurricane Katrina can ride MATA buses free of charge.

• MATA bus schedules are available at www.matatransit.com or call (901) 274-6282.

Medical Resources For Displaced Citizens

Pharmacy and Clinic at The Church Health Center

• The Church Health Center has a supply of donated medicines (except narcotics) and is making them available to people displaced by Hurricane Katrina who are unable to get their prescriptions filled at local pharmacies. These medicines will be provided at no cost as a temporary measure to serve uninsured people displaced by the storm. No narcotics are kept on the premises of the Church Health Center.

• The pharmacy at the Church Health Center at 1196 Peabody Ave. is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. All prescriptions will be filled free of charge with donated medicine, subject to availability. If a person does not have a prescription, he or she must first be seen by a physician to receive a prescription.

• People displaced by Hurricane Katrina may be seen at the Church Health Center Walk-in Clinic, 1196 Peabody Ave. The Clinic opens weekdays at 7:30 a.m. For more information, call (901) 272-0003. Displaced citizens may also be treated at the following community clinics:

Christ Community Medical Clinics:

• Broad Avenue Health Center, 2861 Broad Avenue (901) 458-0584
• Frayser Health Center, 3124 N. Thomas Street (901) 260-8400
• Third Street Health Center, 3362 S. Third Street (901) 398-2442

Health Loop Clinics:

• 4095 American Way (901) 515-5000
• 602 W. Mitchell Road (901) 515-5100
• 1000 Haynes (901) 515-5200
• 2574 Frayser Boulevard (901) 515-5300
• 1064 Breedlove Street (901) 515-5400
• 2500 Peres (901) 515-5500
• 409 Ayers Street (901) 515-5600
• 1362 Mississippi Boulevard (901) 515-5700
• 1955 S. Third Street (901) 515-5800
• 451 Linden Avenue (901) 515-5900

To donate medicine to the Church Health Center or to volunteer, call (901) 272-7170. For more information about the Church Health Center, call (901) 272-0003 or visit www.churchhealthcenter.org.

Memphis/Shelby County Health Department Medical Surveillance at Shelters

The Health Department’s Epidemiology Program will conduct enhanced surveillance for infectious diseases at local shelters, hospitals and other medical facilities, as evacuees may have been exposed to contaminated water and materials during the evacuation process. Medical issues of concern include:

• Gastrointestinal
• Respiratory (pertussis, influenza-like illness, etc.)
• Neurologic (meningitis/encephalitis)
• Skin and soft tissue infections
• Pneumonia
• Viral Hepatitis

Medical Care Locations

• First Baptist Church in Millington-5010 West Union Street-Dr. Clay Jones is offering free care seven days a week to victims. The clinic is open from 9:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m.

• “Quick Care” Medical Clinic-880 Madison-Hours of operation: 5:00 p.m. through 10:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. on the weekends.

• Memphis/Shelby County Health Department clinics are open throughout Shelby County.

Assistance for VA Employees

• About 1,500 VA employees (included in a total of about 4,000 federal employees) are missing from areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.

• Employees should call 1-888-766-2474 as soon as possible to provide their name, position title, location and contact number. VA employees may also contact the department at www.va.gov/opa/katrina/contact_Info.cfm

• Anyone looking for missing relatives or colleagues should look at www.familylinks.icrc.org/katrina

Legal Questions Hotline for Katrina Victims

• Evacuees from areas affected by Hurricane Katrina will be offered Civil Legal Assistance by the Memphis Area Legal Services. Contact Linda Seely for information at (901) 255-3453.

Mental Health Services

1. Case Management Incorporated (901) 821-5600
2. Comprehensive Counseling Network (901) 353-5440
3. Midtown Mental Health Center (901) 577-0200
4. Southeast Mental Health Center (901) 369-1400
5. Southwest Mental Health Center (901) 774-7811

The Samaritan Counseling Center

• The center offers church-based pastoral counseling services with offices downtown (Calvary Episcopal), midtown (Idlewild Presbyterian), east Memphis (First Baptist), and Germantown (St. George's Episcopal).

• It offers out-patient counseling. There is no staff psychiatrist at the center. Counselors are willing to help those with the emotional or relationship difficulties associated with Katrina, or other problems. Call (901) 729-3900 for assistance.

Bank Accounts of Displaced Citizens

Vital information for displaced citizens about how to access money from their bank accounts can be found at this website: www.fdic.gov.

Salvation Army Services/Clothes & Furniture Donations

• The local Salvation Army WILL NOT provide hurricane-related disaster services this week.

• Hurricane relief services WILL be available NEXT WEEK as follows:
  Monday – Wednesday, October 11th – 13th
  9 – 11:30 AM, 1 – 3:30 PM 696 Jackson Avenue

• Services available: clothing, some toiletries/personal items, and furniture vouchers – good for use at Salvation Army thrifty store. Applicants must provide picture ID showing they are from hurricane-affected area.

• Clothes and furniture may be donated at the Salvation Army Service Center at 130 N. Danny Thomas near downtown Memphis. Call (901) 525-6676.

• The Salvation Army is providing clothes vouchers to be redeemed at Salvation Army Thrift Stores in the Memphis area.

• “Plus” sizes of women’s clothing are included in the available clothing. However, Salvation Army has NO MORE Wal-Mart cards. 

For more information about donations, access this website: www.swern.gov

Families of Incarcerated Individuals, Inc. can help locate evacuated prisoners

• Families of Incarcerated Individuals, Inc. is helping families find relocated prisoners in the aftermath of the hurricanes. Please contact Andrea Payne at (901) 726-6191 for more information. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

A Disaster Assistance Center (DAC) is now operational to assist ALL Evacuees.

• The DAC is located at 315 South Hollywood. Any individuals that have already registered with FEMA via telephone or internet will be required to provide their FEMA # upon arrival to the DAC.

• Employers with jobs to offer can call (901)543-7535 and say they “wish to place a job order.” Bobbie McGee, District Manager with the Tennessee Department of Labor is the contact person.

• Those evacuees from Rita-affected areas (Cameron, Calcasieu, Beauregard, Vermilion and Jefferson Davis parishes in Louisiana and Chambers, Galveston, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Newton, Orange and Tyler counties in Texas) are urged to apply for individual FEMA assistance online or through the toll-free number.  Please visit www.FEMA.gov for more details on the disaster declarations for those states.

Memphis Food Bank Has Assisted In The Relief Effort

• The Food Bank continues to accept nonperishable food donations at 239 South Dudley, as well as financial contributions at the same address or www.memphisfoodbank.org. The food donations will help replenish the inventory distributed to disaster victims.

• As a matter of information, The Food Bank has already distributed more than 200,000 pounds of disaster nrelief food to area agencies and churches.

• Groups wishing to help sort food on Friday, October 14, 2005 should call (901) 527-0841.

Better Business Bureau Provides Assistance To Displaced Citizens

• Hurricane evacuees resettling in the Mid-South need to established relationships with credible auto repair shops, child care centers, dry cleaners and other businesses.

• Residents may call (901) 759-1300, (800) 222-8754 or access the BBB at www.midsouth.bbb.org or E mail at info@bbbmidsouth.org.

Assistance For Senior Adults and Adults With Disabilities

• The Aging Commission of the Mid-South has benefits available for displaced senior citizens and disabled adults. Call (901) 324-3399 to apply for financial assistance.

• Tennessee Division of Vocational Services is also a resource at (901) 528-5292.

• Tennessee Disability Pathfinder connects the Tennessee disability community with service providers. It is a web-based collection of resources at http://www.familypathfinder.org may help citizens with disabilities by linking them to important information about: Emergency Management Agencies, Education, Employment, Equipment, Financial Assistance, Healthcare Insurance, Long-Term Care, Shelter, Social Security Disability Transportation and other concerns.

• Send any additions, corrections, or suggestions to melissa.fortson@vanderbilt.edu or call Ms. Fortson at: (615) 936-5121 (Direct), (615) 322-8529 (Pathfinder), (800) 640-4636 (Pathfinder toll-free, English & Español)

• Pathfinder has phone, web, and print resources in English and Spanish to connect the Tennessee disability community with service providers. Referral services, free of cost, are provided to persons with disabilities, family members, service providers, and advocates.

Junior League Has Items Available for Displaced Citizens

• Free clothing and personal items are available to evacuees at the Junior League’s “Repeat Boutique” at 3586 Summer Avenue.

• Hours of Operation-Tuesday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (901) 327-4777.

The Volunteer Hotline is closed

• The Volunteer Hotline at (901)324-8799 is CLOSED. All calls related to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts should be directed to Volunteer Memphis at (901) 523-2425 during their regular office hours, 8:30 am – 4:30 PM. Please visit their website, www.volunteermemphis.org, for more information.

 

Department of Human Services assistance for Hurricane Katrina evacuees

1. The Department of Human Services is offering assistance for evacuees. APPLY FOR THESE SERVICES AT THE DHS OFFICE AT 1909 SOUTH THIRD STREET ONLY. Hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please call (901)942-1358 for more information. Applicants must meet basic income and resource limits. Some benefits that may be available are:

• Food stamp benefits for adults and families
• Expedited screening process for applicants
• Emergency benefit card with $100 in food stamp benefits
• Permanent benefit card available in 3-4 business days
• Eligible for up to 4 months of food stamp benefits
• Benefits vary according to household size.
• Families First EASE - cash assistance for families with children
• Applicants must be seeking refuge in Tennessee AND be caring for child under age 18
• One time cash payments - $750 - $1500 (depending on household size)
• Payments intended to help families move out of shelters to permanent residence, gain employment or return home
• Participants restricted from applying for Tennessee's TANF program for 3 months
• APPLY FOR THESE SERVICES AT THE DHS OFFICE AT 1909 SOUTH THIRD STREET ONLY

 

2. The Department of Human Services is offering assistance for evacuees. APPLY FOR THESE SERVICES AT THE DHS OFFICE AT 3230 JACKSON AND 1909 SOUTH THIRD STREET ONLY. Hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please call (901)942-1358 for more information. Applicants must meet basic income and resource limits. Some benefits that may be available are:

• Child Care Assistance
• Up to 9 weeks of child care assistance for qualifying evacuee families
• Applications must be made in person at DHS Child Care Assistance office or through face-to-face interview
• Children must be enrolled in qualified/licensed facility
• No infants less than 6 weeks old may be enrolled
• Unregulated care will not be permitted
• Qualifying families may receive both Families First EASE payments and Hurricane Evacuee Child Care assistance.
• Enrollment is open to one and two-parent families
• Evacuees who have access to on-site child care at a shelter will not be eligible for this program
• APPLY FOR THESE SERVICES AT THE DHS OFFICE AT 3230 JACKSON AND 1909 SOUTH THIRD STREET ONLY

 

Care of Animals - Important Notice About Animals Brought From the Hurricane Zone

• Dogs and Cats must have anti-Rabies inoculations. This is a fatal disease transmittable to humans. Dogs should also have Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospira and Bordetella vaccinations. Cats should also be inoculated against various feline viruses and diseases. A Coggins test is mandatory for all Horses coming to the area . Horses must be isolated until proof of a Coggins test is verified. Recommeded vaccines include Tetanus, Influenze, Eastern and Western Equine encephalitis combination and West Nile Vaccine.

• For information and assistance contact City of Memphis Animal Services at (901) 362-5310 or the Memphis/Shelby County Humane Society at (901) 276-7770. Shelter, pet food, and supplies are available to hurricane victims with animals.

Important Information from Housing and Urban Development

• Previous HUD Assisted Families

  *Section 8 Voucher Holders
  *Public Housing residents
  *Others who received HUD Assistance
  

Call 1-800-955-2232 to find out how you can participate in the HUD Katrina Disaster Assistance Program. Or call FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA(3362).

Housing Discrimination Notice:

If you believe you have experienced discrimination during your search for housing, please call the Housing Discrimination Hotline at 1-800-669-9777 or 1-800-927-9275 (TTY)

• HUD’s Katrina Disaster Housing Assistance Program Eligibility:
1. Section 8 voucher holders, public housing residents or HUD assisted
2. Individuals and families who were homeless at the time of hurricane.
• Steps for Assistance:
1. Register with FEMA by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
2. Receive ID number from FEMA.
3. Decide where you want to live during transitional housing.
4. Talk with your local Public Housing Authority (PHA) about relocation, or call HUD at 1-800-955-2232.
5. FEMA provides transportation to location choice.
6. PHA will coordinate your housing needs for up to 18 months.
7. FEMA will transport families back home when requested.

The UT Boling Center offers information for Hurricane victims.

• The faculty and staff of the UT Boling Center are available to offer information about supports and services to those persons who have a disability, or who have a family member with a disability.

• Please contact Family Support Coordinator, Laurel Ryan, at (901) 448-3737 .  The Boling Center website, www.utmem.edu/bcdd , provides an overview of the Center as well as specific programmatic information.  There are also useful links to other local, state, and national resources on the website.  Brochures about the Center are available upon request.  The main number for the Boling Center is ( 901) 448-6511 , and TDD is ( 901) 448-4677.

There are Resources available for evacuees seeking employment.

• The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Center for Corporate Citizenship (CCC) has joined with IBM to launch www.Jobs4Recovery.com, a "one-stop shop" for connecting job-seekers from areas impacted by hurricanes Katrina and Rita with employment opportunities.  Employers wishing to post a job can do so through JobCentral.com, a free job posting service available through Jobs4Recovery.com.  Local chambers of commerce or workforce centers can send other job resources to jobs4recovery@uschamber.com with the subject line "Job Resources."

• Other sites include www.jobsearch.org/hurricanejobs  and http://hurricanerelief.monster.com.

• From JobLINC: New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in the Marietta, GA area (ph. 770-969-9600, call for more info) and a Houston area construction company called LVI Services were looking for 1,000 workers at $10/hr for 80-90 hours/week for hurricane clean up projects that can last up to 2 years. Their # is 713-991-0480.

• Check out the websites of two major corporations involved in the clean-up efforts:  Halliburton www.halliburton.com and the Shaw Group www.shawgrp.com.

• Also, check out The Commercial Appeal and The Memphis Flyer classifieds.

• Staff from the TN Department of Labor and Workforce Development is available to work with hurricane evacuees at the state Disaster Assistance Center, 315 South Hollywood, 10 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Saturday. Coordinator: Bobbie McGee 543-2022, 233-7159 cell.

• Katrina Job Coalition is providing a series of job readiness workshops at the Central Library 9 AM to 3:30 PM on October 10 and 17, with a job fair for evacuees on October 17. Contact Christ United Methodist Church at 761-0576 for more information.

The EOC is in Operations Level 1

The EOC has shifted into Operations Level 1 until further notice. Operations Level 1 is defined in the 2004 Memphis/Shelby County Emergency Management Plan as normal daily routine. No special activity or procedures are required.

 

16 areas of concern being monitored in the hurricane relief effort in the Memphis and Shelby County area:

Transportation	Communications
Infrastructure	Fire Fighting
Information Planning	Human Services
Resource Support	Health & Medical
Urban Search/Rescue	Hazardous Materials
Food	Energy
Law Enforcement	Volunteers/Donated Goods
Recovery	Care of Animals

 

THIS IS THE LAST EMA BRIEFING FOR THIS DISASTER

• This will be the last EMA briefing for this Disaster

• Individuals who wish to continue receiving updates on local hurricane relief services may wish to subscribe to the LINChub email distribution list. LINChub is a service of Memphis Public Library’s 2-1-1 LINC service and the Information and Referral Alliance. Throughout the year, LINChub provides updates and information about a wide variety of social services, and has worked closely with EMA and direct service providers to help disseminate reliable, updated information about disaster services. To subscribe, simply send an email with your contact information (name, organization, phone and email address) to linchub@memphislibrary.org. If you are only interested in receiving emails related to local hurricane relief, you may feel free to send a notice to the same address to unsubscribe when we stop sending out regular disaster service emails.

• To get information about hurricane relief services by telephone, please call us on the Hurricane Hotline at (901) 543-5600. For more information about 2-1-1 LINC or non-disaster community services in the greater Memphis area, please call us at 2-1-1 or (901) 415-2700. Our hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays.

• You may also wish to check the Memphis Public Library link for Katrina/Rita Evacuee Resources http://www.memphislibrary.org/about/katrina.htm, which is also updated frequently.

 

Important Numbers for resources in Shelby County

• Emergency Operations Center: (901) 324-6462 -EMA Director Talford is available to discuss the relief effort.

• Displaced Citizens’ Assistance Center: (901) 543-5600 ,9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday thru Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday

• General Donation Inquiries: (901) 543-5600 , 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday

• To Donate Clothing and Furniture: (901) 525-6676.

• To Volunteer: (901)523-2425 .

• Germantown Area Assistance Resources: (901) 751-5654.

• Department of Human Services: (901)942-1358

• Southern College of Optometry’s Eye Center: (901) 722-3250

 

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