The following governmental agencies and organizations are helping with Hurricane Katrina relief on a statewide basis:

TEXAS GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES

·        Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) - The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) in coordination with state agencies is supporting a central emergency operation center to coordinate and deliver information to local communities delivering assistance. At this time, it is estimated that approximately 225,000 evacuees are in Texas.

·        Texans Education Agency (TEA) - The Texas Education Agency is operating a toll-free hotline over the holiday weekend to assist parents and educators meet the needs of students evacuated from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama due to Hurricane Katrina.  TEA Hurricane Katrina Hotline - 1-800-957-5109

·        Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) - DFPS is working find foster care and residential childcare that can accept displaced children.  DFPS is also working directly with the State of Louisiana and advises all Louisiana foster families to call 1-800-259-3428 to notify Louisiana Social Services of their location and situation.

·        Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) - TxDOT will be providing Medical Transportation services, including Medical appointments and Dialysis appointments. The person in need should call the 1-877-633-8747 number for services.  

·        Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) – HHSC is taking action to ensure that Louisiana refugees displaced by Hurricane Katrina have access to health and human services, including Medicare and food stamps, aging and disability services, and state health services.  HHSC will extend office hours as needed, including weekend and holiday hours.

·        Texas Information and Referral Network – Help in Texas - The 2-1-1 Texas Information and Referral Network, a statewide telecommunications network is providing 24/7 evacuation, shelters and general information during the disaster.  Due to the uncertainty of cell phone access from providers outside of Texas, the 2-1-1 Texas system also implemented a toll-free number.  The official Hurricane Evacuation number is 1-888-312-4567.  

·        Texas State Board of Pharmacies (TSBP) – Emergency medicine refills

STATEWIDE NON-GOVERNMENTAL (NGO) ORGANIZATIONS

·        National Association of Social Workers, Texas Chapter – The Association of Social Workers is calling for volunteers to help go to various communities throughout Texas.  The Association is also requesting that towns and cities that need social workers to contact them. Please email Meg Bloch, LCSW at mbloch@naswtx.org  Carol Miller, LMSW at cmiller@naswtx.org  or your branch chair with information or questions. 

·        Ready Texas Nurses – The Texas Nurses Association is recruiting volunteers to assist with nursing for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

·        State Bar of Texas –Texas Supreme Court ordered Friday that Texas will permit lawyers from Louisiana, Mississippi or Alabama to practice law from Texas locations.

·        Texas Association of Community Health Care Providers – The Association is working to get assistance to communities that are supporting evacuees from Hurricane Katrina and needs donations of cash and medicine.

·        Texas Medical Association (TMA) – TMA is recruiting physicians and other medical personnel as volunteers to help victims of the hurricane.

·        Texas Veterinary Medial Association - TVMA is acting as a matching service for any clinic in Texas that would like to offer temporary employment to storm-displaced practitioners. If you would like to help or if you are in need of assistance call (800) 489-7347