Dear Friends of DRTx:
We sincerely hope this email finds you safe and warm. For those who are still without power or water or are now trying to recover from the Texas winter storm, we wanted to provide you with helpful resources and information. Please feel to share this email with others who need help.
(Our regular monthly newsletter that was originally scheduled to go out earlier this week which focuses on Black History Month has been rescheduled for next week in lieu of this week’s weather disaster.)
Safety During the Storm
Water Supply Safety
Many people have gained back power but some are under a boil water notice. Follow the specific instructions coming from your local water utility provider. If that is not available to you, read the Center for Disease Control’s standard instructions for boiling water.
CrowdSource Rescue
Government Assistance
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) which provides assistance directly to individuals for reimbursement of lodging expenses, water, food, property damage, etc. has NOT yet been awarded. There is a state and federal process that was just officially requested today (2/19/21) by the state.
If and when financial assistance is approved for this disaster, information will be available on the FEMA website and updated every hour.
Beware of Scams
The FEMA process will take some time, so in the meantime please be careful of people and groups posing as an official assistance agency that try to get your personal information such as social security number and other confidential data. Unfortunately, there are many scammers who try to take advantage of people after disasters.
Trusted Sources for Assistance
Damage Self-Assessment Survey
The objective of the self-assessment survey is to help emergency management officials gain an understanding of damages that have occurred during the recent winter weather. Click here to take the survey.
This survey does not provide a specific place to include information about any damage to durable medical equipment (DME) or other disability related necessities. Though we are working with officials to try to change this problem, we recommend uploading photos of damage to these items as well as other household damage when completing the survey.
National Disaster Distress Helpline
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) offers a Disaster Distress Helpline. You can call 1-800-985-5990 any day of the year, 24 hours a day. The hotline provides immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster.
This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories. Stress, anxiety, and other depression-like symptoms are common reactions after a disaster. Call or text 1-800-985-5990 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
Staying Updated
As mentioned before, the information in this email will also be posted on a special page on our website that we will continue to update as needed.
