[Katrina-IT-Volunteers] Need help with hurricane volunteer and survivor computer manuals

Mon Oct 10 21:26:49 CDT 2005

Emily Bromberg and I have been going through all the documents, handwritten
notes, etc. from the computer volunteers who worked in the Convention Center
Shelter, and Emily is doing a fantastic job of putting it all together in a
coherent manual to help Katrina survivors still in Austin locate helpful
information as well as any computer volunteers helping them.

We need help with the last few items we can't corroborate or that need
updating.  If you wrote any of the following or know how to update these
bits of information or can confirm that the information is still correct or
have time to do a little research on any of them, please e-mail Emily and
me:
emilybr at gmail.com
dale at austinfree.net

We're trying to get it together before Friday when we'll open a new computer
lab at the Hearthside Extended Stay Hotel (now owned by Foundation
Communities) which is housing about 200 evacuees right now.  More about that
later, but if you'd like to volunteer at those computers Friday or this
weekend, let me know (I could especially use an experienced volunteer or two
from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Friday).    Here's cut and pastes of the notes we
need help with:

To update, clarify, bullet points:
(plain text is fine -- I'll format and add to master document)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------
**free travel INFO*** Travel arrangements for Katrina evacuees at the
convention center were available at no cost through Travel Master (323-6961)
and Accent Travel (338-0444 or 441-7800 or 338-2800) for a one way trip to
the evacuee's destination.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------
**Where to cash checks***

Where to cash checks?
HEB supermarket located at 2701 E. 7th Street will cash the following
checks without an ID. You MUST have the letter from Social Security
stating that you are an evacuee.
-FEMA
-Social Security - even hand written
If you have a valid Louisiana driver's license, HEB WILL cash a
printed personal check.  Hibernia bank - Chase Bank

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------
***ID INFO***

TX Drivers License
Texas Department of Public Safety
DPS is connected with the Louisiana license office so they can confirm
whether the person had a Louisiana driver's license or State ID.  The
cost is $15 for an ID, $24 for a license. DPS office may not be able
to help someone who did not have any ID.
Locations:
4719 S. Congress
Sgt. Epkins
512-444-5241

6121 N. Lamar
Sgt. Reyes
M-F 8-5, Tues 8-7
512-424-2076

13730 Research
Sgt. Hayes
512-335-8131

The phone system sometimes drops calls. Call 512-424-2000 if you don't
get through.

Prices:
60 or older: $5, no expiration.  Others expire after 6 years.
$39 for motorcycle endorsement
$60 for commercial endorsement
$78 for motorcycle and commercial

They accept money orders or checks for the exact amount.  If they had
a TX ID, then call the 1500 N. Congress office to see if they can
help.

(Sept. 7th) The DPS is working on a better system, possibly involving
temporary IDs..)

Capital Metro issues picture IDs for senior citizens and people with
mobility impairments
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------
***Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) INFO***  (this needs to be
separated into Katrina and Rita evacuee instructions and verified)

People who lost their jobs to to the disaster can apply for this
assistance which Provides weekly benefits to unemployed people who are
not eligible for regular unemployment insurance compensation

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
The Department of Labor is working with state and local governments in
disaster areas and relief sites to issue disaster unemployment
assistance for self-employed and newly employed who may not be
eligible for unemployment insurance. For more information, call
1-866-4-USA-DOL (1-866-487-2365) or visit America's Service Locator.
Learn about Disaster Unemployment Assistance.

· Texas, 1-800-939-6631. For job placement information, visit the
Texas Workforce Commission's Web site or call 1-800-735-2988 or TDD at
1-800-735-2989.
· Louisiana, over the Internet at www.laworks.net, or 1-800-430-8076.
Claimants who were previously receiving benefits, have questions, or
need to change their address should call 1-866-783-5567.
· Mississippi, 1-888-844-3577 or visit any office of the Mississippi
Department of Employment Security. A list of sites that are currently
open is available at http://mdes.ms.gov/wps/portal.
· Alabama, 1-866-234-5382 or TTY at 1-800-449-2035. General questions
about UI and DUA are answered at 1-800-361-4524.
· U.S. Department of Labor Extends Disaster Unemployment Assistance
Eligibility for Jobless in Hurricane Rita-Affected Region -
05-1833-NAT - [09/26/2005]

http://www.twc.state.tx.us/ui/uiclaim.html - rita
http://www.twc.state.tx.us/news/disaster_response.html - katrina

To File for Unemployment Insurance (UI) or Disaster Unemployment
Assistance (DUA)

    * Please file for regular benefits online at
http://www.twc.state.tx.us/ui/uiclaim.html. You must file for regular
benefits before filing for DUA.
    * If you cannot file online, call one of the Tele-Center phone
numbers listed below, Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (CDT).
Austin local: (512) 340-4300
Dallas local: (214) 252-1200
El Paso local: (915) 832-6400
Fort Worth local:  (817) 420-1600
Houston local: (281) 983-1100
McAllen local: (956) 984-4700
San Antonio local:  (210) 258-6600
Others call toll free: 1-800-939-6631

People who worked in Angelina, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend,
Galveston, Hardin, Harris, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery,
Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto,
Shelby, Trinity, Tyler, and Walker counties and who are out of work
due to storms and flooding caused by Hurricane Rita may be eligible
for Unemployment Insurance (UI) and/or Disaster Unemployment
Assistance (DUA).

Those who don't normally qualify for Unemployment can apply for
disaster relief at:
http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/disaster.asp
The best way for Louisiana residents to apply is online at
http://www.laworks.net
The application procedures are greatly simplified.  For instance you
don't need to know the exact address of your employer, just city and
state.  You will need to specify where checks can be mailed.
Louisiana has committed to begin mailing checks immediately.

US Dept of Labor Hurricane Recovery Assistance
http://www.dol.gov/opa/hurricane-recovery.htm

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------

There was a handout on survivor message board.  Did anyone notice that
evacuees were using these message boards? We have a hard copy of the
handout.  We don't want to overwhelm this with info, but if these boards
were helpful, we'll include them.

Thanks for any help you can give!  Dale

Dale Thompson, Financial Manager
Austin Free-Net (www.austinfree.net)
Fix-Net (www.austinfix.net)
2209 Rosewood Avenue
Austin, TX  78702
512.236-8225 x10
Fax:  320-8240