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Harvey/Homeless Education/Disaster communications and resources

Kelly Kravitz, at The Texas Education Agency, shared a variety of resources available for people who are interested in learning more about McKinney-Vento Homeless Education program and supporting students who are displaced because of disaster. Also, below is a list of emergency resources and places to go for more information for those impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

 

The Texas Homeless Education Office (THEO) website and toll-free hotline:

http://www.theotx.org/ | 1-800-446-3142

 

Texas Homeless Education Office (THEO) Disaster resources:  http://www.theotx.org/?s=disaster 

The THEO team has a wealth of knowledge on McKinney-Vento requirements and supporting LEAs, and families with disaster/crisis and homelessness, related questions, etc. The staff have a long history with McKinney-Vento and other disasters in Texas that impact students, communities, and homelessness.

 

Every LEA has a designated Homeless Liaison to support students experiencing homelessness. LEA Homeless Liaisons should be included in local disaster relief efforts and LEA planning concerning Harvey.

For a list of local liaisons visit: http://www.theotx.org/liaison-directory/

 

Also, attached is a brief from USDE's McKinney-Vento Homeless Education technical assistance center: "What School District Administrators Should Know About

the Educational Rights of Children and Youth Displaced by Disasters."

 

USDE is working on a Hurricane Harvey website link w/resources similar to what was created for Hurricane Sandy.

 

Additional resources provided by the Texas Homeless Network (THN):

·         Texas Division of Emergency Management: http://www.dps.texas.gov/dem/

·         To find open shelters, go to the Red Cross Shelter Finder or download the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mobile app (designed for phones and tablets). The FEMA app has disaster safety tips, an interactive emergency kit list, storable emergency meeting locations, and a map with open shelters and open FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs).

o   American Red Cross of Greater Houston | Houston, TX | (713) 526-8300

o   American Red Cross of Southeast and Deep East Texas | Beaumont, TX | (409) 832-1644

o   American Red Cross of Coastal Bend Texas | Corpus Christi, TX | (361) 887-9991

o   American Red Cross of South Texas | Harlingen, TX | (956) 423-0523

o   Tyler, TX I (903) 581-7981

o   Longview, TX I (903) 753-2091

·         2-1-1 Texas http://www.211texas.org/ (www.211texas.org<http://www.211texas.org>) or dial 2-1-1 or call toll free 1-877-541-7905.

·         FEMA Resources include:

o   Link to Texas' Federal Disaster Declaration: https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2017/08/25/president-donald-j-trump-approves-major-disaster-declaration-texas

o   The federal declaration makes available federal aid programs for eligible households: https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2017/08/25/federal-aid-programs-state-texas.  Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).  Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

o   FEMA Transitional Shelter Assistance ("TSA") Program: https://www.fema.gov/transitional-shelter-assistance (Certain hotels have contracted w/FEMA to provide temporary housing; maximum program timeframe is 30 days, until 09/26/17)

o   FEMA Critical Needs Assistance ("CNA") Program: https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/20130726-1751-25045-4204/critical_needs_assistance_for_displaced_individuals_and_hous.pdf

·         Ways to stay informed:

o   Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

o   Visit FEMA on Facebook and Twitter

o   Sign up for FEMA email alerts during a disaster

o   Sign up for FEMA's Daily Situation Report

o   View the FEMA Social HUB to view emergency social media sources

o   View FEMA's Data Feeds

o   National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

o   Visit the National Weather Center on Facebook and Twitter

o   Visit the Weather Prediction Center on Facebook

o   Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Emergency Response and Preparedness

o   Visit the CDC on Facebook and the Emergency Response and Preparedness Twitter page

o   DisasterAssistance.gov offers help for communities and individuals that have been impacted by a disaster.

o   Ready.gov has additional information and tools to help a community and individuals prepare for a disaster.

o   HUD's web page on Disaster Preparedness, Response, Recovery, and Homelessness

 

 

--
Shawn Schlueter
K-12 STEM Specialist
Region 14 Education Service Center

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