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Hurricane Relief Information & Resources This information will be updated as more details become available. If your child was transferred to Arkansas Children's Hospital and you need information, please call (501) 364-1100. Division of Developmental Disabilities Services Pathfinders, Inc. Apply
for Federal Assistance Hurricane Katrina Bulletin Board - provided by State Chamber
– AIA Arkansas Department of Emergency Management: Department of Human Services: Continues working on expediting the process to distribute food stamps out to evacuees from Hurricane Katrina. In addition, they are waiting on permission from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to extend those services to the evacuees from Hurricane Rita. Evacuee Registration Center Evacuee Service Center The American Red Cross will begin providing GAP assistance, which is for emergency needs only (such as gas to return home), to the Hurricane Rita evacuees at the Center on Thursday, September 29th. FEMA Reimbursable Expenses Through FEMA:
Contact Information: Nathan Spicer, Emergency Management Specialist City of North Little Rock: Rick Ezell Pulaski County: Kathy Botsford Federal Home Loan Bank: Has designated $5 Million for assistance
to hurricane evacuees. Individuals must apply through a local bank branch of
a Federal Home Loan Bank. The following three (3) areas in which assistance
will be provided: For more information, visit the Federal Home Loan Bank website at http://www.fhlb.com/community/dis_rel_grnt_prog.htm. Helpful Numbers Little Rock Air Force Base Louisiana Birth Certificates
Applications will be electronically transmitted to the Louisiana office. Arkansas
Vital Records should receive the requested Birth Cards within a week after submitting
each request. Arkansas Vital Records will distribute the cards to evacuees. For more information, please contact Grace Carson at (501) 661-2275 with any questions or requests for assistance. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children In addition, several numbers have been set up to assist evacuees in locating their families: (866) GET-INFO and (800) LOVED-1S Operation KARE
- Katrina Assistance Relief Effort Pulaski County Emergency Management Red Cross Shelter Social Security U.S. Postal Service Victims Needing Assistance: Please call the Salvation Army at 1-888-363-2769. www.arkansaskatrinarelief.org Arkansas Camp Sites for Katrina Evacuees Red Cross Assistance Center Catholic Charities of Arkansas Childcare Vouchers: Vouchers are available through the Department of Human Services to provide care for children of the evacuees. For more information, contact (501) 682-1001. In addition, DHS is expediting all applications from evacuees. For more information on the application process, contact Ivory Daniels at (501) 682-8763. PAWPAW's Child Development Center: Is providing drop-in services for children of evacuee’s ages eighteen (18) months to five (5) years. The Center is located at 4000 West 13th Street at Hoover United Methodist Church, and the hours are from 6:30 AM - 5:30 PM. For more information, contact (501) 663-9181. In addition, the Center is also accepting vouchers. City of Little Rock & GAP Partnership: The City of Little Rock and The GAP are partnering together to offering a shopping spree at Old Navy for children of evacuees so that they will have new clothes to attend school with. More details will follow as plans are finalized. Clothes closets are open at the following locations: Dress for Success Female individuals will be fitted for clothing suitable for business interview. Clothing is limited and on a first come, first serve basis; therefore, only one (1) outfit will be provided per individual. Criteria: Individuals must be referred by non-profit organization, government agency, Little Rock City Hall or place of worship. Alltel Corporation SBC Communications In addition, they are providing telephone and computer service at the Red Cross Victims Services Center at 10th & Taylor Streets. North Little Rock Alltel Arena Cyber Center will allow computer access to evacuees for government registration, e-mail, etc. from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., One Alltel Arena Way, (501) 340-5660 Warren Arkansas Workforce Center in Bradley County is allowing computer access Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., 1105 E. Church Street, (870) 226-7000 American Red Cross: (800) 435-7669 or American Red Cross of Greater Arkansas, P.O. Box 191051, Little Rock, AR 72219 A Family's Guide
to Blood Tranfusions/Directed Blood Donations - .pdf file Arkansas Food Bank: Is taking donations of canned goods and non-perishable items. In addition, they have Food Pantries available to serve food at any of the evacuee shelters. For more information, contact Phyllis Haynes at (501) 565-8121 x. 13. The Food Bank is located at 8121 Distribution Drive. In addition, as evacuees move into temporary/permanent housing, they can contact the Arkansas Food Bank for assistance. Arkansas Hunger Coalition: Working at Ricks Armory to supply storm refugees with food, puts out the following message: They're particularly in need of all kinds of BREAD and ROLLS and NONPERISHABLES such as canned soup and other entree-type canned food. They seem to have enough water and toiletries for now, and are not accepting any more clothes. In addition, they are enrolling people in assistance programs; however, it will be a few days before even the expedited Food Stamps come through, so immediate food would be helpful. Ricks Armory is located at 4700 West 8th Street, and will be open 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM for a few more days. Arkansas Rice Depot: Is providing statewide, long-term assistance to Katrina evacuees. Food & disaster supplies are directly available at no cost to both permanent & temporary Arkansans, as well as to food pantries and soup kitchens, churches, fire & police departments, church camps, and families serving Katrina evacuees across the state. For assistance or to volunteer, please call 565-8855, or email: endhunger@ricedepot.org. Arkansas Rice Depot’s headquarters is located at 8400 Asher Avenue; however, as of October 1st, they will be located at 3801 West 65th Street. Best Buy West Little Rock: Is networking with other local businesses and will hold a live remote on Saturday, October 1st, in an effort to have supplies donated for college students such as, televisions, laptops, etc. Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund: Former Presidents Bush & Clinton have established a joint fund to accept donations to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina. On line contributions can be made to www.bushclintonkatrinafund.org. Checks payable to eh ‘Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund’ can be mailed to: Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, P.I. Box 1104, Little Rock, AR 72203. Christ the King Catholic Church The Hope Center: Is accepting donations at their location 7600 South University Avenue. In addition, they have household items, linens and mattresses (Queen & King). More mattresses will be arriving next week. For more information, contact (501) 562-0333. Little Rock’s First Baptist Church Mt. Zion Baptist Church Operation Nehemiah: The website is: www.operationnehemiah.us.
This site is designed to match up organizations who would like to sponsor a
family, with the families themselves who need sponsorship assistance. In order
to assist us in finding sponsors and families, please have evacuees and those
wishing to sponsor, register their information on the site. In addition, there
is a data base on the site for a ‘virtual inventory’ so that anyone
who would like to donate household items like dishes, furniture, appliances,
vehicles, etc., to disaster-stricken families may do so with out transporting
the items from their present location, until needed by a specific family in
need! Philander Smith College/United Methodist Conference Rufus K. Young AME Church: Temple Baptist Church Union AME Church Union Rescue Mission Watershed Family Resource Center: Arkansas Department of Education: Reports that all college students from the evacuated area, who have contacted the Department, have been enrolled in local colleges/universities. In addition, medical students have been enrolled; however, they are in need of medical jackets. The Clinton Foundation is assisting in providing training to Counselors throughout the State to assist children experiencing mental health issues. The training will be held on October 19th at the Clinton Library. For more information, call the Arkansas Department of Education at (501) 682-4475. Little Rock School District: Is accepting student registrations at 501 Sherman Street. Parents will not be expected to provide Birth Certificates of Immunization Records. In addition, each child will qualify for a free breakfast and lunch for each school day that they attend. For more information, contact (501) 447-2950 or to arrange for transportation, contact (501) 447-2075. Displaced teachers will offered the opportunity to apply for any available positions within the school district. Background checks will still need to be conducted; however, the fee for the checks will be waived. In addition, social security numbers will be used for licensing issues. The eleven (11) State Universities are offering free tuition to any Arkansan displaced from schools in Katrina’s path. In addition, the universities will also offer in-state tuition rates to out-of-state students. Workforce Education: Will accept enrollment from evacuees and will waive any fees. Little
Rock School District North Little Rock School
District Pulaski
County Special School District www.jobs4recovery.org: Site will assist evacuees seeking employment in the post-hurricane rebuilding efforts. Jobs can be searched by state. America’s Job Bank: www.ajb.org. Arkansas Construction Education Foundation: Has placement for glass installers, metal building erectors, form carpenters, trim carpenters, electrical workers, plumbers, foremen, jobsite superintendents and project managers. For referrals directly to employers, contact Steve Schaeffer at (501) 372-1590, steve@arcef.org or Lloyd Webre at (501) 372-2858, Lloyd@abcark.com. Arkansas Job Corp: If an evacuee is between the ages of sixteen
(16) – twenty-four (24), and are interested in enrolling in Job Corps,
please contact (501) 376-1004 or (888) 374-0313. Please note: If an individual enrolls in Job Corps, they will be ineligible for unemployment insurance payments. Dentists: The State of Arkansas is expediting the licensure
by credentials for any dental professional displaced by the hurricane. In addition,
the $2,500 fee will be reduced or waived; however, applicants need to explain
on the form that they have been displaced due to Hurricane Katrina. An application
is available at www.asbde.org/licensure.html
. Job Board: Posted at the American Red Cross Shelter at the
Arkansas State Fairgrounds. A second job fair may be held within the next two (2) weeks. For more information call (800) 844-4781 or (501) 376-4781. Job opportunities resulting from the first job fair, as well as others received on the help line, are on a special site of the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce Website at www.littlerockchamber.com. In addition, evacuees are able to sign up and list their special skills on the site. Katrina Recovery Job Connection: New website (www.jobsearch.org/katrinajobs)
resource focused on support the transition back into employment for evacuees.
The site’s purpose is to connect job seekers with employers interested
in hiring them for Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce: Has a list of over 100 postings on their website, www.littlerockchamber.com, representing 250 jobs. In addition, there is an area for those seeking employment to post their information. The Chamber is working with individuals on a case-by-case basis in an effort to locate suitable employment. For more information, contact the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce at (501) 374-2001. McDonald’s: Has set up a toll-free number, (877) 623-0955, for its employees who have been affected or displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Maumelle Job Fair: The City of Maumelle partnered with the Maumelle Chamber of Commerce to sponsor a job fair for evacuees. The fair was held on Friday, September 16th from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM at the Jess Odom Community Center South Room at 1100 Edgewood Drive. For more information, contact (501) 851-9700. Truck Driving Training: is accepting applications at their
headquarters, which is located at 4303 Highway 70 East, North Little Rock, AR
72117. For more information, contact (501) 955-0400 or (877) 945-0400. Previous Employer Information The Chamber of Greater Baton Rouge Shell Oil Company Postal Service BellSouth Cox Communications Department of Human Services is assisting with food stamps and child care vouchers. Affordable Dentures: The network of affiliated dental practices providing Affordable Dentures is donating $1 Million in denture services to people affected by hurricane Katrina. Dentures and related services will be provided free to victims whose dentures were lost or damaged during the storm or subsequent relief efforts, or who have been relocated and are in need of denture services. Victims requiring services are asked to register with the American Red Cross or Salvation Army prior to visiting the dental practice. Patients will receive a Referral Authorization or Voucher that they take to the practice to receive services. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. No appointment is necessary and patients arriving at opening time usually receive their replacement denture the same day. For more information visit their website at www.affordabledentures.com. American Cancer Society: Information and resources for cancer patients and caregivers evacuated from the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina is available twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week. For more information, please contact the American Cancer Society at (800) 227-2345 twenty-four (24) hours and day, seven (7) days a week, or visit their website at www.cancer.org. In addition, they have trained staff that can assist patients and caregivers by providing: assistance with patient housing; lifesaving information and resources; help linking displaced patients to available treatment facilities; assistance with medication resource information; specialized consultations with social staff and oncology nurses and support services which include support groups and prostheses. A comprehensive list of national and state resources available to help those affected by Hurricane Katrina can be viewed at www.cancer.org/katrina. Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation: Provided free prostate cancer screenings to all male evacuees in the area on Friday, September 16th, from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM at the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Fitness Center located at 10th & Battery Streets. For more information, contact (501) 603-7433. Arkansas Crisis Response Team: Statewide non-profit organization consisting of trained multi-disciplinary professionals dedicated to providing crisis intervention to victims in the aftermath of community crisis. If their assistance is needed, please contact (501) 539-3215 or Ruth Fissel at (501) 551-0376. In addition, they are partnering with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) to provide professional mental health staff to local shelters. NASW has trained seventy-five (75) local professionals who will staff the shelters in teams consisting of five (5) professional social workers beginning this week. A shelter needs assessment was conducted by NASW on Monday, September 12th. A request has been made for a Grief Counselor to provide services daily at Ricks Armory from 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM. Both ARCRT and NASW are working together to provide staff to the Armory during the week. It is the plan to involve the Grief Counselors Association to assist with the daily staffing at the Armory. Family Planning: Birth control pills & Postpartum examinations
are available for evacuees. For more information, contact (501) 280-3100, or
stop by the Pulaski County Central Health Unit at 3915 West 8th Street. Immunizations: Tetanus is available to evacuees who have not received a tetanus shot within the past five (5) years. Anyone with an open wound will need a doctor’s order prior to administration of tetanus. For more information, contact (501) 280-3100, or stop by the Pulaski County Central Health Unit at 3915 West 8th Street. Mammograms: Female evacuees may be eligible for a free mammogram, clinical breast exam and PAP smear, if needed. For more information, contact (501) 280-3100, or stop by the Pulaski County Central Health Unit at 3915 West 8th Street. Maternity: Maternity care can be provided for women until Medicaid can be approved and care is transferred to a provider. For more information, contact (501) 280-3100, or stop by the Pulaski County Central Health Unit at 3915 West 8th Street. MEMS: Due to the fact that many evacuees lost their identification, insurance cards, etc., MEMS has developed an identification card for evacuees to carry with them in case of emergency. The card, which is strictly on a volunteer basis and completely confidential, has space for the evacuee’s name, local contact numbers, emergency contact numbers and pertinent medical information. Medicare Services: Evacuees can visit the local office at #515 West Pershing Boulevard (Old Southwestern Bell Building), North Little Rock, AR 72114. Office hours are Monday – Friday from 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM. For more information, please contact 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). National Disaster Medical System: All Little Rock area hospitals have been deactivated. Prescription Medication: Governor Mike Huckabee issued an emergency proclamation on Wednesday afternoon allowing Arkansas pharmacists to refill prescriptions for one (1) month for the evacuees from Hurricane Katrina. Psychiatric Needs: The UAMS Department of Psychiatry will be available to provide services for any evacuees. For more information, contact (501) 686-7000. TB: TB Patients should notify local health units so continuation of care, including drug therapy and monitoring can be provided. For more information, contact (501) 280-3100, or stop by the Pulaski County Central Health Unit at 3915 West 8th Street. WIC Program: For children up to the age of five (5), pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, the Louisiana or Alabama WIC food instruments may be used at any Arkansas WIC vendor through Friday, September 30th. After September 30th, the instruments will need to be transferred to the Arkansas WIC Program. Evacuees from the State of Mississippi need to apply for Arkansas WIC. Louisiana, Mississippi or Alabama WIC participants with proof of participation in their home state may be transferred to the Arkansas WIC Program by local health unit staff. Other evacuees without proof of WIC participation, or persons now eligible because of loss of income or homelessness, may be certified for WIC by local health unit staff. For more information, contact (501) 280-3100, or stop by the Pulaski County Central Health Unit at 3915 West 8th Street. Central Arkansas Library Systems: Locations are providing temporary library cards and increased number of computers with Internet service. In addition, the reference department has compiled an extensive list of support and information sites listed on the library’s web site at www.cals.ofrg. City Year: Will be hosting an afternoon of Joy & Delight on Friday, September 30th from 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM at the Burns Park & Fun Land in North Little Rock. The afternoon, whic is free for all evacuees, will provide family friendly activities and transportation to the event will be provided. The afternoon will included: face painting; dunking booth, carnival riders; carnival games and carnival food (cotton candy, hot dogs, popcorn and sodas). For more information or to volunteer, contact Amanda Potter at 501-707-1424 or apotter@cityyear.org. Junior Deputy Fall Baseball: Any evacuees that have children that would like to participate in Fall Baseball at Junior Deputy, there will be no charge. For more information, contact (501) 372-7640. Parking: Little Rock Parking Enforcement will not be issuing parking tickets to cars with Louisiana or Mississippi license plates. St. John Baptist Church: Will host a luncheon on Sunday, October 2nd at 2:00 PM for evacuees. The church is located 2501 South Main Street and for more information, contact (501) 975-0900. State of Arkansas: The State of Arkansas has allocated $1.5 Million for housing assistance to victims of Hurricane Katrina. Those that qualify will receive $1,000 per family; however, they must have a child eighteen (18) years of age or under. For more information, contact (877) 2WE-KARE. City of Little Rock: Has designated $100,000 in CDBG Funds for evacuee assistance. The funds will be used for food, medication and transportation. In addition, they can be used for rental assistance, utility deposits and security deposits. For more information regarding the rental assistance, contact the Little Rock Housing Authority at (501) 340-4821. Little Rock Housing Authority: Has waived the various eligibility requirements and will provide access to their database for receipting of assisted housing in Louisiana. Presently, there are eighty-five (85) unfurnished apartments for elderly individuals at Parris Towers. For more information contact Kecis Lee at (501) 340-4808. Section 8 Housing Vouchers have been requested and these units will be leased to hurricane victims. For more information contact Leanna Godley at (501) 340-4725. In addition, 300 units with utilities already connected are being offered through the Renter Choice Program; however, the voucher program is for the Little Rock Area only. Due to a limited staff, the Housing Authority is asking members of the faith-based community to provide transportation to the evacuees as they tour the various units available. The Housing Authority office for these services is located at 2711 Schiller Street. The Housing Authority has started using FEMA Vouchers, which can provide up to twelve (12) months of rent and utilities. In addition, FEMA can give furniture an allowance base on the number of bedrooms. LRHA is working with local companies, and is in the position to issue a check directly to the store. LRHA is seeing approximately thirty-five (35) to forty (40) families per day, and there is still property available. Resources Needed: Families need furniture in the units. LRHA worked with local faith-based organization and held a ‘Furniture for Families’ drive on Tuesday, September 13, 2005, from 6:00 AM – 1:00 PM. The drive was a live telethon from Parris Towers, and broadcasted on FM 103.7. LRHA reports that as a result of the drive, enough furniture was donated to furnish 90% of the available units in Parris Towers. Happy to Announce: Rental Property: If you have rental property, and would like to offer the property for evacuee housing, please contact the LRHA at (501) 340-4821, so that the location can be added to the list. Emergency Information – (866) 438-4636 Operation K.A.R.E. (Katrina Assistance and Relief Effort) Cooperative Extension Service's list of Hurricane Relief Centers in Arkansas National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has set up a coordinated
missing persons process to locate and reunite Hurricane Katrina victims in Mississippi,
Louisiana, and Alabama Lists of those relocated after the storm are available at: Lists of those reported to be safe are available at: A hotline for people in crisis after Hurricane Katrina has been developed by the Department of Health and Human Services to connect people to crisis center counselors around the country. Counselors will listen to and assist callers in getting mental health help they need and will be provided with immediate access to local resources, referrals, and expertise. (800) 273-8255 If a hotel is working with Corporate Lodging Consultants, rooms will be direct-billed to the American Red Cross for a designated time period. According to the Red Cross, FEMA has extended Corporate Lodging for an additional fourteen (14) days, and will review the program on a weekly basis. For evacuees needing hotel information, please contact the Little Rock Hotel Availability Helpline at (800) 844-4781. American Red Cross, in cooperation with FEMA, is extending its temporary housing assistance program for an additional thirty (30) days and will continue to grant extensions every thirty (30) days until other options are available. Evacuees who need this assistance must contact front desk staff at their hotel to arrange to extend their stay for an additional thirty (30) days, if space is available. Each individual will be asked for the number of individuals needing accommodations and evidence of their pre-disaster address, which must be in a ZIP code, which has been Presidentially-declared as a disaster area. The Arkansas Hospitality Association is assisting lodging units throughout the State as they work with FEMA on lodging for evacuees. Hotel Help Desk: An invitation has been issued to all area hotels offering the assistance in setting up an evacuee help desk, which will be set up and staffed in their respective lobbies. To date, two (2) hotels have responded indicate the desire to have such a desk. On Tuesday, September 13th, and Wednesday, September 14th, from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM, LRCVB Staff was positioned at those hotels to distribute information. As a result of Hurricane Rita, the total number of hurricane evacuees in Little Rock area hotels this past weekend was approximately 16,000. As of Thursday, September 29th, that number was down to 4,000, which was the same amount prior to this past weekend. Kathy Lilly’s Dimsum and Then Some Hays Senior Citizens Center Montgomery County Air Masters Heating & Air Conditioning: Is offering their services to relocated Hurricane victims. If the house/apartment in which an evacuee has moved into is in need of repairs or cleaning on the unit for proper operation, they are willing to provide the service. They will provide free inspection of the HVAC system to ensure that the furnaces are safe for the winter, and that air conditioners are properly working. The areas they service are Little Rock, North Little Rock, Jacksonville, Maumelle, Bauxite (areas within a 45 mile radius). For more information, contact (501) 758-6363. Gasoline Price Gouging: The Attorney General’s Office has asked that if you experience gasoline price gouging, to contact their office at (501) 683-4853 (Little Rock) or (866) 767-0801 (statewide). Arthur's Beauty College Little Rock Animal Services Canine Country Club Humane Society of Saline County Anderson’s Taekwondo Center: Is offering free Taekwondo lessons to evacuees. The address is National Plaza, 5618 A West 12th Street (located near the Evacuee Assistance Center), Monday - Saturday 9:00 AM - 7:30 PM. For more information, contact (501) 375-5507. Clinton Presidential Center and Library Hurricane evacuees can pick up donations behind the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. (501) 982-1511. Central Arkansas Transit Authority: Is providing free rides on the buses and River Rail to evacuees from Alabama, Louisiana or Mississippi with a valid license or registration card. For schedule information call (501) 375-6717 (weekdays) or visit www.cat.org. CATA Board voted on Tuesday, September 20th to extend free bus service for evacuees until they can work an arrangement with FEMA to purchase bus passes similar to the program in Texas. CATA has been providing free bus rides for persons with identification from Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. In addition, CATA is providing shuttles as needed, and has been coordinating volunteer transportation with the various churches. Greyhound Bus Lines: Grey Hound Bus will provide transportation for evacuees wanting to return to their homes. Evacuees must contact Ruby Murphy, DHS, at (501) 682-9389 for assistance in purchasing a ticket. If an evacuee is in a shelter, they must go through the transportation manager of the shelter. The State of Arkansas has a developed a partnership with Greyhound and Jefferson Bus Lines to pay for bus tickets for Hurricane Katrina and Rita evacuees that desire to return home and/or relocate to another state. The program is open to all evacuees, regardless of where they came from or where they might want to travel to. The program is being administered at the county level by the County DHHS Administrators. Please contact the County Administrators to obtain detailed information and/or to make specific arrangements for evacuee bus tickets and travel. The Administrators for Pulaski County Administrator are as follows: Pulaski East: Vicki Weems Pulaski North: Boylee Hamilton Pulaski Pulaski South: Vicki Weems Pulaski Southwest: Vicki Weems Travel Through FEMA: FEMA now has a program in place to pay for bus, rail and plane tickets direct; however, they are requesting that the evacuees seeking this service call (800) 621-FEMA (3362) for referral. That number is 1-800-621-3362. The following is travel specific information direct from the FEMA: “In order to supplement the State’s transportation programs authorized by section 403 emergency provisions and assist with the movement of individuals to re-unite with family members and move to more suitable housing, FEMA has established a program to facilitate that re-location. The following program description is to provide guidance to caseworkers, call center staff, disaster recovery center staff, shelter managers and others working on housing solutions. A designated call center will perform eligibility screening based on the following guidance, and is provided for your information. There are a limited number of representatives at the call center to pre-screen transportation requests, and for this reason FEMA will not publish the toll-free number. The Help Line (800-621-3362) will make referrals to the call center as travel needs are identified; in the same manner they make all referrals. The current hours of operation for the call center are 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM (CST). The Help Line is not required to screen callers for this program; the designated call center performs the screening. To be eligible for a one (1)-way ticket to help reunite Katrina clients or applicants with their family, friend or move them from a shelter to an alternate, safe location as a result of Hurricane Katrina, they must:
The focus of this program is to provide transportation to housing; therefore, FEMA may not pay for a ticket for evacuees to check the status of their home, attend funerals, or meet with a FEMA inspector or insurance adjuster. Eligible modes of travel include air, train and bus; with rental cars and airline ticketed overnight stays not allowed. Travel is restricted to the lower forty-eight (48) states, and one (1)-way, non-transferable, non-refundable tickets will be issued for air and train travel. Bus travel tickets issued may be refundable, and will allow for interruptions in the travel plan (individuals can get off and back on the bus). Travel to re-unite family members staying in separate shelter locations is eligible, though not an ideal solution. Both shelter managers should be involved in this decision, so shelter accommodations are ensured. Individuals may have tickets to return home to an undamaged residence; however, there will be not further travel tickets allowable. Individuals should provide convincing evidence to the case worker or the call center that their home is safe to re-occupy. FEMA will not provide for the cost of transporting pets under this program. Applicants may take their pets along; however, they must finance and negotiate that directly with the carrier’s policies and procedures. Identity of individuals requesting travel will be verified, just as they would when calling FEMA’s Helpline. They will be warned: If an individual intentionally makes false statements or conceal any information, they may be fined up to $250,000, be imprisoned, or both. Any information given may be shared with other agencies within the Department of Homeland Security. After the applicant is pre-screened by the call center, they will be connected to travel agents, and air travel tickets will be issued electronically for airline travel. Individuals traveling by rail receive a confirmation number which they should record. Individuals traveling by bus will be given a password in order to obtain their ticket at the bus station ticket counter. The call center has access to the FEMA NEMIS database and will update the contact information, mailing address and record in Events Log that the applicant is forwarded to the travel contractor for ticketing. Transportation arrangements may be requested for individuals who have lost their identification. All airline travelers, their carry-on and checked baggage will still go through the physical security screening.” Evacuees are now eligible for assistance with their utility bills, through a funding from FEMA. Individuals interested must contact the Little Rock Housing Authority, through which the money is being distributed, to sign up for assistance. For more information, contact (501) 340-4821. Centerpoint Energy ARKLA: Gas connections will be made for
evacuees without deposit if the following information is provided: Entergy Corporation has announced that it will seed the Power of Hope Fund
to Aid Katrina Victims with a corporate contribution of $1 million. The Fund
will be used to help disaster victims restore their lives in the aftermath of
the storm. Tax deductible contributions can be addressed to: The Power of Hope
Fund at the Foundation for the Mid South, 134 East Amite Street, Jackson, MS
39201. To sign up for Lifeline, call (800) 464-7928. To sign up using TTY/TDD with
voice service, call (800) 285-1131, or to speak with a bilingual customer service
representative, call (800) 559-0050. Or, go online at www.sbc.com.
American Red Cross: www.redcross.org
To volunteer with the American Red Cross, individuals must fill out a volunteer form by visiting the website at www.redcross.org or by stopping by the Red Cross Office at 401 South Monroe. All names are being entered into a database and everyone will receive a callback regarding where they can provide the most assistance. To date, approximately 600 volunteers have been processed by the American Red Cross, and staff is in the process of organizing volunteer training sessions. Department of Health & Human Services: Has established
a web site, http://volunteer.hhs.gov, and a toll free number, (866) 528-6334,
to help identify health-care professionals and relief personnel to assist in
relief efforts. **This information will be updated as more details become available. 
Arkansas Children's Hospital, 1 Children’s Way, Little Rock, AR 72202-3591, (501) 364-1100 or TDD (501) 364-1184
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