Hurricane Ike assistance needed for people with disabilities

The University of Texas School of Health Information Sciences at Houston Disability Emergency Assistance Project Hurricane Ike

Objective: To assist people with disabilities who “sheltered in place” during Hurricane Ike. We estimate the number requiring calls and potential follow up at 30,000 in Houston and significant additional numbers in other parts of Southeast Texas. This includes thousands of people who registered with Texas’s 211 emergency assistance system and may have yet to be reached. The range of assistance will include: an initial call to determine the person is being cared for; emergency delivery of gasoline or batteries to power crucial medical assistance devices; provide generators; and delivery and assistance with insulin, oxygen, catheters, and medicines. When no one can be reached, a referral to an appropriate agency or local police will be made. This will be a public/private effort in close coordination with city, state and federal entities. Funding Need: Immediate funding in the range of $200,000 over three months is needed to: staff an 800 phone number with a mix of professional staff and volunteers; provide direct community outreach, including home visits, by a mix of professional staff and volunteers including some with medical training; purchase and deliver supplies (beyond those that have been donated); support faculty and graduate research associates at UT Houston to coordinate and manage the project for optimal short and long term community benefit. To donate, CLICK HERE. If you have a blog or site, I'd appreciate if you could help spread this information. Thanks.