By J. Lyn Carl, GalleryWatch.com
Austin, TX –
More than 21,000 school-age evacuees from the Gulf Coast states ravaged by Hurricane Katrina have enrolled in the Texas public schools in the aftermath of the storm, according to Gov. Rick Perry's office.
Additionally, the state's Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has provided more than 75,000 Louisiana families with emergency food stamps and has implemented a new rapid application process system that allows state workers to process food stamp applications in less than 30 minutes. This system is being used in the shelters and disaster recovery centers throughout the state. HHSC offices continue to offer extended office hours, and staff are providing direct services in shelters in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Beaumont and Corpus Christi.
The Governor's Office cited several other new services and initiatives aimed at providing aid to the evacuees:
- A program has been instituted to allow displaced persons to remain in hotels/motels and to move from non-Red Cross shelters to hotels/motels for up to two weeks. More information is available on the Governor's Division of Emergency Management (GDEM) website at www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem
- The Texas Education Agency has established a toll-free number, 1-866-435-7090, for Louisiana teachers seeking teaching opportunities in Texas. The State Board for Educator Certification created a one-year emergency teaching certificate to help school districts cope with enrollment surge in Texas schools because of Hurricane Katrina evacuees.
- The state has contracted with a travel agency that will be working with cities and counties to obtain travel for persons displaced due to Hurricane Katrina who seek to relocate to other areas of the country.
- The Department of State Health Services has activated a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Helpline (1-800-252-8154) that serves as an information resource for victims of Katrina who need public mental health and substance abuse services. The agency also is developing a process to match mental health needs of displaced Louisiana residents with registered volunteers and agencies.
- The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is offering displaced citizens of Louisiana, Mississippi or Alabama who hold a current driver license (DL) or identification card (ID) from one of these states to convert their current DL or ID to a Temporary Texas ID Card. These temporary ID cards will be produced and issued directly to the approved applicants on the spot, at selected locations across Texas. The Texas Temporary ID Card will be provided at no charge and will expire on Jan. 1, 2006.
- The Public Utility Commission has ordered a waiver on deposits for connecting telephone and electric service throughout Texas to Hurricane Katrina victims. The order is in effective through the end of September.
- The American Red Cross (ARC) has created and launched the Family Links Registry that will aid individuals who are seeking loved ones and family members in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Visit KERA's Katrina Relief pages for more news and information