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• Rep. Coleman advocating for more HHSC offices, quick restoration of electricity, assistance with insurance issues
  (Houston) – The past several days, Rep. Garnet Coleman has worked closely with human services officials to quicken the re-opening of the Health and Human Services Commission office at 6118 Scott. Because of Rep. Coleman's advocacy, the office opened this past Sunday, September 20. Rep. Coleman also advocated strongly for power to be restored to the Fuqua and Lockwood offices (the Fuqua office is now open and the Lockwood office should be opening soon).  More Houstonians can now replenish food lost in their refrigerator with assistance from the state and federal government.

"I've been in constant contact with state human services officials the past few days advocating for the opening of more offices in Houston. I am happy to report that state officials responded quickly and the office on Scott Street was opened several days ahead of schedule," said Representative Coleman.

Constituents from South Park, Sunny Side, Third Ward, the Hobby Airport area and the Almeda Mall area will be served at this office for their human services needs. The following offices are now open in Houston:
Rep. Coleman has also been on the phone every day with Centerpoint since Saturday morning following the storm, advocating for a restoration of power to lower-income communities in District 147 and beyond. Rep. Coleman has worked to have power restored to nursing homes and senior centers without power in Houston.

"The power at my house is out, and the power at my mother's house is out," said Representative Coleman. "But it's more important to me that Centerpoint restores power for my constituents in need rather than for myself."

Rep. Coleman also said he is ready to assist with any insurance-related questions or issues that may arise for his constituents. The Texas Department of Insurance Consumer Help Line can provide assistance at 1-800-252-3439, or Rep. Coleman's district office is ready assist Houstonians with their needs at 713-520-5355.
• Hurricane Ike Recovery: September 18 Update
  Following up on an e-mail we sent to you Tuesday, my staff and I have put together some updated information that might be helpful to you in recovering from this storm, which you can find below. Please copy or forward this to any friends, family or neighbors for whom you think this information might be helpful. If you have any questions, problems or need additional information, don't hesitate to contact my office at 713-520-5355 and ask for Ryan or Edwin.Electricity: I have been in constant contact with Centerpoint staff since Saturday morning to make sure that they are aware of damage and safety issues in District 147 and beyond. I have been advocating on your behalf with Centerpoint for a quick restoration of electricity to your neighborhood. Centerpoint officials have told me that neighborhoods in North, East and South Harris County have transmission and distribution lines down and that these neighborhoods will take the longest to repair. If you live in one of these neighborhoods, please prepare for your electricity to be out for potentially two weeks.Centerpoint has also released a timeline on when the expect power to be restored to various ZIP codes, which is below:The following zip codes are estimated to have substantial power restoration by the end of day on Friday, September 19: 77065, 77094, 77095, 77354, 77355, 77356, 77362, 77375, 77377, 77382, 77384, 77418, 77420, 77423, 77429, 77430, 77433, 77434, 77435, 77441, 77444, 77445, 77449, 77450, 77461, 77468, 77469, 77471, 77474, 77479, 77482, 77484, 77486, 77488, 77493, 77494The following zip codes are estimated to have substantial power restoration by the end of day on Monday, September 22:77024, 77031, 77032, 77039, 77040, 77041, 77042, 77050, 77055, 77072, 77077, 77079, 77080, 77082, 77083, 77084, 77092, 77099, 77336, 77338, 77339, 77346, 77357, 77365, 77373, 77386, 77396, 77459, 77477, 77478, 77479, 77511, 77515, 77534, 77577, 77583The following zip codes have sustained extensive damage, and will therefore have a restoration timeline that extends beyond Monday, September 22:77002, 77003, 77004, 77005, 77006, 77007, 77008, 77009, 77010, 77011, 77012, 77013, 77014, 77015, 77016, 77017, 77018, 77019, 77020, 77021, 77022, 77023, 77025, 77026, 77027, 77028, 77029, 77030, 77033, 77034, 77035, 77036, 77037, 77038, 77040, 77044, 77045, 77046, 77047, 77048, 77051, 77053, 77054, 77056, 77057, 77058, 77059, 77060, 77061, 77062, 77063, 77064, 77066, 77067, 77068, 77069, 77070, 77071, 77073, 77074, 77075, 77076, 77078, 77081, 77085, 77086, 77087, 77088, 77089, 77090, 77091, 77093, 77096, 77098, 77379, 77380, 77386, 77388, 77389, 77401, 77422, 77459, 77489, 77502, 77503, 77504, 77505, 77506, 77507, 77510, 77515, 77517, 77518, 77520, 77521, 77530, 77531, 77532, 77534, 77535, 77536, 77539, 77541, 77545, 77546, 77547, 77550, 77551, 77554, 77563, 77565, 77566, 77568, 77571, 77573, 77578, 77581, 77583, 77584, 77586, 77587, 77590, 77591, 77598CenterPoint said that once the above is completed, 80 percent of the power will be restored to the region.Assistance from FEMATo ensure reimbursement, we would encourage you to apply for assistance from FEMA even if you are not certain if you qualify.  You can apply for federal assistance through FEMA either online at www.fema.gov or by calling the FEMA toll-free call centers at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Hotel and Motel Assistance: FEMA is currently providing assistance to allow eligible Ike evacuees from Texas, who cannot return to their homes, to stay in hotels or motels until it is safe for them go home. In order to qualify for assistance, 1. FEMA must be able to verify the identity of the evacuee; 2. The primary residence of the evacuee must be in one of the counties that has been designated a disaster area; and 3. The primary residence is inaccessible or unlivable due to damage or lack of power.Other assistance available from FEMA includes:• Temporary Housing (a place to live for a limited period of time): Money is available to rent a different place to live, or a government provided housing unit when rental properties are not available.Go to www.fema.gov to search for information about housing rental resources or click here.
• Repair: Money is available to homeowners to repair damage from the disaster to their primary residence that is not covered by insurance. The goal is to make the damaged home safe, sanitary, and functional.
• Replacement: Money is available to homeowners to replace their home destroyed in the disaster that is not covered by insurance. The goal is to help the homeowner with the cost of replacing their destroyed home.
• Permanent Housing Construction: Direct assistance or money for the construction of a home. This type of help occurs only in insular areas or remote locations specified by FEMA, where no other type of housing assistance is possible.What Specific Items are Covered by "Housing Needs" Assistance?"Housing Needs" assistance is assistance from FEMA that may be used to repair any of the following:Structural parts of your home (foundation, outside walls, roof).Windows, doors, floors, walls, ceilings, cabinetry.Septic or sewage system.Well or other water system.Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system.Utilities (electrical, plumbing, and gas systems).Entrance and exit ways from your home, including privately owned access roads.Blocking, leveling, and anchoring of a mobile home and recon-necting or resetting its sewer, water, electrical, fuel lines, and tanks.Do I Qualify for "Housing Needs" Assistance?To receive money or help for "Housing Needs" that are the result of a disaster, all of the following must be true:You have losses in an area that has been declared a disaster by the president.You have filed for insurance benefits and the damage to your property is not covered by your insurance or your insurance settlement is insufficient to meet your losses.You or someone who lives with you is a citizen of the United States, a non-citizen national, or a qualified alien.The home in the disaster area is where you usually live and where you were living at the time of the disaster.You are not able to live in your home now, you cannot get to your home due to the disaster, or your home requires repairs because of damage from the disaster.You may not be eligible for "Housing Needs" assistance if:You have other, adequate rent-free housing that you can use (for example, rental property that is not occupied).Your home that was damaged is your secondary or vacation residence.Your expenses resulted only from leaving your home as a precaution and you were able to return to your home immediately after the incident.You have refused assistance from your insurance provider(s).Your only losses are business losses (including farm business other than the farmhouse and s