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Hurricane Alex Resource Page

Current Conditions | Safety Tips | American Red Cross Assistance | Contact TDI | Contact Your Insurance Carrier | Consumer Bills of Rights | Additional Disaster Resources and FAQs | Helpful Publications | National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) | Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) | Texas FAIR Plan Association | Prevent Insurance Fraud | Contact the Office of the Texas Attorney General | File an Insurance Complaint | TDI News Releases

Hurricane Alex made landfall in Mexico approximately 100 miles south of Brownsville on Wednesday, June 30, at about 9 p.m. Heavy rainfall from Alex resulted in flooding in some local areas. Tropical Depression No. 2 made landfall on July 8 and brought more rain and flooding to South Texas. FEMA announced that federal aid has been made available for affected individuals in Cameron, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Lubbock, Maverick, Starr, Val Verde, Webb, and Zapata counties.

Contact FEMA

If you have uninsured losses due to Hurricane Alex , register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) and 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) or register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. The toll-free numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Central time seven days a week. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC)

FEMA operates Disaster Recovery Centers in local communities for consumers who wish to obtain information about grants, loans, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

The hours of the only remaining DRC are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday, October 1.

Lubbock County
Slaton ISD Board Room
140 E. Panhandle
Slaton, 79364

Current Conditions   

Weather

Road Closures

To view current information about road closures and other road information, call the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) or visit its website

1-800-452-9292 (Texas Travel Information Center)
www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/division/travel/highway-conditions/current.html

Health and Safety

To view Department of State Health Services health and safety information, visit

www.dshs.state.tx.us/preparedness/hurricanes.shtm

Safety Tips   

  • Learn how to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning and stay fire safe after a hurricane. Also view the Health Alert: Carbon Monoxide Warning Health Alert (PDF).
  • Return to your home only when authorities have said it's safe to do so. Listen to news reports to find out if the water is safe to drink. Stay out of any buildings surrounded by flood waters.
  • Do not enter your home if you smell gas, floodwaters remain, or your home was damaged by fire and authorities have not said it's safe to enter.
  • Continue listening to the radio for emergency updates and news reports.
  • If you are returning home after evacuation, enter your home with caution. Also, be wary of wildlife or other animals and use a stick to poke through debris to avoid encountering snakes. Use caution when walking, as there could be hidden foundation problems.
  • Be careful to avoid fire ants. Ants often float in colonies, or "rafts," after floods and should be avoided. View the Texas Cooperative Extension's information for Managing Fire Ants after a Flood and Managing Mosquitoes After a Flood.
  • Turn flashlights on before you enter your home to avoid sparks that could cause a fire or explosion if there's a gas leak. Do not smoke or use oil, gas lanterns, candles, or torches for lighting inside a damaged home until you are sure there is no leaking gas or other flammable materials present.
  • Be cautious of your surroundings outdoors. Watch for fallen objects; downed electrical wires; and weakened walls, bridges, roads, and sidewalks.
  • Clean up household chemical spills. Disinfect items that may have been contaminated by raw sewage, bacteria, or chemicals. Also clean salvageable items.
  • Throw out all food and other supplies you suspect may have become contaminated or come in contact with floodwater. If appliances are wet, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. Then unplug the appliances and let them dry out.
  • Service damaged septic tanks, cesspools, pits, and leaching systems as soon as possible. Damaged sewage systems are serious health hazards.
  • Disconnect all electronic equipment and appliances and move them to a dry place. Move all damaged household items to a dry place.

American Red Cross Assistance   

If you have immediate emergency needs for food, clothing, shelter, or medical care, visit one of the local offices of the American Red Cross or call the toll-free number. Visit the website to donate to the Red Cross to assist with disaster relief.

1-800-Red Cross
www.redcross.org

Contact TDI   

The Consumer Help Line will be open extended hours on July 3 and July 4 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Regular hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you need information, have a complaint, or can’t locate your agent or company, call the toll-free TDI Consumer Help Line

1-800-252-3439

Contact Your Insurance Carrier   

Consumer Bills of Rights   

TDI Disaster Resources and FAQs   

Helpful Publications   

The following TDI publications will help you prepare for a disaster and become more knowledgeable about insurance issues:

General

Windstorm

  • No Inspection Required (PDF)
  • Repairing My Exterior Siding After a Storm (PDF)
  • Repairing My Garage Door After a Storm (PDF)
  • Repairing My Roof After a Storm (PDF)
  • Repairing My Windows and Doors After a Storm (PDF)

Homeowners

Auto

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)   

The NFIP encourages policyholders who experienced flood damage to file their claim through the agent who issued their flood insurance policy. Consumers interested in purchasing flood insurance should ask their agent about such coverage. For more information about flood insurance, call NFIP or visit its website.

1-888-FLOOD 29 (356-6329)
www.floodsmart.gov

  • NFIP Summary of Coverage (PDF)
  • After the Flood Fact Sheet (PDF)
  • Texas Flood Fact Sheet (PDF)
  • Filing Your Flood Insurance Claim (PDF)

Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA)   

Coverage for wind damage may be provided separately from your homeowners insurance by a TWIA policy. If you have wind coverage through TWIA, call TWIA or visit its website

1-800-788-8247
www.twia.org

Steps to take when filing a TWIA claim:

  1. file your claim using the TWIA claim form (First Notice of Loss)
  2. contact your agent to file a claim
  3. call the toll-free TWIA/FAIR plan number: 1-800-788-8247.

Note: Insurance companies that do not provide windstorm coverage should advise their policyholders who attempt to file windstorm claims with them to contact TWIA to find out if there is a TWIA policy in effect.

Texas FAIR Plan Association   

Steps to take when filing a FAIR Plan claim:

  1. file your claim using the Claims Reporting Form (PDF)
  2. contact your agent to file a claim
  3. call the toll-free TWIA/FAIR plan number.

1-800-979-6440
www.texasfairplan.org

Prevent Insurance Fraud   

Insurance Fraud Toll-Free Hotline - 1-888-327-8818

Online Fraud Reporting: Secure Transmission, Fast, Comprehensive, Easy Data Entry

Contact the Office of the Texas Attorney General   

Call the toll-free complaint line or file an online complaint form to report fraudulent business practices or price gouging. For more information about price gouging, visit the OAG website at www.oag.state.tx.us/consumer/price_gouging.shtml.

1-800-252-8011
Online Complaint Form | (PDF)
www.oag.state.tx.us/

File an Insurance Complaint   

Read about TDI's consumer complaints process in the Helping You With Your Insurance Complaint publication. You may also e-mail, mail, or fax your complaint along with copies of your supporting documents to

Texas Department of Insurance
Consumer Protection Program (MC 111-1A)
P.O. Box 149091
Austin, TX 78714-9091
Fax: 512-475-1771
E-mail: ConsumerProtection@tdi.texas.gov

Insurance Complaint Forms

TDI News Releases   


For more information contact:



Last updated: 03/26/2013



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Translation by WorldLingo