"My prayers go out to those victims of Hurricane Katrina. I am working around the clock with local, state and federal agencies to assist those stranded and suffering all along the devastated Gulf Coast. This is all about neighbors helping neighbors. Our country has shown it can come together during times of great crisis, and we will rise to that challenge again now. We can help those in need by donating time, money and goods to those agencies organized to help during times of crisis." ~Congressman Michael C. Burgess


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The federal government is supporting state and local authorities by leading one of the largest disaster response mobilizations in United States history to respond to Hurricane Katrina. For those individuals looking for ways to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina, or to find out more information on the disaster relief plans, please refer to the following organizations:

American Red Cross
1-(800) HELP NOW (435-7669) English
1-(800) 257-7575 Spanish
For Shelter and Service Locations: 1-(866)-GET-INFO
For Family Linking: 1-(877)-LOVED-1S
For Emergency Financial Assistance: (800) 975-7585


America's Second Harvest (800) 344-8070
Adventist Community Services (800) 381-7171
Catholic Charities, USA (703) 549-1390
Christian Disaster Response (941) 956-5183 or (941) 551-9554
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (800) 848-5818
Church World Service (800) 297-1516
Convoy of Hope (417) 823-8998
Lutheran Disaster Response (800) 638-3522
Mennonite Disaster Service (717) 859-2210
Nazarene Disaster Response (888) 256-5886
Operation Blessing (800) 436-6348
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (800) 872-3283
Salvation Army (800) SAL-ARMY (725-2769)
Southern Baptist Conv Disaster Relief (800) 462-8657 x.6440
United Methodist Committee on Relief (800) 554-8583

Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund
This fund, set up by former Presidents Bush and Clinton, serves as an umbrella organization for the three special funds established by Governors of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi and will focus on collecting donations to assist in the long-term recovery plan for the states affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Volunteer Center of North Texas
The center coordinates volunteers with agencies with disaster-related needs. Volunteers wishing to donate time and skills may fill out a volunteer application at the website or call (866) 797-8268 for more information.

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To assist with locating patients who may have been transferred to hospitals from New Orleans:

Louisiana Hospital Association

Alabama Hosptial Association

DFW Area Patient Locater


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Banking Concerns:

Consumers with questions about accessing bank accounts, lost records, ATM cards, direct deposit or how to reach their bank can contact the FDIC toll-free at 1-877-ASK-FDIC (1-877-275-3342). The hotline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The FDIC's Web site, FDIC, also has helpful consumer information.

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) has setup a hotline to field consumer calls. The number is 1-800-827-6282 x.4049 for Louisiana or x.3049 for Mississippi and Alabama.


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To help the pets and animals:

Help PETS Hurt by Katrina
In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, The HSUS has launched a massive relief effort to rescue animals and assist their caregivers in the disaster areas.
Toll-Free Hotline: 1-(800)-HUMANE-1
Email Humane Society Disaster Relief


Search Dog Foundation
The mission of the Search Dog Foundation is to produce the most highly trained canine disaster search teams in the nation. The job of these teams is to find people buried alive in the wreckage of natural disasters and terrorist attacks. Twenty-six Search Dog Foundation Advanced-Certified canine teams have been called out by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to search for people buried alive in the wreckage left by Hurricane Katrina.

1-(800)-Save-A-Pet
1-800-Save-A-Pet.com is a non-profit pet adoption charity that helps shelters, humane societies, SPCA's, and pet rescue groups advertise their homeless pets to adopters for free. Foster homes will be needed for the thousands of pets being recovered from the destruction left by Hurricane Katrina. We are compiling a database of foster homes for the various emergency response teams on the ground.

• Animal rescue of Texas has committed to working with the Humane Society of the United States to collect supplies needed for the animals that have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Many volunteers are needed in different capacities. Contact Kimberly Jenkins or by phone: (214) 559-2817.

• If you have an animal and need a place for it to stay, call (972)562-7297, ext. 123.

• If you left an animal behind and want to alert rescuers to its location, call 1-(800)-486-2631.

• If you want to be a foster family for an animal needing a temporary home in North Texas, call (214) 651-9611, ext. 123.

• If you want to adopt an animal – which would help make room for animals needing temporary quarters – call 1-(888)-264-6257. You can also get information online at SPCA of Texas

• Fort Worth Animal Care and Control Center - 4900 Martin St. Adoption hours: noon to 5 p.m. on weekends and noon to 6 p.m. on weekdays. (817) 392-3737.

• Humane Society of North Texas - 1840 E. Lancaster St. Adoption hours: noon-5 p.m. Sunday through Friday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. (817) 332-4768.

• Arlington Animal Shelter - 5920 W. Pioneer Parkway. Hours: 10 a.m.-6:45 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Saturday. (817) 451-3436.

• Denton Humane Society - PO Box 1972, Denton, TX 76202. (940) 382-7387.




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For those individuals looking for the latest information on federal and state responses to Hurricane Katrina, please utilize the following agencies:

Federal Emergency Management Agency

National Hurricane Center

Emergency Management Assistance Compact

Department of Education: Hurricane Help for Schools

Department of Health & Human Services: Hurricane Katrina

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

Department of Energy: Hurricane Katrina

Department of Homeland Security: Hurricane Katrina

Department of Defense: Hurricane Katrina

Department of Labor: Hurricane Recovery Assistance

Department of Transportation: Hurricane Katrina

White House: Hurricane Katrina

USA Freedom Corp - How to Volunteer and Help

Department of Agriculture: Hurricane Katrina

Department of Agriculture: Hurricane Katrina

Department of Agriculture - Women, Infants & Children (WIC Division): Hurricane Katrina

CONGRESSIONAL PRESS CONFERENCE on Hurricane Katrina, September 2, 2005

Alabama Emergency Management Agency
(205) 280-2200

Florida Division of Emergency Management
(850) 413-9969

Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness
(225) 925-7500

Mississippi Emergency Management Agency
(601) 352-9100 (800) 442-6362 Toll Free

City of Denton Relief Site
The website is designed to assist Hurricane Katrina evacuees in the Denton area connect with local and national services and resources. The website has connections for: The Texas Work Force Commission (TWC) so that you can register for Disaster Unemployment Insurance, or to locate a job in the North Central Texas area; Housing information, including helping those individuals with Section 8 vouchers; Connection to travel arrangement assistance; Registration information for the Denton Independent School Distrcit and both Universities in Denton; Connection to the Social Security administration; and connection to the United States Postal Service.