Hurricane Harvey Information: Assistance & Resources


UPDATED 9/3/17 1:00 PM – New Form Added: Volunteer, Donation Items, Therapy Provider Support

8/31/17: We would like to thank the autism community around the country for their overwhelming generosity in offering support and donated items. At this time, it is most helpful if you can make a monetary donation or mail gift cards to Target, Walmart, or Texas grocery stores (HEB, Kroger) so we can distribute. We also ask that if you are offering volunteer help, therapy or other professional services, or have items to donate, please help our staff by filling out the form below, so that staff is freed up to directly provide support to Hurricane Harvey victims. We thank you for your assistance in helping us work more efficiently to help Harvey victims!

If you are family or an adult with autism seeking assistance after Hurricane Harvey:  If you have phone or internet service, please contact the organizations below for Harvey support. You can also call our office (512) 479-4199 or the national office (1-800-3-Autism or 328-8476) for autism navigational or emotional support, or email Anne@texasautismsociety.org.

To donate items, offer therapy support or professional services, or offer volunteer help: Please complete this form. We will contact you as we match needs to offers of help. Thank you so much!

Social Story for families in shelters:  Harvey social story

Hurricane Guide For Families (Sesame Street):  SupportAfterEmergency_Printable_Hurricane_FamilyGuide

If you are looking to donate to support Autism families in Texas, please click below to make a donation to the Autism Society of Texas. We are working with families directly to get them the supports that they need. Please do not mail donated items (other than gift cards) to our office. Thank you!

Donate here: https://austinautismsociety.greatfeats.com/donate  Please check the “Harvey relief” box. Thank you.

Checks, cash donations, or gift cards can go to our office at 300 E. Highland Mall Blvd, Suite 205, Austin, TX 78752.  Please indicate “Harvey” in a note, or the check memo line. Thank you.

The Autism Society of Texas has set up a Hurricane Harvey Disaster Fund for autism families. 100 percent of all contributions will be used to help individuals and families impacted by the hurricane who are also impacted by autism. Funds will be used for immediate short term needs such as helping individuals and families with flooding by providing temporary housing, cleaning supplies, food, clothing, sensory support items etc. If funds remain after helping on an immediate basis, then funds will be used for longer term recovery issues such as relocation, anxiety and stress related issues, etc. All funds will be tracked and a comprehensive report of use of funds will be made available to donors.

Flooding and wind damages to a family or individual impacted by autism often creates issues and problems beyond such safety, clean up, relocation, etc. While each family and individuals impacted by autism will have different issues, common challenges will be the sudden onset of change to a person’s life, loss of routine, loss of a familiar environment, etc.

Disaster Distress Hotline:

The Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, is a 24/7, 365-day-a–year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories. Stress, anxiety, and other depression-like symptoms are common reactions after a disaster. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
(
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline)

Houston Area General Donations:

http://www.houstonemergency.org/donations-drop-off/

Austin Area General Donations:

www.adrn.org

Houston Shelters:

http://abc13.com/weather/list-of-shelters-around-houston-area/2341032/

Austin Shelters:

List of shelters for evacuees, residents seeking shelter

Clean up support:

https://www.texasrescuemap.com/muckmap

Autism Specific Support in Houston area:

Autism Rescue Angels

Red Cross: Disaster Safety for People with Disabilities

http://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/disaster-safety-for-people-with-disabilities#Plan-Ahead

Texas Health & Human Services

https://www.dads.state.tx.us/hurricane/

Texas 211

https://www.211texas.org/211/ Provides a voluntary registry for people who need assistance and evacuation in the case of a hurricane or natural disaster. The public may register year-round. Registry information will be forwarded to local Offices of Emergency Management (OEMs). Local OEMs have the responsibility for coordinating evacuations.

State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR)

https://publicregistry.csr.utexas.edu/enroll/

STEAR provides citizens with a means to voluntarily register their needs during an emergency response. This registry was developed for people who need assistance during an emergency response, including evacuation assistance during a hurricane response.

Austin Disaster Relief (aid throughout Texas, not just Austin)

https://www.adrn.org

FEMA

https://www.fema.gov/

READY.GOV

https://www.ready.gov/

Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies

Hotline for Harvey: Phone: (800) 626-4959

Website: http://www.disasterstrategies.org/?fref=gc

http://disasterstrategies.org/application/files/3815/0370/1936/DisasterSurvivors-Hotline.pdf

Portlight

Hotline for Harvey: (800) 626-4959

Website: http://www.portlight.org/

After the Storm-United Way Houston guide

https://www.unitedwayhouston.org/assets/uploads/documents/news-publications/Greater-Houston-after-the-storm.pdf

Autism Speaks Natural Disaster Resource

https://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/autism-safety-project/natural-disaster-resources

Disability Rights-Housing Resources for those displaced by Harvey

https://www.disabilityrightstx.org/resources/housing