Responding to the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
Education
The Department of Education has set up a website, www.ed.gov/katrina, as a resource aimed at getting additional supplies to schools serving students displaced by the hurricane.
For information regarding assistance to college and university students affected by the hurricane:
- USC will enable approximately 100 students to attend classes at USC while earning credit at their home institutions, will detailed information available at http://www.usc.edu/katrina.
- UCLA will also welcome displaced students through UCLA Extension for the quarter beginning Sept. 24, with details posted at www.ucla.edu and www.uclaextension.com.
- Seven California State University will also admit students affected by the Hurricane, with details available at http://www.calstate.edu/PA/news/2005/katrina.shtml or through phone at 310-243-2004.
For information regarding K-12 students displaced by the hurricane:
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) will admit displaced students to the same free, appropriate public education is provided through its Homeless Education Program. Information can be obtained through the Homeless Education Office at 213-745-1977.
Price Gouging
One of the major concerns of the recent tragedies developing from Hurricane Katrina has been the enormous amount of businesses price gouging products to make profit from a terrible occurrence in our nation's history. As we are confronted with scarcity of resources that often results in exorbitant prices for necessary resources, businesses should continue to be consumer friendly and not make unconscionable prices that are unfair and harmful to consumers. If you fall victim to these instances of price gouging please contact the following governmental entities:
United States Department of Commerce
202-482-2000
www.commerce.gov
Better Business Bureau
202-393-8000
www.bbb.org
Jobs & Employment
The United States Department of Labor is offering several job and income support services for workers displaced by Hurricane Katrina. These services include, but are not limited to:
- Grants to states that have taken in displaced persons
- National Emergency Grants (NEG's) that provide jobs
- Unemployment insurance
- Disaster unemployment assistance
- Distribution of unemployment checks.
Below is a brief synopsis of the program the Department of Labor is offering during this tragic time. Please call the 24/7 toll free number (1-866-4-USA-DOL) or visit www.dol.gov to apply for any of these programs.
Housing
HUD has established a single toll-free number, 1-888-297-8685, to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The number operates from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. CST, seven days a week. Previously, HUD had toll free numbers for each of the different services provided by the agency, such as FHA insured-mortgages, Section 8, multi-family housing, lender information and public housing residents.
Immediately after the hurricane, HUD instructed all FHA-approved lenders to provide foreclosure relief to FHA-insured families who are affected by Hurricane Katrina. The relief includes a special 90-day moratorium on all foreclosures of FHA-insured properties in the Presidentially declared disaster areas. HUD is also encouraging lenders to undertake actions such as mortgage modification, refinancing, and waiver of late charges.
Volunteer Medical Services
The Department of Health and Human Services has established a website (https://volunteer.hhs.gov) and toll-free number (1-866-KAT MEDI) to help identify health care professionals and relief personnel to assist in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
Multidisciplinary healthcare professionals and relief personnel with expertise are encouraged to visit the website and register to volunteer for appointment by HHS. Please be advised that individuals must be healthy enough to function under field conditions.
Volunteers with no healthcare background can find information on volunteering at USAFreedomCorps.gov or by calling 1-877-USA-CORPS.