Hurricane Help

General Information

hurricanehelp — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 22:48:25 +0000

The header image show above is of Hurricane Katrina over the Gulf of Mexico as a Category 5 hurricane on August 28, 2005 at 11:45 a.m. EDT. Photo by NOAA.

The purpose of this page is to provide information to lower and middle class families with children under the age of 18 in their home. This information is currently largely targeted specifically at families living on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties, but is slowly being expanded to include other areas on the Gulf Coast.

There is information on these pages about recovering in the long run after a hurricane since it does take a long time. It also includes information on preparing for the next hurricane given that they have hit the area repeatedly. The information here is not targeted at immediate help people may need after a hurricane, although there is some overlap.

There are general contact numbers and websites listed below that give you the most basic contact information for different organizations. More detailed information can be found on the rest of this page.

The information here is separated into different categories for ease of use.

There is also some information in Spanish and very little in Vietnamese.

Special thanks to Christina Ortiz for her help with the Spanish translations.

If there is other information you would like to see here, please leave a message below!

Get Help

hurricanehelp — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 22:48:02 +0000

Red Cross
The Red Cross’ Family Links Registry can help you track down family members still missing after the storm. Call them at 1-800-568-3317.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Chapter of the Red Cross (MGCRC):
Email at admin@redcross-msgc.com
Call at 228-896-4511 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
Located at:
2782 Fernwood Road
Biloxi, MS 39531

Mississippi Gulf Coast Chapter Hurricane Recovery Program (HRP): Call at 228-678-0977.

Southeast Mississippi Chapter of the Red Cross:
Email at info@redcross-sems.org
Call at 228-762-2455
Fax to 228-762-0838
Located at:
1096 Jackson Ave
Pascagoula, MS 39567

Episcopal Relief and Development
1-800-334-7626
Long Term Katrina Relief Page

United Methodist Committee on Relief
1-800-554-8583
Hurricane Page Salvation Army
1-800-725-2769
Disaster Relief Information Catholic Charities
1-800-919-9338
Disaster Relief Information
Biloxi Diocese
Call at (228) 702-2100
Located at:
1790 Popps Ferry Rd
Biloxi, Mississippi 39532-2118

Relief Services in the Biloxi Area with Catholic Charities
Diocesan Director: Sister Rebecca Rutkowski
Call at 228-702-2123
Mail information to:
P.O. Box 1457
Biloxi, MS 39533-1457

Emergency Assistance with Catholic Charities
Call at 228-432-0045 or 601-545-1616
Social Workers: Mrs. Dianne Purser and Mrs. Delane Krause
Mail to:
P.O.Box 1457
Biloxi, MS 39533-1457
Case Manager: Mrs. Jannie Green Funchess
Call at 601-545-1616
Located at:
208 South 25th Ave.
Hattiesburg, MS 39401

FEMA
Call at 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585)

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Hurricane Recovery
Call at 601-965-4757
Fax at 601-965-4773
Email at MS_Webmanager@hud.gov (include your city and state and, if you are talking about HUD property, the address)
Located at:
McCoy Federal Building
100 W. Capitol Street
Room 910
Jackson, MS 39269-1096 HUD in Mississippi

Information You Need

hurricanehelp — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 22:41:45 +0000

When you are trying to get help after a disaster, a lot of people ask you for information. Keep the following information and items in a waterproof bag and keep it in a place that is safe/secure, but that you will remember to grab it from as you leave. Here is some information you should write down and keep track of, since people may ask you for it:

your full legal name (no nicknames),
your title (Mr., Mrs., Miss, etc.),
your email address (if you have one),
your birthday (day, month, and year),
your mother’s maiden name (her name before she got married),
your Social Security number,
your current address,
your address before the disaster hit,
who lives in your home (children, husband or wife, parents, etc.),
the full legal name, title, birthday, and Social Security information for people who live in your home (children, husband or wife, parents, etc.),
recent pictures of family members you are trying to evacuate with in case of separation,
a telephone number FEMA can call you at,
your insurance policy number,
what type of insurance you have (flood insurance, etc.),
the company you have insurance with,
a copy of your paperwork with your insurance company,
your total annual household income (the number you used on your last tax form),
your current or previous employer information,
a copy of your marriage license,
a copy of birth certificates for family members,
ID cards (military or driver’s license),
a copy of your deed or renter’s agreement for your home,
know what your losses were (for example, that your house was destroyed, your apartment damaged, or your car is gone).