BLOOD DONATIONS:

• Bill T. Teague (Headquarters) - 1400 La Concha Lane (Reliant Stadium area)
• Champions - 6935 FM 1960 West, Suite A (at Cutten Road)
• Cy-Fair - 11811 FM 1960 West, Suite 120
• Gulfgate - 546 Gulfgate Center (behind Chuck E. Cheese)
• Humble/Kingwood - 9616 FM 1960 Bypass (Commons at Deerbrook, behind Olive Garden)
• Katy - 1575 S. Grand Parkway, Suite 600 (at Highland Knolls)
• Sugar Land - 4949 Sweetwater Blvd. (next to Kroger)
• Westchase - 10001 Westheimer, Suite 2117 (Carillon Shopping Center, behind la Madeleine)

The following mobile blood drives will be open to the public:

• St Joseph Medical Center (7 a.m. to 4 p.m.) - 1919 La Branch
• Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. (10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) - 10205 Westheimer, Suite 300
• VA Medical Center (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) - 2002 Holcombe
• San Jacinto Methodist Hospital (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) - 4401 Garth Road, Baytown
• Wharton County Jr. College (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) - 911 Boling Highway, Wharton

Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can Include as Required:

•  Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable.  Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters.  Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements.  (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
• Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional.  (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
• Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs.   (Source: FEMA funded at 75 percent of total eligible costs; 25 percent funded by the state.)
• Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits, such as self-employed individuals.  (Source: FEMA funded; state administered.)
• Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance.  Loans available up to $200,000 for primary residence; $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses.  Loans available up to $2 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance.  (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
• Loans up to $2 million for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster's adverse economic impact. This loan in combination with a property loss loan cannot exceed a total of $2 million. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
• Loans up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence.  (Source: Farm Service Agency, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.)
• Other relief programs: Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory assistance for legal, veterans benefits and social security matters.

Full details here: http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=45760

Health:
Information from a pharmacist at the Red Cross: If you’ve lost refrigeration and your supply of insulin warms up to room/environmental temperature ... IT IS STILL GOOD/USABLE for 30 DAYS. Do not try to re-refrigerate it, however, once it has warmed up.

Clean-up:

Be sure to bag up your debris. Sweeping it into drainage ditches or storm drains will only lead to flooding problems the next time it rains.

Mold: CDC reccommendsteh following:

Moisture and standing water often leads to the rapid appearance of mold on previously flooded surfaces; it may grow on exposed surfaces as well as inside (unseen) surfaces and can form within one to two days after flooding. Mold developing in indoor environments poses a health risk to many people, who may experience stuffy nose, eye irritation, skin irritation, or wheezing. Persons with weakened immune systems or chronic lung diseases (such as obstructive lung disease) may be at increased risk of developing mold infections in their lungs.

How to Safely Clean Up and Prevent Mold Growth:

• Clean up and dry out the building quickly (within 24-48 hours).
• Open doors and windows, and run fans to facilitate rapid drying. Fans placed in windows need to blow out.
• Remove all porous items that have been wet for more than 48 hours and that cannot be thoroughly cleaned and dried. 
• Examples of these items include: carpeting, carpet padding, and upholstery; insulation materials, drywall, and wallpaper; leather, paper, and wood; some clothing
• To prevent mold growth, clean wet items and surfaces with detergent and water.
• To remove mold from hard surfaces, use commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than one cup of bleach per gallon of water. Use a stiff brush on rough surfaces like concrete.
• When cleaning areas greater than ten square feet, refer to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guide titled: Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings at www.epa.gov/mold/mold_remediation.html. This guide includes useful information for buildings of all sizes.

• Follow manufacturer’s instructions when using bleach or other cleaning products.
• Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners. Mixing bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners will produce dangerous, toxic fumes.
• Open windows and doors to provide fresh air. 
• Wear non-porous gloves and protective eye wear.

To eliminate mosquito breeding habitats from your property Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services (HCPHES) recomends the following information. 

• Don’t feed the storm drains. Sweep up lawn clippings, leaves and tree limbs from sidewalks and driveways. 
• Empty any containers that can hold water such as flowerpots, tires, buckets and other outdoor containers.
• Keep rain gutters clear and draining.

Protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites. 
 

• When outdoors (especially between the hours of dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active), use an insect repellent containing DEET, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535 (Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus). Apply as directed on the label. 
• When possible, wear long-sleeved clothing and long-pants. Keep mosquitoes out of the house. 
• Make sure window and door screens are in good condition. 
• Seal other openings, such as those around window air conditioning units. 
• When mosquitoes are noticed

Staying Cool:

From a caller:
Put a cool cloth on your torso while sleeping and wake up cooler.  This works especially well with the elderly and small children who have trouble regulating their body temperature.   

If your neighbor has power and you do not, ask if you can freeze some water in a pan or bucket for a source of ice.