Some details revealed about housing plans for migrants bused to Houston from border
While exact details are not yet finalized, KPRC 2 has learned Catholic Charities and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will partner to provide respite services for migrants being bused from the border to Houston.
Consumer alert: Scammers targeting relatives of COVID-19 victims
Scammers are targeting the relatives of people who died from covid-19. According to the Federal Trade Commission, the con artists are claiming to offer help with funeral expenses, reaching out to people by phone, email and text message.
NRG Community Vaccination site to remain open for 4 more weeks, Hidalgo says
After receiving requests for an extension from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Mayor Sylvester Turner and other officials, FEMA and the Texas Division of Emergency Management have agreed to extend the duration of the vaccination site at NRG.
Gov. Greg Abbott requests extension of NRG vaccination site from FEMA
Greg Abbott has joined Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner in asking FEMA for an extension on the vaccination super-site at NRG. According to a news release by Abbott, he and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) asked FEMA for extensions for the NRG site as well as the federally supported vaccination sites in Arlington and Dallas. On top of asking for the extension on the already-existing sites in Texas, the TDEM submitted a request to establish a new site at the Alamodome in San Antonio, which FEMA denies, according to the release. AdAbbottโs announcement comes days after Hidalgo and Turner submitted their own letter asking for an extension of the NRG vaccination site through at least May. FEMA has yet to respond to the requests.
Mayor Turner, Judge Hidalgo request extension for vaccine clinic at NRG Park
HOUSTON โ Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo are requesting an extension of the FEMA supersite at NRG Park. The COVID-19 vaccination clinic, which opened on Feb. 24, was scheduled to remain at NRG Park for eight weeks. Now, Turner and Hidalgo are asking for the site to remain open through at least May 31. โOn Monday, the eligibility is going to extend to everyone in Houston, Harris County, and across the state of Texas. That mass vaccination site is needed even more so now, so the request is to extend that vaccination site, pretty much indefinitely,โ Turner said during a news briefing Wednesday.
The Latest: SKorean economy shrinks for 1st time in 22 years
It marked the first annual contraction for the countryโs economy since 1998, when it was in the midst of a crippling financial crisis. In comparison, the federal government previously said 38% of people would receive two doses by the end of June. Still, thatโs 700,000 doses on hand, when the state is getting 200,000 doses this week, rising to 223,000 next week. AdBharat Biotech has already signed an agreement with Brazil to supply 20 million doses of the vaccine by September. ___COLUMBUS, Ohio โ Ohioโs mask mandate will continue until a โcritical massโ has been reached of people who have received the coronavirus vaccine, a spokesperson for Ohio Gov.
President Biden, first lady Jill Biden visit Houston as many recover from devastating winter storm
HOUSTON โ President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden traveled to Houston Friday as Texas recovers from the winter storm. Biden is expected to survey damage and recovery efforts following the deadly winter storm. White House Press Secretary, Jen Psaki said this is not a partisan issue for the president. Then they will make stops at the Houston Food Bank, Harris County Emergency Operations Center before taking a tour at the FEMA super-site. โโฆAnd then, on top of that, we will be visiting one of the vaccine super sites they have located in Houston.โAccording to the White House, Biden will deliver remarks after touring the vaccination site.
FEMA supersite at NRG Park continues to administer thousands of COVID-19 vaccine doses
HOUSTON โ The FEMA supersite at NRG Park became fully operational Wednesday. The site plans to administer 126,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine over a three-week period. โThe vaccination site here at NRG Park is the largest operation we are running in Texas,โ said FEMA spokeswoman Carmen Castro. FEMA said many of the technical issues experienced Wednesday were fixed ahead of Thursdayโs opening. However, this, whatever is broken here at NRG, needs to be repaired.โAccording to the woman, workers told her others have experienced similar issues.
FEMA vaccine mega-site aims to vaccinate most vulnerable communities
HOUSTON โ A small number of people were allowed inside NRG Parkโs new mass vaccination site for its soft-opening Tuesday. The mega-site is set to open to those on the city of Houston and Harris Countyโs waitlists. Once the site is open, the goal is to have 126,000 people that meet eligibility requirements get vaccinated. City and county leaders say the focus will be on the elderly, vulnerable and high-risk zip codes. Sunnyside falls within the 70051 zip code, which is among a list of 35 zip codes with the highest risk for COVID-19.
Can you apply for FEMA if you have insurance? Top questions answered
Is FEMA help available for renters too? When you are applying for FEMA help you need to have your social security number, annual household income, contact information, insurance information (if you have it), and bank account information. Christine Tremonte said she is still waiting for FEMA assistance money after filing for assistance after Hurricane Harvey. Christineโs tale should not discourage you from applying for FEMA assistance. FEMA money for this freeze is more for immediate needs.
Over 14 million Texans still donโt have safe drinking water in their homes
HOUSTON โ More than 14 million Texans still do not have safe drinking water in their homes after a powerful winter storm burst pipes and knocked out power across the state this week. Toby Baker, executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, said the number of the stateโs 7,000 public water systems affected by the winter storm has increased from Friday to 1,445, but the population affected by those water systems has dropped slightly to 14.3 million. He said about 156,000 homes have no water service at all, which is down from 352,000 reported Friday. Kidd said the state has also ordered 250,000 meals-ready-to-eat to be distributed with another 5 million meals on the way. Kidd said Texans can also help the state complete its damage assessment faster by completing an online form to report damage that their property has sustained.
President Biden declares major disaster in Texas after winter storm
All rights reserved)President Joe Biden arrives at Kalamazoo Battle Creek International Airport to visit a Pfizer manufacturing site, Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, in Portage, Mich. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)President Joe Biden declared a major disaster in Texas after extreme winter weather caused power outages and water disruptions for millions in the state. Abbott requested the Major Disaster Declaration on Thursday, requesting individual assistance and public assistance in each of the stateโs 254 counties. Abbot requested the Major Disaster Declaration in order to provide individual assistance, public assistance, and hazard mitigation for individuals and communities impacted by the severe winter weather. The Biden administration approved the request for individual assistance in 77 counties and for public assistance in all 254 counties. โI thank President Biden for his assistance as we respond to impacts of winter weather across our state,โ said Abbott in statement.
โFar too burdensomeโ: Abbott pivots to recovery efforts as winter storm exits Texas
AUSTIN, Texas โ Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday prioritized the restoration of water and power to thousands of Texas homes still left dry and cold after this weekโs winter storm. โThis past week has been an enormous challenge, maybe unlike any challenge that youโve ever dealt with before,โ Abbott said. โIt has been far too burdensome for the lives of all those affected.โAbbott said about 165,000 homes are still without power, mostly in Central Texas. Abbott said he has also requested an emergency declaration from the federal Department of Agriculture to help farmers impacted by the storm.
FEMA warns of scammers using fake phone number for disaster relief
HOUSTON โ The Federal Emergency Management Agency said on social media Thursday that a false phone number is being used to scam people seeking help amid the winter weather disaster in Texas. FEMA said the best information will come from local officials and the Texas Division of Emergency Management. KPRC 2 has looked into this number and learned the number is to the IT department of FEMA, and helps people reset log in information. Screenshot of an image circulating on social media on Feb. 18, 2021. No links for payment or claim information related to this Texas disaster has been updated.
White House: Biden confident in FBI head, will retain him
FBI Director Christopher Wray speaks during a briefing about the upcoming presidential inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, at FEMA headquarters, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)WASHINGTON โ President Joe Biden has confidence in FBI Director Chris Wray and plans to keep him in the job, the White House press secretary said Thursday. FBI directors are given 10-year terms, meaning leadership of the bureau is generally unaffected by changes in presidential administrations. But Biden's spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, was notably noncommittal when asked at her first briefing Wednesday whether Biden had confidence in Wray. "I have not spoken with him about specifically FBI Director Wray in recent days," Psaki said.
FBI tracking 'extensive' online chatter about armed protests
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)WASHINGTON โ The FBI is tracking an โextensive amount of concerning online chatter,โ including calls for armed protests leading up to next week's presidential inauguration, Director Chris Wray said Thursday. Wray said the FBI was receiving a โsignificantโ amount of information that it was pushing out to other law enforcement agencies ahead of the inauguration. States nationwide have already been stepping up security in preparation for possible armed protests and violence this weekend, particularly at statehouses amid legislative sessions and inaugural ceremonies. An FBI bulletin earlier this week warned of potential armed protests in all 50 states. The vice president visited with guard troops keeping watch outside the Capitol, telling them heโs familiar with the National Guard because he used to be a governor.
Fort Bend County Habitat for Humanity opens Harvey Repair Program. Hereโs what you should know
HOUSTON โ More than three years have passed since Hurricane Harvey, but some people are still recovering from the stormโs devastating impact. The Fort Bend County Habitat for Humanity has opened its Harvey Repair Program. The program was made to help repair homes damaged by the storm by using funds from FEMA and insurance. The Harvey Repair Program is now open. The Fort Bend County Habitat for Humanity asks residents in need to fill out its Disaster Home Repair application and return it with the required supporting documentation to mike@fortbendhabitat.org.
DA launches probe into how FEMA money is being handled in Dickinson, sources say
DICKINSON, Texas โ A Texas Ranger arrived at Dickinson City Hall on Monday with a subpoena for records. City Administrator Chris Heard met with him briefly but said he canโt talk about what they discussed. Friction between Heard and Hunter led to Hunter recently being place on paid leave after only two months on the job. โShe brought up some concerns and we will just work through any issues that have arisen,โ Heard said. A spokesman for the District Attorneyโs office said he can neither confirm nor deny an investigation is underway.
FEMA ends extra $300 unemployment benefit for Texans this week. Hereโs why
HOUSTON โ The Federal Emergency Management Agency ended the Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program, which provided an additional $300 a week to qualified unemployment recipients impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a press release. FEMA previously approved TWC funding requests for the benefits weeks between Aug. 1 to Sept. 5. Recipients will continue to receive normal weekly benefit amounts for any benefit weeks for which they are eligible. The Lost Wages Assistance Program was a temporary provision established after the expiration of the $600 Federal Pandemic Assistance Program, a part of the CARES Act. For more information on eligibility requirements, available benefits and questions about the unemployment process, visit TWCโs COVID-19 FAQ page.
Who qualifies for the $300 FEMA unemployment boost and how to get it
HOUSTON โ Hundreds of thousands of Texans are now receiving $300 a week in addition to their unemployment benefits from the state. These are federal FEMA funds used in the Lost Wages Assistance program passed by President Trump after the $600 weekly boost from the feds expired at the end of July. Q: Who qualifies for the Lost Wages Assistance program and the weekly $300 benefit? A: If you are already receiving unemployment benefits, you do NOT need to do anything to receive the extra $300 dollars from the Lost Wages Assistance program. To start or stop federal tax withholding for unemployment benefit payments:โข Choose your withholding option when you apply for benefits online through Unemployment Benefits Services.
Local leaders beg for help from Trump administration as FEMA funding for 4 Houston-area testing centers to end June 30
HOUSTON โ Local leaders and lawmakers are pleading with the federal government to extend support for COVID-19 testing sites in Texas as cases continue to grow at a rapid rate. Seven COVID-19 testing centers across Texas, including four in the Houston-area, are set to lose federal funding on June 30, after the Trump administration decided not to extend the program that established them. He noted that Harris County has the third-largest population in the country and has seen a significant increase in positive COVID-19 cases in the past weeks. He said there is an increasing demand for testing sites in the county and that testing facilities have routinely reached capacity by midday. He also warned that losing federal support for testing sites could lead to catastrophic by โblunting the progressionโ of COVID-19.
FEMA cancels $55 million contract for N95 masks
A FEMA official told CNN that FEMA reviewed the company, which is not a manufacturer, and believed it would be able to fulfill the contract. But when Panthera requested another delivery extension of 96 hours on May 11, FEMA denied the extension and canceled the contract. "In this case, FEMA awarded a $55 million contract to a company for 10 million masks that it did not deliver by the initial May 1 deadline or extended deadline of May 11. The health and safety of our first responders depends on obtaining a sufficient quantity of these essential N95 masks and other personal protective equipment." Since the coronavirus pandemic started, thereโs been a global shortage of supplies โ including N95 masks, gloves, surgical masks and disposable gowns โ that would protect front-line and essential workers from the virus.
Nursing home PPE โreallocatedโ by FEMA
Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center in Brush, has had at least 26 residents with lab-confirmed positive COVID-19 tests and at least five residents with probable COVID-19. The facility also has at least 19 staff with lab-confirmed positive tests and at least 14 probable staff cases. "We placed an order on April 17 for some gowns, some face shields, and some disinfectant wipes. On April 24 we were notified that the disinfectant wipes had been reallocated by FEMA," said Griffith. They have still not received a refund for the shipment that never came, Griffith said, though they are working to get one.
Senator John Cornyn, Congressman Al Green discuss federal response to coronavirus
Senator Cornyn says the federal response improves dailySenator John Cornyn, (R) Texas, said the response to the COVID-19 pandemic is the biggest challenge of his career. Pat Sorrells is the CEO of Camp for All and Elise Hough is the CEO of Easter Seals Greater Houston. Easter Seals:Easter Seals Greater Houston is taking its annual fundraiser virtual. Support Easter Seals Greater Houston, in partnership with Prosperity Bank, until April 25. Senator John Cornyn, R, TexasU.S. Rep. Al Green, (D), 9th Congressional DistrictElise Hough, CEO Easter Seals Greater HoustonPat Sorrells, CEO, Camp For All
FEMA provides a 120-day grace period for National Flood Insurance Program
HOUSTON โ The Federal Emergency Management Agency is extending the grace period to renew flood insurance policies from 30 to 120 days. This move is to provide relief to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) customers who may be experiencing financial hardships during the coronavirus pandemic. The extension applies to flood insurance policies with an expiration date between February 13 to June 15. Typically, customers have a 30-day grace period to renew policies. We hope this extension will give policyholders some peace of mind and allow them extra time to renew their policies to ensure they are covered should a flood loss occur.โTo renew flood insurance policies or resolve an underpayment, policyholders can contact their insurance carriers or call the National Flood Insurance Program Call Center at (877)336-2627.
Attorney: Houston auctioneer has access to โmillionsโ of masks, โtruckloadsโ of sanitizer but Texas AG stands in way
HOUSTON โ Houston-area first responders and others could have access to โmillionsโ of additional N-95 masks and โtruckloads of hand sanitizerโ if it wasnโt for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the attorney for Auctions Unlimited told KPRC 2 Friday. He is the middle man for companies and individuals trying to sell everything from autographed baseballs to N-95 masks. Within an hour, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo signed an order to commandeer the N-95 masks, 200,000 dust masks, hand sanitizer and other equipment. Harris County officials presented Hidalgoโs order and proceeded to load the commandeered equipment into a white Penske moving truck. He also said Harris County will pay โfair marketโ price for the dust masks, N-95 masks and other equipment the county โcommandeered.โHarris County has not accused Auctions Unlimited of price gouging.
9 thing to know from Houston mayorโs coronavirus outbreak update Thursday
HOUSTON โ Mayor Sylvester Turner provided an update Thursday on coronavirus testing in Houston. Here are the top takeaways regarding the response to the coronavirus outbreak, including the announcement of the first death in Houston. Houston to sustain 1 testing siteTurner said the Butler Stadium testing facility in Houston has tested 1,100 people. FEMA supplies are comingTurner said FEMA shipped another load of supplies, including 5,000 test kits, Thursday. Free meals at Houston parksThe city of Houston will continue to help feed children during the Stay At Home order.
FEMA deadline for Imelda recovery in Montgomery County is Tuesday
The deadline is Tuesday for applying for disaster assistance with FEMA and SBA for in Montgomery County affected by Imelda. Residence can go to www.disasterassistance.gov to apply for assistance for physical damage suffered. Or you can visit the physical location: Bullas Sallas Park Pavilion and Rodeo Arena at 21675B McCleskey Rd. New Caney, Texas 77357. The office hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
FEMA hiring Texas residents after Hurricane Harvey
HOUSTON โ FEMA is hiring workers across Texas. In partnership with the state of Texas, the agency is hiring for administrative, logistical and technical jobs related to hurricane recovery. Those hired will join the recovery team made up of local, state and federal workers, voluntary agencies and community organizations that is already in place. Through temporary local employees, FEMA hopes to gain community insights and provide jobs that put Texans to work helping Texans, the agency said. To apply for a position with FEMA, candidates must first register through the Texas Workforce Commissionโs website.