disability911: Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities

Hurricane Harvey Resources for People with Disabilities

Compiled with assistance of the Pacific ADA Center and the ADA National Network:

About disability911

History

Lex Frieden, ILRU Director, found himself trapped in his home, sitting in his power chair, chest high in water during Tropical Storm Allison. This experience provided the impetus for ILRU, a program of TIRR Memorial Hermann, to become actively involved in recovery assistance and disaster planning for people with disabilities. In September, 2005, ILRU led efforts by a coalition of disability groups around the country providing support and assistance to people with disabilities along the Gulf Coast of the United States who were affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. During the course of 12 months subsequent to landfall of Hurricane Katrina, ILRU staff responded to more than 3,000 telephone calls and emails for help from people with disabilities in Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Texas who were displaced by the hurricanes.

Whom We Serve

We serve people with disabilities or functional needs affected directly or whose situation was exacerbated by disasters like Hurricane Ike. We proudly initiated our Hurricane Ike Recovery Project for People with Disabilities and now our services expand to people with disabilities encountering other disasters as well as Hurricanes. In order to access our services, clients must have a qualifying disability and a qualifying disaster-related incident. Most, but not all, of the clients we serve are on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

What We Provide

This website includes information that ILRU gathered during the months immediately following the Katrina and Rita storms and which has been gathered since then as part of our efforts to assist people with disabilities, their families, independent living centers and other organizations prepare for and respond to disasters which may affect people with disabilities.

We also provide clients with:

  • An assessment of disability-related needs
  • Peer counseling
  • Materials for accessibility modifications
  • Research and referral to organizations providing community social service assistance

To utilize our service, please contact:
ILRU
1333 Moursund
Houston, Texas 77030
(713) 520-0232 (Voice)