FOR ASSISTANCE PRIOR TO THE STORM, CALL JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE AT 713-667-9336; IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO CONNECT, CALL JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE IN DALLAS AT 972-437-9950. IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS AFTER THE STORM (ELECTRICITY OUTAGES, SHELTER NEEDS, ETC.), PLEASE CALL 311.
Our city and Jewish community is mobilized and prepared. Now, we await the storm.
As of late Thursday afternoon, it appears that Ike will strike the Houston-Galveston area. We urge you to monitor local weather broadcasts and announcements from local authorities regarding late-breaking updates on the status of the storm. An important resource for you is the City of Houston website, www.houstontx.gov, which will provide updated information on the hurricane and allow you to receive email updates when you subscribe to CitizensNet.
Our Jewish community's Emergency Response Team met Thursday afternoon to insure that all emergency procedures are in place and to begin formulating a post-storm action plan for the community, if one should be required. Most Jewish community schools and institutions will be closed on Friday; many will be closed through the weekend because of the threat of Hurricane Ike. We would advise you to check with each institution to determine whether a particular activity will occur.
We want to remind you again of the support network available through our Jewish community institutions, should they be required by you, by the elderly or infirm or by anyone that is unable to care for themselves. If you, or a loved one, or someone you know needs special assistance to prepare for the storm, please call Jewish Family Service at 713-667-9336. Alternatively, you can send an email to jfsstormhelp @gmail.com. If the storm does come to the Galveston-Houston area and if phone lines go down or you are unable to get through, then call Jewish Family Service in Dallas at 972-437-9950. They are providing back up support for our community and can provide similar guidance and support. If you have decided to relocate to the Dallas area during the storm, they can also assist with home hospitality.
If the storm does create significant problems for the community and you are interested in volunteering to assist after the storm, please contact Jewish Family Service by sending an email to jfsvolunteer@g mail.com.
We hope and pray that you, your family and loved ones will be safe. Please take appropriate precautions and take care of yourself. The Jewish Federation and our Jewish community institutions are here to provide support prior to, during and after the storm. Let us know how we can be of assistance.
Sincerely,
Lee Wunsch
President & Chief Executive Officer
phone: 713-729-7000
web: http://www.houstonjewish.org
