Texas Power Outages Information
Relief Programs
If you have any questions or if my office can be helpful to you or your neighbors, please contact my San Antonio District Office at (210) 348-8216 or by email at RoseAnn.Maldonado@mail.house.gov.
Local Programs
CPS Energy:
CPS has said that they are focused on making sure customers’ bills are affordable. It is still unknown what the full impact of last week’s weather event will cost. CPS has suspended the autopay system. If customers had an autopay payment come out of their bill last week CPS is asking that you call them at 210-353-2222 to discuss reimbursement.
Food Delivery:
SAPD has partnered with the SA Food Bank to deliver food to those in most need of it. Please call 2-1-1 to request delivery and schedule a delivery time.
SAWS Community Pipe Repair:
As the community recovers from the extreme winter weather, many of our neighbors have been left without reliable running water due to freeze-damaged pipes in their home. Community Pipe Repair, or CPR for short, is here to assist those who may not be able to afford a plumber to make repairs. If you qualify, SAWS will send a plumber to your home to make repairs and restore water flow to key fixtures: toilets, faucets, bathtubs, and showers. All at no cost to you. If you rent your home or apartment, the property owner must agree to the terms of the program and sign the CPR application form, which includes a Waiver of Damages. More details on eligibility are to be announced soon. Please visit:https://www.saws.org/cpr/
Bottled Water Distribution Sites as of Monday, February 22, 2021
The bottled water distribution sites are hosted by the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, and SAWS. These sites will remain open through March 6.
Visit https://www.bexar.org/civicalerts.aspx?AID=667 for more information.
- Wheatley Heights Sports Complex: 200 Noblewood Dr.
- Brooks: Challenger Dr. at Research Place
- Texas A&M University, San Antonio, Main Campus: One University Way
- Port San Antonio: 205 Billy Mitchell Blvd
- SeaWorld San Antonio/Aquatica: 10500 Sea World Drive
- Six Flags Fiesta Texas: 17000 IH 10 West
- Food Bank: 5200 Enrique M. Barrera Pkwy
- Our Lady of the Lake University: 411 SW 24th St
- Community Bible Church: 2477 N Loop 1604 E
- Heroes Stadium: 4799 Thousand Oaks Dr.
- Rolling Oaks Mall: 6909 N Loop 1604 E
- Bullis County Park: 27583 Old Blanco Rd
- Julius Matthey Middle School: 20350 Red Forest Ln
- Leon Valley Community Center: 6427 Evers Road
- AT&T Center: 1 AT&T Center Parkway
- City of Converse Community Center: 407 S. Seguin Rd. (across from the Police Department & City Hall)
- World Christian Ministries: 6633 Walzem Road
- Emergency Services District 5 Fire & Rescue: 7120 East 6th Street, Somerset, TX 78022
- Emergency Services District 7 Station 116: 18805 Highway 16N (Bandera Road), San Antonio, TX 78023
State of Texas Programs:
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) received federal approval to SNAP recipients to use their food benefits to purchase hot foods and ready-to-eat meals and for the replacement benefits for food lost or destroyed due to impacts from the severe winter storm. SNAP clients are encouraged to stay home and request their replacement food benefits by dialing 2-1-1 and selecting option 2. Alternately, recipients can download Form H1855 (Affidavit for Nonreceipt or Destroyed Food Stamp Benefits) on the HHSC website. To limit exposure to COVID-19, recipients are encouraged to mail or fax the completed form to HHSC instead of visiting their local offices. Completed forms should be mailed to Texas Health and Human Services Commission, PO Box 149027, Austin, TX, 78714-9027, or faxed to 1-877-447-2839. For more information, please visit hhs.texas.gov.https://hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/laws-regulations/forms/H1855/h1855.pdf
The Texas Workforce Commission: is welcoming unemployment applications for Texans who lost hours due to the recent winter storm. TWC has also announced that the work search requirement for Feb. 20-27 has been suspended statewide. For more info call 800-939-6631 or visit twc.texas.gov.
USDA Programs: The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC): continues to work with local, state, federal, and nongovernmental partners to address the severe winter weather effects on Texas livestock and poultry and is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to deliver programs that provide assistance to rural communities, farmers and ranchers, families and small businesses affected by the recent winter storm. Please visit :https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2021/02/17/usda-ready-assist-farmers-ranchers-and-communities-affected-winter
Federal Programs
FEMA Assistance:
Individual Assistance (IA): FEMA’s direct assistance to individuals and households.
There are currently 77 counties eligible for IA, in which Bexar county is included. These counties can be viewed on the FEMA map found at the Texas Severe Winter Storms (DR-4586-TX) declarations page athttps://www.fema.gov/disaster/4586
Public Assistance (PA) FEMA grant program for eligible state, local, tribal governments, and certain non-profit organizations. This assistance is limited to FEMA’s Category B Emergency Protective Measures. Eligible applicants in all 254 Texas counties are eligible for this grant program.
How does a Texan apply for FEMA IA? Individuals in one of the 77 declared counties for IA can register online at:www.DisasterAssistance.gov Or call: 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-462-7585
Mental Health
To assist people in the impacted area in coping with the stress of the winter storms, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration activated the Disaster Distress Helpline.
This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support provides immediate crisis counseling and support. Residents in affected areas may call or text 800-985-5990 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
Scam Alert:
Do not trust anyone who offers financial help and then asks for money or personal information. The Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff never charge for disaster assistance.
- The best information on legitimate sources of help in your area will come from local officials.
- Do not disclose information to any unsolicited telephone calls and e-mails.
- Federal and local disaster workers do not solicit or accept money.
- Beware of visits, calls, or emails from people claiming to be from FEMA asking for your Social Security number, bank account or other sensitive information. Giving out this type of information can lead to identify theft.
- The Texas Department of Insurance is warning people to be aware of potential contracting scams as they begin making repairs. They are operating a help line to prevent contractor scams: 800-252-3439.
Small Business Administration:
The SBA has opened a Virtual Business Recovery Center and Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center to provide assistance to business owners, homeowners, and renters. SBA Customer Service Representatives will be available to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process, and help with completing electronic loan applications. The center is opened Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.. You may email FOCWAssistance@sba.gov or call (800) 659-2955.
Businesses of all sizes and private-nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged real estate, inventory, equipment and other business assets. SBA can also lend funds to businesses and homeowners to help with the cost of improvements to protect or minimize the same type of disaster damage from reoccurring. Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged personal property. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. visithttps://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/
Please see attached small business informational for additional details.
The Internal Revenue Service
Victims of winter storms that began February 11, 2021 now have until June 15, 2021, to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments.
Individuals and households affected by severe winter storms that reside or have a business in all 254 Texas counties qualify for tax relief. The declaration permits the IRS to postpone certain tax-filing and tax-payment deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster area. If an affected taxpayer receives a late filing or late payment penalty notice from the IRS that has an original or extended filing, payment or deposit due date that falls within the postponement period, the taxpayer should call the telephone number on the notice to have the IRS abate the penalty. The IRS automatically identifies taxpayers located in the covered disaster area and applies filing and payment relief. But affected taxpayers who reside or have a business located outside the covered disaster area should call the IRS disaster hotline at 866-562-5227 to request this tax relief.
Please visit : https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-announces-tax-relief-for-texas-severe-winter-storm-victims for more details.
Other:
Insurance: Please check with your home or renters insurance company, as many policies offer compensation for lost food as a result of spoilage up to $500
- If you have damage from the Texas severe winter storms and have insurance, contact your insurance company to file a claim. When you apply for FEMA disaster assistance, you will also need to provide your insurance claim information.
- The Texas Department of Insurance can provide contact information for insurance companies and answer questions about how to file a claim. Call 800-252-3439 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT, Monday to Friday. Survivors can also view insurance company contact information online.
American Kidney Fund's Disaster Relief Program
A rapid-response system providing emergency charitable financial assistance to dialysis patients who are victims of a natural disaster. Disaster relief grants from AKF help patients replace lost medications and special renal diet foods, pay for temporary housing and transportation to treatment, and replace clothing and personal essentials lost in a natural disaster. If you are a dialysis patient and have been impacted by the power outages, you may contact AKF directly at 800-795-3226.