March kicks off Women’s History month nationwide. The pandemic continues to keep Americans at home, away from museums and historical sites. But this reality only fuels the rise of digital collections and exhibits, which allows would-be museum-goers to visit collections around the globe from the simple comfort of home. Here are some of our favorites when it comes to women’s history.
Read moreCelebrating Robert W. Hainsworth
In honor of Black History Month, the Harris County Robert W. Hainsworth Law Library is celebrating the life and work of Robert W. Hainsworth. At a time when segregation was prevalent in Houston, including in the county courthouse, he took a stand for equality and fought for open and equal access to the Law Library. Learn more about Mr. Hainsworth's fight for equality on our updated webpage devoted to his life's work.
Read moreDisaster Declarations 101
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Many Texans may have heard the phrase “disaster declaration” yet again last week—but what does that phrase really mean? Winter Storm Uri brought with it disaster declarations at the federal, state, and local levels for Texas, and these types of declarations are explored further in this blog post.
Read moreWinter Storm Uri Recovery Resources
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Last week, Winter Storm Uri wreaked havoc coast-to-coast as record snow, ice, and cold temperatures blanketed much of the nation. Here, in Texas, millions were left without power as the power grid that supplied electricity to much of the state failed amid growing demand. Not only did residents face power outages, they had to confront water shortages from burst or frozen pipes and water mains and empty shelves at grocery stores. Fortunately, power has been restored, but for many, there is still much more to be done.
For those requiring assistance or simply looking for answers to some questions they might have, the librarians at Harris County Robert W. Hainsworth Law Library have compiled a list of helpful disaster relief resources:
TexasLawHelp.org - Winter Strom Uri - Disaster Relief and Recovery - Users can find information on submitting a homeowners insurance claim, answers for common questions people have about disasters, steps they can take to recover from the disaster, and avoiding disaster scams. There are also links to legal organizations and other helpful groups, such as the American Red Cross and the National Consumer Law Center.
ReadyHarris.org - Winter Weather Recovery Resources - ReadyHarris.org, the web portal for Harris County, has a page devoted to winter weather recovery resources, such as the latest news and updates and links for applying for federal disaster assistance, reporting price gouging in the county, and a Houston Food Bank Finder. The website also provides some data on where residents can find supplies. Visitors to the website also being asked to complete a survey documenting any damage they sustained.
State Bar of Texas - Disaster Relief Resources - The State Bar of Texas has a toll-free legal hotline, 800-504-7030, to connect low-income residents with legal aid providers. The hotline is available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. There is also a guide to help people understand FEMA. There are also presentations about replacing lost documents, insurance help, renters rights, and scams and price gouging. Some disaster relief contacts are also provided.
DisasterAssistance.gov - People looking to apply for disaster assistance can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov. The website also provides a personalized list of possible resources for assistance. Users can also search for federal disaster relief by category or agency.
Harris County Attorney - If you suspect that you were the victim of price gouging, visit the website of the Harris County Attorney to find information about what you can do and how you can file a complaint.
Houston Bar Association - The public can find general disaster recovery information and assistance, information about specific issues, and information about further help from the Houston Bar Association and its affiliates. There are also resources for attorneys.
For additional resources, please visit the Law Library’s Disaster Recovery Resources webpage.
Presidential Libraries
On Monday, February 15, 2021, the United States will celebrate President’s Day, a day set aside to honor the office of the presidency. The focus of today’s post, however, is not the holiday itself, but on the repositories that house resources by and about our nation’s leaders, the Presidential Libraries.
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