In the wake of the largest flooding disaster in U.S. history, Houstonians need information about where to get help, including help with legal matters. Below you'll find resources for dealing with legal issues, finding shelter and emergency assistance, and post-flood recovery resources, like property issues and reporting fraud and price gouging. Attorneys and legal professionals can also find volunteer opportunities at the bottom of the page.
Legal Assistance
Houston Volunteer Lawyers Clinics (713-228-0732): Call the HVL intake line to sign up for a free legal advice clinic specifically for flood victims.
Houston Bar Association LegalLine (713-759-1133): Speak to volunteer attorneys and get legal advice, including resources for those affected by the storm.
HBA LegalLine is available on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month from 5p.m. to 9p.m. A Spanish-language LegalLine (Consejos Legales) is offered in partnership between the HBA, the Mexican American Bar Association of Houston and the Hispanic Bar Association of Houston on the 1st Thursday of each month.
State Bar of Texas Legal Hotline (800-504-7030): Available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, this helpline connects low-income people affected by a disaster with legal aid providers in their area who can help with such issues as replacing lost documents, insurance questions, landlord-tenant problems, and consumer protection issues such as price-gouging and avoiding contractor scams in the rebuilding process. Callers can leave a message any time. People who qualify for assistance will be matched with Texas lawyers who have volunteered to provide free, limited legal help.
Know Your Rights articles from the Office of Vince Ryan, Harris County Attorney: Learn
how to avoid contractor scams;
about your rights as a renter if your apartment is unlivable due to flooding;
where to call if you need help (renters can call the County Attorney's Office at (713) 755-6065 for information about their legal rights).
Lone Star Legal Aid Hurricane Harvey Relief Resources - Find information on topics related to disaster recovery, including post-disaster renters rights, replacing lost documents, applying for aid through FEMA and the SBA, avoiding home repair fraud, and filing insurance claims.
TexasLawHelp.org Disaster Relief Resources: extensive list of disaster relief information and services available, including legal aid services, disaster claims information, and legal FAQs on recovering from disasters.
Houston Lawyer Referral Service (713-237-9429 or 800-289-4577): find free referrals for attorneys who practice in the Houston area. Initial 30-minute consultation is $20.
Texas Attorney General (800-621-0508): find assistance with disaster scams, including price gouging and home repair flim flams, from the Texas AG Consumer Protection Division. Link includes tips on avoiding scams.
Emergency Aid and Information
Ready Harris: Emergency alerts and announcements about emergency events across Harris County from Harris County Homeland Security & Emergency Management. Sign up for text and email alerts.
City of Houston Emergency Information (3-1-1 or 713-884-3131): Information about shelters, emergency services, utility outages, service closures, and frequent disaster updates.
Red Cross Disaster Assistance Hotline (866-526-0677): find information on open shelters, how to list yourself as well after a disaster, and how to search for family members.
Red Cross Mental Health Line - Text TALKWITHUS to 66746
Post-Flood Resources
Harris County Project Recovery: Links and information to recover from the Harvey flood disaster, including guides for filing with FEMA after a house flood, finding a towed vehicle, finding shelter, and finding help with clean up and fraud prevention.
Houston Recovers: Collection of links and news for community resources from the City of Houston to assist residents and businesses with disaster recovery, from applying for food, housing and utility assistance, to debris removal and FEMA claims.
Recovery Texas: For Texans who live outside Harris County, the Recovery Texas page from the Texas General Land Office provide recovery assistance information and links to local agencies.
United Way After Storm Resource Guide: Includes checklists, FEMA information, phone numbers for financial and consumer advice, phone numbers for counseling services, healthcare resources, employment-related resources, and 24-hour emergency services phone numbers.
Help for Victims of Hurricane Harvey from the IRS: Learn about a wide variety of tax relief programs available to individuals and businesses impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
FEMA Disaster Assistance (800-621-3362 - TTY 800-462-7585): Apply for assistance, find local assistance, and link to trusted assistance organizations.
