Hurricane Recovery in Houston

Sandra Fernandez, manager of public relations for Houston Public Library, contacted me this morning to give us an update on what the library has done to aid in recovery from Hurricane Ike, which made landfall on the Texas Gulf Coast shortly after midnight September 13. After talking last week with Chicago Public Library Commissioner Mary Dempsey and development guru Pat Martin, and after hearing both of them agree that these tough financial times are exactly the right time for us to be trumpeting the value of public libraries, it was gratifying to hear about what a central role HPL is playing in the recovery. A few notes from what Fernandez said the library  did to help patrons as well as other city employees in the days and weeks immediately after the hurricane devastated the area:  As of today, six HPL neighborhood libraries remain closed, she said, but they expect to have all but one open within the next week or so. Most, if not all, library employees and library users have regained power. Houston and Harris County are getting back to normal. Fernandez noted in her e-mail that in the wake of the devastation of Hurricane Ike, "HPL stepped up to help respond to the post-Ike needs of fellow citizens and city employees. Library staff acted quickly to reopen its Central Library and to shift the focus from the provision of normal library services to concentrate on how to best use the library's resources play an active role to help with the city's recovery efforts." "On the Tuesday after Ike, the Central Library reopened, with library employees working hard to provide fellow citizens with the support services and information resources they needed to get back on their feet," Fernandez said. "With power outages in every area of the city, HPL played a vital role by ensuring that citizens had online access to communicate their post-Ike status with family and friends, contact insurance companies, and make other critical connections. HPL staff exhibited great passion and patience while providing one-on-one assistance to citizens who need help with filing online FEMA and other aid applications online—some customers had never used a computer and others had very low literacy skills. When necessary, staff guided customers on a step-by-step instruction of how to navigate and finish the necessary forms online to apply for aid." Fernandez also said that as power returned and repairs were made, HPL re-opened additional library locations each day, providing customers with access to all services, including computers, Internet, and free Wi-Fi. Where possible, computer training labs and meeting rooms became Hurricane Ike Assistance Rooms to file for FEMA aid and insurance claims online and emailing family and friends. Other Library facilities were equipped with laptops to increase the number of computers available to customers. Assistance in accessing these online resources was provided by on-site librarians, many of whom previously aided Hurricane Katrina evacuees and also those affected by Hurricane Ike. In many locations, librarians printed out forms and guides customers would need, including emergency food stamps applications, information on applying for unemployment benefits, and follow-up instructions for FEMA aid. "What began as a service for only library staff members in the first days after Hurricane Ike, was promptly extended to include all city employees," she said. "At the request of Council Member Sue Lovell and Mayor Bill White, the Houston Public Library cared for more than 300 school-aged children of city of Houston employees, making it possible for their parents to return to work." How did they do it? Fernandez explained: "HPL learned of the need and began operations to provide emergency child care services to fellow city employees who needed a place to leave their school age children while schools remained closed. Guided by HPL's talented and skilled children and teen librarians, and utilizing the exciting library resources, books and new technology at the newly renovated Central Library, children and teens found adventure, face painting, crafts and new friends while their parents returned to their City of Houston jobs. Activities were designed to be both educational and entertaining. Teenagers created everything from duct-tape purses and wallets to custom t-shirts and videos. All participants were provided with free snacks and lunch. This HPL service was provided until all city independent school districts reopened their schools. More than 70 staff members participated in the child care, many of them from neighborhood library locations that were without power and thus unable to open." Houston Public Library also provided registration sites for the Blue Roof Program, for citizens that had storm related damages to their roof. The US Army Corps of Engineers provided a free temporary roof to residential structures through its Blue Roof Program. HPL used every available resource to provide services to as many customers as possible, said Fernandez. In addition to the library locations that opened, the HPL Mobile Express, HPL's "computer lab on wheels," was deployed to the parking lots of several neighborhood libraries that were not able re-opened at that time. Staff was available to assist residents who needed help with filing online FEMA applications. Fernandez wanted to acknowledge the help of Verizon Wireless in providing Wireless Broadband Access air cards to support the critical community services provided by HPL Mobile Express. In addition, Verizon Wireless provided 25 cell phones for use by customers at the HPL Mobile Express locations and Community Access Locations.