Aids for Tax Preparers Assisting Taxpayers Affected by the 2005 Hurricanes
      A pair of aids, a comprehensive Disaster Services Referral Guide to information and forms and Instructions for the Use of Disaster Services Referral Guide, is available. They are intended for use by IRS employees and volunteers at IRS Volunteer Return Preparation Program sites (VITA, TCE, Military VITA, etc.) who help taxpayers affected by the 2005 hurricanes.

Disaster Services Referral Guide
http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=150899,00.html

Instructions for the Use of Disaster Services Referral Guide
http://www.headstartinfo.org/pdf/ins_disaster_referral.pdf

“Getting Your Taxes Done in 2006” Available from IRS
      Download four guides to “Getting Your Taxes Done in 2006”. The brief fliers are developed specifically for individuals impacted by Hurricane Katrina. The IRS toll-free special hurricane hotline phone number is 1-866-562-5227.

“Visiting A Free Tax Preparation Site”
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4512.pdf

“Obtaining Prior Year Returns, Transcripts and Social Security Numbers”
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4512-a.pdf

“Obtaining Your W-2’s”
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4512-b.pdf

“Determining If You Have A Tax Deductible Casualty Loss”
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4512-c.pdf

ACYF-PI-HS-05-04 Facilities Damaged in Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
http://www.headstartinfo.org/publications/im05/pi05_04.htm
     Guidance is provided to each Head Start grantee with one or more damaged centers in developing a facility strategy that will, as quickly as possible, allow the grantee to start again to serve Head Start children. Grantees are also expected to find temporary ways to provide Head Start services to children and families still in the community. In addition, guidance is provided regarding the extent of reimbursement funding for dislocated/evacuated children.

ACYF-IM-HS-05-06 Head Start Staff Impacted by Hurricane Katrina
http://www.headstartinfo.org/publications/im05/im05_06.htm
     Head Start and Early Head Start grantees are asked to consider steps to assist their staff who are currently unable to work because of the impact of Hurricane Katrina. Required and recommended salary payments are stated. Alternative ways are suggested for available staff to provide Head Start services.

ACYF-IM-HS-05-05 Evacuee Enrollment in Head Start
http://www.headstartinfo.org/publications/im05/im05_05.htm
     Head Start programs are notified that each Regional Offices will contact all the grantees in its Region to collect the following data:

1. How many evacuee children are you serving in your Head Start program?
2. How many of these children were enrolled in a Head Start program in their home community?
3. How many of these children are new to Head Start?

      These data will be collected on a daily basis.

ACYF-IM-HS-05-04 Waivers and Funding Related to Hurricane Katrina
http://www.headstartinfo.org/publications/im05/im05_04.htm
     Head Start and Early Head Start grantees and delegates gain guidance to meet the needs of evacuee children and families. Areas include: funding; eligibility; facilities; teacher credentials; hours of service; health services; and Early Head Start. Please contact your Regional Office with any questions.

ACYF-IM-HS-05-03 Hurricane Katrina Relief
http://www.headstartinfo.org/publications/im05/im05_03.htm
     All Head Start grantees, particularly those in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee, are asked to open their doors to those families displaced by Hurricane Katrina and to seek new ways to support children, parents and others affected by this disaster.

President Discusses Hurricane Katrina Emergency Disaster Relief
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/09/print/20050908-1.html
     The President has directed the Federal government to provide immediate financial assistance and streamline Federal benefits for evacuees. Every household that has been evacuated because of Hurricane Katrina will receive $2,000 in emergency disaster relief that can be used for immediate needs, such as food or clothing or personal essentials. Call 1-800-621-FEMA to register for the funds. In addition, special evacuee status will ensure recipients continuity of their regular benefits no matter in which state they currently reside.

Evacuees from Hurricane Katrina
http://www.headstartinfo.org/hurricane_rir.htm
     To find a Head Start or Early Head Start Program for families with children up to five years of age call 1-866-763-6481.

• If you have children ages birth to five or you are caring for young children up to five years of age who have lost their homes due to Hurricane Katrina, Head Start and Early Head Start Programs may be able to help you.
• Head Start and Early Head Start centers provide comprehensive child development programs that include nutritious meals, family support and health services.
• Parents are welcomed in the center and are part of their child’s Head Start or Early Head Start experiences.
• Head Start and Early Head Start programs also provide family support services, and emergency or crisis assistance to families.

Hurricane Katrina Recovery
http://www.firstgov.gov
     Basic, critical information such as: Finding loved ones, Replacing vital documents, Telephone hot lines is provided in both English and Spanish.

Hurricane Katrina
http://www.hhs.gov/katrina/index.html
     The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) identifies an array of activities, information, and resources dedicated to support hurricane relief . Topics include: Health and Safety; How to Get Help; Donate and Volunteer; Finding Friends.

Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/hurricane_katrina/index.htm
     The Administration on Children and Families (ACF) links to information about Temporary Cash Assistance / Temporary Assistance to Needy Families; Head Start Services; LIHEAP; and Information for ACF Grantees for the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

Child Care Information for People in States Affected by Hurricane Katrina http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ccb/hurricane/katrina.htm
     The Child Care Bureau provides the phone number and link for Child Care Aware as well as other hurricane relief information. Child Care Aware is a free, federally-funded service that can connect you to a local child care resource and referral agency that knows the child care situation where you are, and that can help you find available and affordable child care and help you find out if you qualify for free or subsidized child care.

Helping Children Cope with Natural Disasters
http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/poptopics/disasters.html
     The National Child Care Information Center identifies resources that may be useful to parents, caregivers, teachers, and administrators as they help children and youth deal with stress related to natural disasters.

Helping Children Cope with Disaster
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/family/children-disaster/children.htm
     Common physical and emotional reactions that occur in children as the result of a disaster are identified. Parents and caregivers will find the strategies from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Red Cross helpful in reassuring children at specific ages.