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County notebook: recovery efforts continue
The numbers keep improving as more Fort Bend County residents see their power come on in the past week. While CenterPoint hasn't been able to offer a definitive date for a complete restoration of power most areas of the county can anticipate power by Monday, Sept.22. On Friday, CenterPoint reported that 46,699 or 24% of Fort Bend is still without power. The outages range from Stafford with 38% outage, to Missouri City with 32.7% outage, to Meadows Place with 94 customers without power.
POD LOCATIONS
Sugar Land POD is now closed due to reduced traffic and will not reopen. Stafford will continue to run 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday/Sunday.
SCHOOL CLOSURES
Fort Bend ISD, Katy ISD and Lamar Consolidated ISD will all resume classes on Monday, Sept.22. Stafford Municipal ISD will reopen on Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Active Emergency Operation Centers
Residents that are looking for help can make a call to the following Emergency Operations Centers:
*Fort Bend County EOC--281-342-6185 Open Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
*Missouri City Phone Bank-- 281-403-4885 Open Saturday from 9 a.m to 5 p.m.
*Sugar Land Phone Bank--281-275-2700 Open Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m.to 8 p.m.
*Stafford inquiries can be made to 281-261-3950
HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX PAYMENTS
The Texas Property Tax Code allows citizens in declared disaster areas to pay their residence homestead 2008 property tax payments in installments. This applies only to a taxpayer's residence homestead located in the disaster area. Taxpayers must notify the tax office in writing of their intention to pay their tax payments in installments due to disaster declaration of their area.
Written notification to the tax office and the first Installment payment must be submitted by January 31, 2009 to qualify.
* The installment payment must be at least 1/4th of the 2008 total tax amount due.
* The 2nd 3rd and 4th installment payments are due as follows:
* 2nd installment due by March31, 2009
* 3rd installment due by May 31, 2009
* 4th installment due by July, 31, 2009
* If the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th installment is paid after the required date the installment amount is considered delinquent and accrues penalty and interest.
GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE
In order to apply for any government assistance, you will be required to show proof of identity. A certified copy of a birth certificate will help in proving identity. To obtain a birth certificate of any TEXAS birth, the following persons are eligible to purchase a copy:
* Only a qualified applicant may obtain a copy of a birth or death certificate.
* The registrant - the person named in the record.
* The parent, child, brother, sister, spouse, grandparent, legal guardian or managing conservator of the registrant.
* Legal representative, agent or other person acting under contract for the registrant.
* The cost per birth certificate is $23.00 by cash, credit card and money order. (see below)
If you have some proof that you reside in the following counties: Galveston, Chambers and Brazoria counties or other coastal counties where the courthouse is not open for business due to the devastation of Hurricane Ike, then the fee will be waived for one copy of the birth record.
Please bring anything you have to prove your identity. We will attempt to work with everyone who has lost all forms of identification. Even bringing with you a family member who has valid photo identification will speed up the process.
FEMA INSPECTORS
In a previous bulletin sent out by the County residents were warned not to be scammed by an individual presenting themselves as a FEMA Inspection and asking for some type of payment. FEMA does not send Inspectors out unless you are already registered for FEMA Assistance. To registered for FEMA Assistance call 1-800-621-3362 or go online http://www.fema.gov
POD LOCATIONS
Sugar Land POD is now closed due to reduced traffic and will not reopen. Stafford will continue to run 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday/Sunday.
SCHOOL CLOSURES
Fort Bend ISD, Katy ISD and Lamar Consolidated ISD will all resume classes on Monday, Sept.22. Stafford Municipal ISD will reopen on Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Active Emergency Operation Centers
Residents that are looking for help can make a call to the following Emergency Operations Centers:
*Fort Bend County EOC--281-342-6185 Open Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
*Missouri City Phone Bank-- 281-403-4885 Open Saturday from 9 a.m to 5 p.m.
*Sugar Land Phone Bank--281-275-2700 Open Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m.to 8 p.m.
*Stafford inquiries can be made to 281-261-3950
HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX PAYMENTS
The Texas Property Tax Code allows citizens in declared disaster areas to pay their residence homestead 2008 property tax payments in installments. This applies only to a taxpayer's residence homestead located in the disaster area. Taxpayers must notify the tax office in writing of their intention to pay their tax payments in installments due to disaster declaration of their area.
Written notification to the tax office and the first Installment payment must be submitted by January 31, 2009 to qualify.
* The installment payment must be at least 1/4th of the 2008 total tax amount due.
* The 2nd 3rd and 4th installment payments are due as follows:
* 2nd installment due by March31, 2009
* 3rd installment due by May 31, 2009
* 4th installment due by July, 31, 2009
* If the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th installment is paid after the required date the installment amount is considered delinquent and accrues penalty and interest.
GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE
In order to apply for any government assistance, you will be required to show proof of identity. A certified copy of a birth certificate will help in proving identity. To obtain a birth certificate of any TEXAS birth, the following persons are eligible to purchase a copy:
* Only a qualified applicant may obtain a copy of a birth or death certificate.
* The registrant - the person named in the record.
* The parent, child, brother, sister, spouse, grandparent, legal guardian or managing conservator of the registrant.
* Legal representative, agent or other person acting under contract for the registrant.
* The cost per birth certificate is $23.00 by cash, credit card and money order. (see below)
If you have some proof that you reside in the following counties: Galveston, Chambers and Brazoria counties or other coastal counties where the courthouse is not open for business due to the devastation of Hurricane Ike, then the fee will be waived for one copy of the birth record.
Please bring anything you have to prove your identity. We will attempt to work with everyone who has lost all forms of identification. Even bringing with you a family member who has valid photo identification will speed up the process.
FEMA INSPECTORS
In a previous bulletin sent out by the County residents were warned not to be scammed by an individual presenting themselves as a FEMA Inspection and asking for some type of payment. FEMA does not send Inspectors out unless you are already registered for FEMA Assistance. To registered for FEMA Assistance call 1-800-621-3362 or go online http://www.fema.gov
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