Thread: AL-LaRaza advises Spanish Speakers to Claim Documents lost

Alabama tornadoes: Help offered for Spanish speakers hit by storms

Published: Thursday, April 28, 2011, 1:16 PM Updated: Thursday, April 28, 2011, 1:26 PM


By Hannah Wolfson -- The Birmingham News The Birmingham News
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BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Latino advocates are concerned that some Spanish speakers hit by deadly tornadoes and wind storms that ripped through Alabama and the rest of the Deep South on Wednesday may not know where to turn for help.

The Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama, or HICA, is urging Spanish speakers to call its toll-free hotline, 1-866-502-4422, to ask for help. Caitlin Sandley, HICA's education and outreach coordinator, said the number has been broadcast on Spanish-speaking radio but they have heard from surprisingly few people, especially considering that Alabama's Spanish-speaking population is estimated at more than 180,000.

Sandley said concern is particularly great in Tuscaloosa, where a leading Hispanic advocate was displaced by the storms.

She said many immigrants may not know what resources are available to them. According to a fact sheet from the American Red Cross and the National Council of La Raza, all disaster victims, including undocumented immigrants, are entitled to disaster assistance, including food, water, first aid and emergency shelter. In addition, children who are citizens but have undocumented parents are eligible for further benefits.

La Raza also says that rescue workers and government agencies should be understanding if people cannot provide documentation because it was lost in the storm.

Spanish-speaking residents in need of help in the metro Birmingham area can also call Hispanic Catholic Social Services in Hoover, known locally as La Casita, at 987-4771.

In Spanish:


BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Advocados de los latinos estan preocupados de que algunas personas que solo hablan ingles se hayan estado impactados por las fuertes tormentas que pasaron por Alabama y el resto del Sur Profundo el miercoles, y que no sepan a donde ir a pedir ayuda.

La Coalicion de Interes Hispano de Alabama, o HICA, esta urgiendo a los hablantes de español que llamen a su telefono gratuito, 1-866-502-4422, si necesitan ayuda. El coordinador de education y extension de HICA, dijo que el numero se esta difundido en las estaciones de radio en español, pero han oido de un numero sorprendentemente pequeño, especialmente considerando que la poblacion de gente que hable en español en Alabama esta estimada a mas de 180,000.

Sandley dice que estan sobre todo preocupados por Tuscaloosa, donde un lider de los advocados hispanos fue desplazado por culpa de las tormentas.

Sandley dijo que muchos inmigrantes no saben que haya servicios a su disposicion. Segun un documento de la Cruz Roja y el Concejo Nacional de La Raza, todas las victimas del desastre, incluso los inmigrantes sin documentos, tienen derecho a ayuda, incluso comida, agua, primeros auxilios y refugio. Hijos que sean ciudadanos pero que tengan padres sin documentos tambien tienen derecho a mas asistencia.

La Raza tambien dice que equipos de rescate y agencias del gobierno han de entender que habra gente que no pueda enseñar su documentacion porque sus papeles se hayan perdido en la tormenta.

Residentes que hablen español y necesitan ayuda en el area de Birmingham tambien pueden llamar a los Servicios Sociales Catolicos de Hoover, normalmente llamado La Casita, al numero 987-4771.

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2011/04/ala ... fered.html

Well, what's another lie? Illegals tell so many, what does one more matter to them.

Yeah I wonder how many IA's are headed to AL. to get in on the freebies ?

La Raza also says that rescue workers and government agencies should be understanding if people cannot provide documentation because it was lost in the storm.

As long as it's applied equally and not just to one ethnic group.
That's only as far as Red Cross and some other relief agencies. All you need to do is prove you live where you say you do and they have to see the damage for themselves.

Fema requires birth certs/naturalization papers, along with proof of residency. I had to show my naturalization papers when Fema came to check out my flood damage.

Either way, all the goodies were reduced quite a bit after the Katrina disaster. Too many "victims" used the debit cards on vacations, partying, non-necessary items. They were able to track the purchases on those debit cards.

Thanks Miguelina for keeping a level head

Heard a related story today. They are urging evacuations in Tennessee because the Mississippi river is rising and the news said they are distributing notices in English and Spanish. In your life did you ever expect Spanish notices would be necessary in middle America?