Here is some important information from Texas New Mexico Power Company website - everyone should be aware of the potential scams that may happen during an emergency situation like this - “Restoring power to almost 60 percent of our customers this soon after Hurricane Ike is a great accomplishment for TNMP,” said Neal Walker, TNMP vice president of Texas operations. “Now, our crews face the most difficult phase of the restoration process, which entails tackling the damage done to equipment in the back yards and alleyways in the communities we serve. We ask that customers continue to be patient as we continue to work diligently to restore power in a safe and timely manner.” Walker asks customers not only to be patient, but also to work with TNMP to ensure that work is completed safely and efficiently. Here are some things customers can do to help facilitate the process and avoid any scams that might arise out of the situation in the Gulf Coast:

• Turn on Front Porch Lights: For customers without power, flipping front porch light outlets to the on position helps TNMP crews determine which streets have power and which streets may still be in need of repair.
• Let Crews Do Their Work: Outside of emergencies, please allow the TNMP and mutual assistance crews complete their critical work. If crews are in your neighborhood, they are there specifically to help make repairs and restore power to your home or business. Interrupting them makes the work take longer, so please let them do their job of restoring service as quickly as possible.
• Avoid Scams: Some TNMP customers have reported instances of receiving telephone calls from someone claiming to be calling from TNMP. The caller promises to restore power more quickly to customers if they pay a fee by providing credit card information over the phone. Please be assured that TNMP does not fast track restoration by charging its customers, and that all customers will be restored as soon as possible. TNMP will never call customers asking for payment during the restoration process, and customers are urged to never give out credit card or other personal information over the telephone.
• Be Safe: In the days to come, TNMP customers will see many TNMP and other utility employees in their neighborhoods making repairs. If someone claiming to be a utility worker asks for permission to enter your home or business, please do not grant them access and call the police immediately. TNMP employees will never ask to enter your residence or business. On occasion, a TNMP employee may knock on doors to ensure that power has been restored, but they will not ask to come inside. Also, customers should be aware that TNMP employees will wear clothing with official TNMP insignias visible and drive vehicles with TNMP logos on the doors. Plus, all TNMP employees will carry official TNMP employee badges.

TNMP estimates that approximately 50,000 Gulf Coast customers remain without power – about 10,000 in Brazoria County and 40,000 in Galveston County. This estimate includes customers in Texas City, Dickinson, League City, Friendswood, Alvin, La Marque, Angleton, Sweeny, West Columbia, Brazoria, Bailey’s Prairie, Hillcrest Village and Holiday Lakes. At this time, TNMP indicates that power has been restored to at least some parts of every community it serves. -- from Steph, SVP Diversified Services

On behalf of Kim Shelton:

I have never been treated so well by a company in my life.  I have never even heard of a company that treats their employees this well.  The Credit Union has gone above and beyond in making sure that their employees are taken care of.  This being a time of hardship for many, it is really enjoyable coming to work and putting some of our worries away for 8 hours. 

Thanks for the food and drinks that the CU is supplying.  It has been so good and plentiful-I’m sure I weigh just a little more now.  I am not in need of a place to sleep, but I also want to thank the CU for making accommodations for those in need.  And the Skip a Pay has helped all of us out during a time that we had unexpected expenses.  I could go on, but I have to start working now.

I am proud to be a TDECU team member!! Thanks, Kim Shelton - Member Account Services, Supervisor

Yesterday, Ed Speed, our CEO announced that TDECU will be helping our employees and employees' families if they are in need of medical treatment.  How cool is that?!  One less thing for our TDECU family to be worried about.  This morning we've already had several requests coming in. Bob, our VP of Human Resources and the HR team are standing by to assist in coordinating appointments with the doctor. They will even help find pharmacies to fill prescriptions. No worries about paying for the office visit or co-pay while at the doctor.  He does not have the ability to take cash or credit cards at the moment, nor can he process claims because he is working with limited electricity.  The doctor’s staff will work out the paperwork for insurance processing later working with us.

We committed to help Employees and families with these office visits and prescription payments regardless if they have coverage or not.  To quote Ed directly: "This is no time to allow an illness to go untreated."

Employees, more details went out in the email from Ed.

We just got this great news about our Brazoria branch from our COO Ron: 

We have electrical power at the Brazoria branch. We are getting set up to switch it off the generator. This will take about 15 minutes and is being coordinated with Stacy.We are also making arrangements to bring it over to power up Mortgage!

We are moving forward.

Again let me say a BIG “THANK YOU!!!!”

What a privilege to work with all of you!

Steph, our SVP of Diversified Services, just sent us the following:

FEMA activates transitional housing office

FEMA activated a transitional housing office Tuesday.  The agency will pay hotel expenses for residents whose homes are considered unlivable.  A home without power is not considered unlivable.

To find out if a hotel is participating with FEMA, check fema.gov or 1-800-621-FEMA.  If you are staying at a nonparticipating hotel, save your receipts.

This program will last for 30 days.

To learn more about applying for FEMA aid, click here.

From ABC13:

Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center continues asking individuals to give blood as more Neighborhood Donor Centers and mobile blood drives resume collections. Special extended hours will be observed at eight Neighborhood Donor Centers. A small number of mobile blood drives also will be open to the public on Wednesday.

Collections resumed Tuesday after a four-day hiatus due to Hurricane Ike, so donations are especially needed now to replenish the blood supply and ensure that blood is available for patients in need. Patients in the Texas Gulf Coast region need more than 900 blood donations every day; that is why it is important for blood donors to Commit for Life by donating at least once every quarter.

Additionally, all Commit for Life donors who give blood now through Sept. 23 will receive 300 bonus points for the Commit for Life store, which can be viewed at our Web site, www.giveblood.org.

WHEN/WHERE: Wednesday, Sept. 17

The following Neighborhood Donor Centers will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.:

• Bill T. Teague (Headquarters) - 1400 La Concha Lane (Reliant Stadium area)
• Champions - 6935 FM 1960 West, Suite A (at Cutten Road)
• Cy-Fair - 11811 FM 1960 West, Suite 120
• Gulfgate - 546 Gulfgate Center (behind Chuck E. Cheese)
• Humble/Kingwood - 9616 FM 1960 Bypass (Commons at Deerbrook, behind Olive Garden)
• Katy - 1575 S. Grand Parkway, Suite 600 (at Highland Knolls)
• Sugar Land - 4949 Sweetwater Blvd. (next to Kroger)
• Westchase - 10001 Westheimer, Suite 2117 (Carillon Shopping Center, behind la Madeleine)

The following mobile blood drives will be open to the public:

• St Joseph Medical Center (7 a.m. to 4 p.m.) - 1919 La Branch
• Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. (10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) - 10205 Westheimer, Suite 300
• VA Medical Center (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) - 2002 Holcombe
• San Jacinto Methodist Hospital (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) - 4401 Garth Road, Baytown
• Wharton County Jr. College (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) - 911 Boling Highway, Wharton