Free Legal Assistance for Central Texas Flood Victims
AUSTIN, TX – Serious rain and flooding can trigger a variety of legal concerns including denials of insurance claims, problems with a landlord or mortgage company, price gouging, and replacing important legal documents. The State Bar of Texas, Rio Grande Legal Aid (TRLA), and Austin Bar Association can help navigate those issues so Central Texans receive the support they need to recover.
The State Bar of Texas has established a legal hotline at 800.504.7030 to assist people with basic legal questions following the recent flooding. The hotline, answered in English and Spanish, is intended to help low-income persons affected by the disaster. Residents can call and leave a message at any time. People who qualify for assistance will be matched with Texas lawyers who have volunteered to provide free, limited legal help. For additional resources, visit www.texaslawhelp.org.
TRLA’s Disaster Assistance Hotline is also available to offer assistance to flood victims at 866.757.1570. The hotline is staffed Monday through Friday and features a voicemail system that allows callers to leave their information to receive a call back from a TRLA staff member as soon as possible. Additional resources for homeowners can be found at www.trla.org/centexfloods
Members of the Austin Bar Association are also working to organize relief efforts. If you are an attorney or paralegal who would like to volunteer with a legal hotline or to help at a free legal clinic in Hays, Bastrop or Caldwell counties, please contact Amy Welborn, awelborn@chmc-law.com. More details about volunteer opportunities will be available soon.