ALS Texas

ALS Association of Texas Supports Texans with ALS Following the Winter Storm

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Last week, Texas experienced a once-in-a-lifetime winter storm that left millions of Texans without power and clean water. We are thankful that now the worst of the severe winter weather has move on through Texas and hopefully will not return.

The challenges of losing power and water created significant challenges for our ALS Texas family.  If you’re a Texan with ALS that experienced any significant challenges related to this disaster that were and are unsustainable, we are here to help. We have access to a disaster relief fund to help our ALS community with unplanned expenses as a result of the disaster, including but not limited to: 

  • Purchase of generators or other back-up power sources
  • Plumbing issues (busted pipes, flooding)
  • Relocation expenses as a result of power outage (hotel, fuel)
  • Other special equipment you purchased that you would not have purchased outside of the given situation

To apply for assistance, please contact the ALS Association of Texas team member in your area (listed below).

We cannot guarantee that we can address every need, but we will try to help as much as resources allow.  

Offering Help, Hope, and a Voice to those Living with ALS

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By John Quinn

John and his family

Like many people with ALS, I first noticed symptoms several months before I was diagnosed. In December 2015, I was dropping my right foot when I walked and began fatiguing more easily than normal.

I went to multiple doctors and finally saw a neurologist who suspected I had ALS, and he recommended I go to Houston Methodist hospital. In May 2016, I went through a series of tests for two days at Houston Methodist hospital and was given an ALS diagnosis.

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Harvey Intensifies Daily Challenges for Those Living with ALS

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ALS Texas commits to helping patients through recovery process

I’ve driven down I-45 toward Houston countless times, but this time was different.

Instead of normal business traffic, I was surrounded by trucks filled with bottled water, construction material, and other basic necessities. Pulling a load of supplies and medical equipment behind me too, I felt uneasy about what I would face when I crossed into Houston.

When I finally did so, one of the first things I noticed was that the devastation was different from block to block. We crossed one debris-lined street only to come upon another that displayed life as normal – houses untouched by the storm and people eating on patios outside of restaurants.

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ALS Texas Disaster Response Plan

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As Hurricane Harvey continues to affect people with ALS, their families, our staff, and our board members in Houston and the surrounding areas, we want to keep you informed of our efforts to serve them in this critical time. This disaster is likely to have a prolonged impact on the area, so we will continue to assess the unique needs and address them accordingly.

At this time, we are providing emergency financial assistance to people with ALS who are forced to evacuate their homes for safer accommodations. We strongly recommend that people with ALS do not flee to shelters, as health risks are heightened significantly in that setting. We are prepared to provide financial assistance for hotel accommodations and other safer settings. We are also in contact with FEMA and the American Red Cross to ensure that people with ALS are adequately cared for according to their unique needs.

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