(Austin) – The State Bar of Texas has established a Disaster Hotline – 800.504.7030 – to assist people with basic legal questions as they begin to rebuild their lives following recent devastating flooding.

As basic needs are met and clean-up efforts continue, attention is likely to shift to issues such as replacing lost documents, housing, landlord-tenant disputes, consumer rights and insurance questions. Lawyers from Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, a non-profit provider of free civil legal services to indigent people, are available to answer the hotline and help with basic legal questions – in English and Spanish.

Additional disaster relief resources are available at:
www.texasbar.com/elpaso

To apply for assistance with housing, home repairs and uninsured property losses, residents should contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at www.fema.gov or the FEMA Disaster Aid Hotline: 800.621.3362.

The State Bar also reminds the public that it is unlawful for lawyers or anyone acting on their behalf to solicit clients within 30 days of a disaster. The Texas Penal Code makes it a third-degree felony to contact, in person or by phone, a victim for purposes of legal representation if the victim has not first requested the contact. People believing they have been inappropriately contacted about solicitation of a case should contact the State Bar Grievance Hotline at 800.932.1900.

Those who may be considering retaining a lawyer are advised to request referrals from people they know, or call a certified lawyer referral service. Contact the State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) at 877-9TEXBAR (877.983.9227) or the El Paso Bar Association LRIS at 915.532.7052.