Thanks to the efforts of volunteer civic technologists, Houstonians who volunteered in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey can now report their hours online at reportyourhours.com. Logging volunteer hours is critically important in the aftermath of a disaster event, as it helps the City get full reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
“By providing citizen volunteers with an easy-to-use platform, this tool will help the City recoup as much in FEMA reimbursements as possible. This is crucial as the City focuses on long-term recovery,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner.
Reportyourhours.com is just one example of how civic technologists partnered with the City to help during Hurricane Harvey. In a matter of days, volunteers had gathered information on shelters and their needs into one map, easily searchable for evacuees and volunteers alike. In addition, the group created a text tool that residents could use to find their nearest shelter, simply by texting their zip code.
“I would like to thank Sketch City, Station Houston, and all the civic technologists who generously and quickly joined our effort to spread accurate information during the storm," Mayor Turner continued. "As we work through the weeks and months ahead, we look forward to continuing to benefit from their creativity and partnership. I also want to thank each and every volunteer who helped, and who continue to help, our City and our region recover from this historic storm.”
Please note: City employees who spent time on Hurricane Harvey relief should also log these hours on reportyourhours.com.