The State Bar of Texas reminds residents that free civil legal resources are available to low-income individuals and families struggling to recover from the tornadoes and severe storms that affected 16 Texas counties on October 20.

The State Bar of Texas toll-free legal hotline — 800-504-7030 — connects callers with legal aid providers in their area who can help with such issues as replacing lost documents, insurance questions, landlord-tenant problems, and consumer protection matters such as price-gouging and avoiding contractor scams in the rebuilding process. The hotline can assist callers in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. People who qualify for assistance will be matched with Texas lawyers who can provide free, limited civil legal help.

Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration on October 21 for the following counties: Cass, Cameron, Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Erath, Hunt, Kaufman, Lamar, Panola, Rains, Rockwall, Rusk, Tarrant, Van Zandt, and Wood.

Read the full release here.