UPDATED INFO FROM FEMA: Disaster Resources For Survivors
Texas flood survivors can find disaster recovery information online.
o FEMA- Find answers to questions on www.fema.gov/disaster/4223 or http://go.usa.gov/3dV3x
o Topics range from rumor control, up-to-the-minute recovery information, registration center locations and hours, links to apply for assistance and other resources, information about flood insurance, news releases, fact sheets, photographs and a blog.
o State of Texas – Information from the Texas Division of Emergency Management is available at https//www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem.
o SBA – Information about low-interest disaster recovery loans for homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes can be found at www.sba.gov/disaster.
- Disaster Unemployment Assistance. July 8 is the final day for people in the 20 counties added on June 5 to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance if they lost work due to the storms and floods that occurred from May 4 to June 19.Call the Texas Workforce Commission at 800-939-6631 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- Flood Damage Guidance
o Individual Assistance
§ Texans who had damage from severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding — as long as these damages occurred as a result of weather during the incident period of May 4-June19 — may be eligible for federal disaster aid.
§ Applicants must be located in one of the counties designated for Individual Assistance.
§ Those who already registered with FEMA, and whose property suffered damage from severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding more than once during the incident period, may be eligible for additional assistance and should call the FEMA Helpline to report new damage. Individuals or households may only receive up to the single maximum grant for the disaster.
§ Those in designated counties, who were not able to register their damage from severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding earlier and were referred to their local emergency managers to report their damage, can register with FEMA now by phone at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or online at www.disasterassistance.gov
§ Those in undesignated counties may still report their damage from severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding to FEMA, as long as the damage occurred as a result of weather during the incident period of May 4-June 19; however, applications will not be processed unless the county is added to the declaration.
o Public Assistance
§ Applicants who had damage from severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding, as long as it occurred as a result of weather during the incident period of May 4-June 19, may be eligible for federal disaster assistance.
- Disaster Assistance For Renters. Texas renters who were affected by the storms and flooding that occurred May 4 through June 19 may be eligible for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA).
Assistance may include a short-term rental grant to assist with rent at a new location, a free referral service to help identify another rental property, a low-interest loan from the SBA to repair or replace damaged personal property. Additional FEMA grant assistance may be available for eligible survivors, including renters, with uninsured or underinsured necessary expenses and serious needs caused by the disaster. The first step in the process is to register with FEMA either online or by phone.
- FEMA Seeks Texans To Work At Disaster Recovery Offices. Texans have the opportunity to assist with the state’s disaster recovery from the severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding that occurred from May 4 to June 19. Dozens of qualified Texans will be offered temporary jobs as local hires of FEMA in its Austin, Denton, and Houston offices. Apply online at https://www.workintexas.com
o Currently there are five job categories posted:
§ Administrative assistant
§ Applicant service representative
§ Project specialist
§ Reports specialist
§ Writer
o The hiring process may take 15-25 days from the date of application. Positions and descriptions will be posted through July 24.
- Disaster Assistance May Be Available For Storm Survivors Who Are Noncitizens.
o To be eligible for disaster assistance, at least one person in your household must be an eligible U.S. Citizen, Qualified Alien or noncitizen national.
o Disaster assistance may be available if a parent or guardian who is not eligible for assistance applies on behalf of a minor child who is a U.S. citizen or a qualified alien.
o Additionally, homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes may be eligible for low-interest disaster assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration. They must be eligible U.S. citizens or Qualified Aliens, and of legal age.
o For households in which no one is eligible for federal assistance, assistance may be available from voluntary agencies that deliver humanitarian services without regard to citizenship or immigration status.
- Eligibility Letters. FEMA routinely corresponds with applicants to let them know if they qualify for federal disaster assistance. The most common reasons for getting a determination of ineligibility are adequate insurance, insufficient storm-related damage, or missing documentation needed to complete the assistance evaluation process. Anyone who receives a letter of ineligibility can call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621- 3362, or (TTY) 800-462-7585 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) to check the status of his or her application, update contact numbers or ask any questions. Users of 711 or Video Relay Services should call 800-621-3362.
- Applicants Have 60 Days To Appeal A Letter Of Ineligibility. Anyone who receives a letter of ineligibility from FEMA may appeal the decision and ask for a review their case. All formal appeals must be filed in writing to FEMA and submitted within 60 days of receipt of a letter denying assistance. Prior to the deadline, an applicant may call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 or visit a Disaster Recovery Center to discuss the letter. To find the nearest DRC, go online to http://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm (NOTE from Robin: If pertinent, I would encourage those who file appeal letters to submit estimates from LICENSED CONTRACTORS with their appeal letters.)
- Unemployment Assistance: People who lost work due to the storms and floods that occurred from May 4 to June 19 may apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance through Texas Workforce Commission at 800-939-6631 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The deadlines are:
o July 8 for the 20 IA counties added on June 5 (three days left to apply)
o July 17 for the 7 IA counties added on June 16
o July 27 for Fayette County, added on June 24 - Other Disaster Assistance Information and Referral Serviceo Texans seeking information about disaster related services and unmet needs should call 211, a statewide information and referral service. Anyone using a relay service should call 877-541-7905.
- Apply For An SBA Low-Interest Disaster Recovery Loan. Most flood survivors are referred to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for a low-interest disaster recovery loan. Even if they feel they can’t afford a loan or won’t qualify, they should still apply. If the SBA determines an applicant is not eligible for a loan, the applicant may be referred for further disaster assistance. However, failure to return the application halts that process.
- Register For FEMA Assistance. The registration deadline for all designated IA counties is July 28, 2015. Registering with any other agency does not register a survivor for assistance from FEMA.
o There are several ways to register:
§ Online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov
§ By calling 800-621-FEMA (3362).
? The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.
? Multilingual operators are available.
? Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 800-462-7585 directly.
For those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.
§ By visiting a FEMA Mobile Registration Intake Center or state-FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in your area. - Disaster Survivor Assistance Crews
o Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) crews have been working in all counties designated for Individual Assistance.
o DSA team members wear blue FEMA shirts and have photo IDs.
o The teams answer questions about the types of assistance available, help survivors apply for state and federal assistance, update an applicant’s contact information and make referrals to whole community partners.
- The Benefits Of Registering
o Disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for temporary housing, emergency home repairs, uninsured and underinsured personal property losses, and medical, dental and funeral expenses caused by the disaster, along with other serious disaster-related expenses.
o The U.S. Small Business Administration offers low-interest disaster recovery loans to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes. These loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.
- Why You Should Apply Even If You Have Insurance
o You should apply for assistance even if you have insurance because you may find that you have unmet needs after you receive your settlement.
o If you have not already contacted your insurance agent to file a claim, do so right away. Insurance is your main source for money to put your life back in order after a disaster.
o However, insurance does not cover many expenses, so disaster programs may be able to help.
o You should not wait for your insurance settlement to apply for a low-interest disaster loan from the SBA.
- After You Apply
o After you apply, FEMA will send you a copy of your application and a copy of “Help After a Disaster: Applicant’s Guide to the Individuals and Households Program,” which will answer many of your questions.
o This useful publication explains how FEMA’s disaster assistance program works; describes additional kinds of help you may qualify for from other federal, state and voluntary agencies; and gives you many important tips on how best to make all these programs work for you.
o If your home or its contents are damaged and you are uninsured or underinsured, a FEMA inspector may contact you within about 10 days after you apply to schedule a time to meet with you at your damaged home. All inspectors carry photo ID that shows they are affiliated with the U.S. government.
o We have 46 inspectors in the field. 18,188 inspections have been issued, with 17,850 inspections returned to FEMA, 98 percent completion rate.
- Individual Assistance Update
o As of July 5 COB, 23,939 Texas households have registered for state and federal assistance. Of that total, 22,872 are in eligible counties and 1,067 have registered from undesignated counties.
o We continue to encourage all Texans who have suffered property damage or losses due to the recent storms and flooding to call the toll free number to report losses.
o Total approved: More than $36.6 million.
§ Housing Assistance: Nearly $31.4 million.
§ Other Needs Assistance: Nearly $5.3 million.
- U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Recovery Loans
o Disaster recovery loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are the primary source of federal funds to help homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations with long-term rebuilding, restoration and replacement of their disaster-damaged private property. For this disaster to date:
§ The SBA has approved nearly $34.4 million in recovery loans, 551 to homeowners and 22 to businesses.
o These low-interest loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.
o Survivors can apply in person at any of the State/FEMA/SBA recovery centers or directly online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/
o For more information or any questions about SBA disaster programs, businesses and residents can go to www.sba.gov/disaster or call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800 659-2955 (Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.
- National Flood Insurance Call Center
o The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) call center serves and supports NFIP policyholders. The phone number is 800-621-3362. The call center is staffed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Specialists help service claims, provide general information about policies and flood insurance, and offer technical assistance to aid in recovery.
Disaster Recovery Centers
Bastrop County
ROTC Building/Bastrop High School
1200 Cedar St., Bastrop, TX 78602
Hours of operation 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily until further notice
Caldwell County
Martindale Baptist Church
12351 Highway 142, Martindale, TX 78655
Hours of operation 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily until further notice
Fort Bend County
Fort Bend County Rosenberg Annex
4520 Reading Road, Rosenberg, TX 77471
Hours of operation: Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday.
Harris County
Leonel Castillo Community Center
2101 South Street, Houston, TX 77009
Hours of operation until further notice: Monday – Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.,
Saturday 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Sunday- closed
Bayland Community Center
6400 Bissonnet St. Houston, TX 77074
Hours of operation until further notice: Monday – Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.,
Saturday 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Sunday- closed
Hays County
Danforth Junior High School
200 Texan Blvd, Wimberley, TX 78676
Hours of operation 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily until further notice
San Marcos Crossroads Building
Classrooms 17 and 18
501 South LBJ Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666
Hours of operation 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily until further notice
Hidalgo County
University of Texas Pan American
Community Engagement and Student Success (CESS) Building, Rm. 1300
1407 East Freddy Gonzalez Drive, Edinburg, TX 78539
Hours of operation Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Williamson County
Taylor City Hall
400 Porter Street, Taylor, TX 76574
Hours of operation Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., closed Sunday
DSAT-Supported Registration Intake Centers
Cooke County
Cooke County Courthouse Annex
112 S. Dixon St.
Gainesville, TX 76240
Hours of operation July 11 and July 13-18 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Denton County
Sanger Community Center
101 Freese (Austin and Freese)
Sanger, Texas 76266
Hours of operation July 6-8 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Krum City Hall Council Chambers
146 W McCart Street
Krum, Texas 76249
Hours of operation July 9 and 10 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; July 11, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Fannin County
Bonham City Hall
Small Briefing Room
514 Chestnut St.
Bonham, TX 75418
Hours of operation July 6-10 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.; July 11 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE
On July 1, five additional counties were added to the 31 counties already designated for Individual Assistance. The following is a list of all 36 designated counties, with newly declared counties in bold: Bastrop, Blanco, Bowie, Brazoria, Caldwell, Cherokee, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Eastland, Ellis, Fannin, Fayette, Fort Bend, Gaines, Grayson, Guadalupe, Harris, Harrison, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Johnson, Liberty, Milam, Montague, Navarro, Nueces, Rusk, Smith, Travis, Walker, Wichita, Williamson, Wise and Van Zandt.
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
- On July 1, 15 counties were added to the 58 that had already been designated for Public Assistance, for a total of 73 counties eligible for PA. The following is a list of all PA designated counties (newly designated counties in bold): Angelina, Archer, Atascosa, Bastrop, Baylor, Blanco, Bowie, Burleson, Caldwell, Callahan, Cass, Cherokee, Clay, Comal, Comanche, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Dickens, Eastland, Edwards, Fannin, Fayette, Frio, Gaines, Garza, Gillespie, Grayson, Grimes, Harris, Harrison, Hartley, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hill, Hood, Houston, Jasper, Johnson, Kaufman, Kendall, Lamar, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Lynn, Madison, Milam, Montague, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Nueces, Parker, Polk, Refugio, Real, Rusk, Sabine, San Jacinto, Travis, Trinity, Tyler, Uvalde, Van Zandt, Victoria, Walker, Wharton, Williamson, Wilson, Wise and Zavala.
- Damage assessments are continuing in other areas, and additional counties may be designated for assistance after the assessments are fully completed by state/federal teams.
PA Process:
o Requests for Public Assistance: PA applicants must file Requests for Public Assistance (“RPAs”) within 30 days of the date of the original federal disaster declaration or the date on which their county was subsequently added to the original declaration.
o Applicant Briefings: The state of Texas, with FEMA support, holds a series of Applicant Briefings that provide a general overview of the PA program and an opportunity for applicants to ask questions.
o Kick-Off Meetings: Following the applicant briefings, FEMA/state PA program specialists meet with individual applicants in Kick-Off Meetings to focus on project eligibility and requirements for documenting expenses for reimbursement.
o Reimbursement: FEMA Public Assistance reimbursement comes to Texas communities through a cost-sharing partnership among the state, the applicants and the federal government. FEMA reimburses eligible applicants for 75 percent of their eligible costs, and the state and/or applicant cover the remaining 25 percent.
DISASTER TIMELINE
o May 29: Initial Notice of Federal disaster declaration for Texas.
§ Harris, Hays and Van Zandt counties are designated for Individual Assistance. Cooke, Gaines, Grimes, Harris, Hays, Navarro, and Van Zandt counties are designated for Public Assistance.
o June 5: Amendment adds 20 more counties for Individual Assistance:
§ Bastrop, Blanco, Caldwell, Denton, Eastland, Fort Bend, Gaines, Guadalupe, Henderson, Hidalgo, Johnson, Milam, Montague, Navarro, Rusk, Smith, Travis, Wichita, Williamson and Wise.
o June 9: Amendment adds 51 more counties for Public Assistance:
§ Angelina, Archer, Atascosa, Bastrop, Baylor, Blanco, Bowie, Burleson, Caldwell, Cass, Cherokee, Clay, Comal, Comanche, Denton, Fannin, Fayette, Garza, Gillespie, Grayson, Harrison, Henderson, Hood, Houston, Jasper, Johnson, Kaufman, Kendall, Lamar, Lee, Liberty, Lynn, Madison, Milam, Montague, Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk, Refugio, Rusk, Sabine, San Jacinto, Travis, Tyler, Uvalde, Walker, Wharton, Williamson, Wilson, Wise and Zavala.
o June 16: Amendment adds 7 more counties for Individual Assistance:
§ Cooke, Dallas, Fannin, Grayson, Liberty, Nueces, and Walker.
o June 19: Amendment closes incident period. (May 4-June 19)
o June 24: Amendment adds one more county for Individual Assistance:
§ Fayette.
o July 1: Amendment adds 5 more counties for Individual Assistance and 15 more counties for Public Assistance.
§ Individual Assistance – Bowie, Brazoria, Cherokee, Ellis and Harrison.
§ Public Assistance – Callahan, Dallas, Dickens, Eastland, Edwards, Frio, Hartley, Hidalgo, Hill, Leon, Nueces, Parker, Real, Trinity and Victoria.
