Dealing with hurricanes is a requirement in Houston.
On July 8, residents of the Greater Houston area began feeling the impact of Hurricane Beryl, a category one storm.
Over a week later, many residents still have no power.
Those adversely impacted by Hurricane Beryl could receive some relief from FEMA.
Via email, the FEMA press office said, “Individuals and families in [Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto, Walker and Wharton] counties may be eligible to receive Serious Needs Assistance, which is a one-time $750 payment per household for essential items like food, water, baby formula, breast feeding supplies, medication and other emergency supplies.”
Additional counties could be added if requested by the state and shown to be necessary by further damage assessments.
Last week, State Rep. Ron Reynolds told journalist Isiah Carey from “The Isiah Factor Uncensored” on Fox 26 Houston and Fox Soul that Fort Bend County, Texas was not yet included.
Survivors of Hurricane Beryl’s devastation could also receive Displacement Assistance, which are funds that will help residents find housing if they cannot yet return to their damaged homes.
Displacement Assistance funds could go towards finding a hotel room, paying to stay with family or friends or other options until survivors can return to their permanent housing.
The FEMA press office also said, “In addition to Serious Needs and Displacement Assistance, eligible survivors may receive money for rental assistance, basic home repairs, personal property losses and other eligible expenses related to Hurricane Beryl.”
Even if survivors received FEMA assistance for the tragic storms in April, they could still receive more financial assistance if they were adversely impacted by Hurricane Beryl.
People who had property damaged caused Hurricane Beryl should report their damage via the Texas Division of Emergency Management’s online Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) by visiting www.damage.tdem.texas.gov.
There are four simple ways to apply and learn about different assistance that a person or family might be eligible for.
Below are ways to find assistance if Hurricane Beryl has caused significant harm and damage.
- Online at DisasterAssistance.gov. If you have access to Wi-Fi and your electronic devices have power, applying online is the easiest, fastest and most convenient way to apply.
- On the FEMA App for mobile devices. You can also use the app’s Disaster Recovery Center locator feature to find an open center nearby.
- Visiting any Disaster Recovery Center, for locations and hours, go online to fema.gov/drc.
- Calling the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362 every day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. CDT. Wait times may be unusually high and applying online at disasterassistance.gov is the quickest way to complete an application at this time. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service. To view an accessible video about how to apply visit: FEMA Accessible: Registering for Individual Assistance – YouTube.
FEMA disaster relief is to help the uninsured or underinsured meet household needs and makes serious repairs that will accelerate a person or family’s recovery from natural disasters like hurricanes.
The disaster relief agency added, “Texas residents also have the support of voluntary agencies to help them on their path to recovery. Nonprofit partners like the American Red Cross have been on the ground since day one and have hundreds of volunteers who are welcoming people at shelters, providing comfort and a warm meal. The Salvation Army is coordinating a mass feeding operation and has canteens activated across the Gulf Coast region and continue to support over 20 service locations in Texas.
Residents may receive free services to clean up their homes with the help from Crisis Cleanup by calling 979-217-3791. The hotline is open through July 19 and can connect people with volunteers from local relief organizations, community groups and the faith-based community who may be able to assist.”
Storm survivors might also qualify to receive assistance from the Hurricane Beryl Recovery Fund.
Three $1 million donations were made by grocery store chain H-E-B, the CenterPoint Energy Foundation and the Sarofim Foundation.
Houston mayor John Whitmire and Harris County, Texas Judge Lina Hidalgo made the announcement at a press conference on July 15.
The donations will give assistance to low to moderate income families that need emergency help such as home repairs.
The Hurricane Beryl Foundation is available to residents of Houston, Harris County, Fort Bend County, Montgomery County and Waller County.
Those without home insurance will qualify for the fund.
Bob Harvey of the Greater Houston Disaster Alliance said, “When disaster strikes, we’re reminded that no organization can do it all. It requires a collaborative and coordinated response from nonprofit, for-profit, public sector and philanthropic communities to ensure that the most vulnerable in our region get the help they need to start the recovery process.”
Hidalgo said that over 6,800 Houston area residents reported damage to their homes.
Of those, over 140 homes were “totally destroyed in the storm.”
Hidalgo said, “So the damage continues. We’ve seen the images. We’ve visited with these folks that have a tree going through their home, that have water falling in adding insult to injury, that have debris, whose food has gone bad, who can’t afford to hire the support to be able to improve that.”
The Greater Houston Disaster Alliance began over a year ago to facilitate donations to recovery funds.
Fox 26 Houston reported that 22 people lost their lives because of Hurricane Beryl because of fallen trees, fires and flooding.
