Aid gives assistance to those affected during April storms
(Washington, D.C.)–This week the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced it will extend the deadline for Texas residents to register for disaster assistance for April storms. Residents will now have until July 29, 2016 to apply for federal disaster assistance for damage that occurred between April 17—30, 2016.
“Federal disaster assistance can help people return to some kind of normalcy and I hope that those eligible will apply,” said Congressman Gene Green. “Federal relief efforts like these decrease people’s risk of homelessness by assisting with home repairs and other emergency-related needs. But more needs to be done to prevent these types of natural disasters from affecting so many people.”
Recently, Reps. Al Green and Gene Green introduced into Congress H.R. 5025, the 2016 Tax Day Floods Supplemental Funding Act, which would appropriate $311 million for flood control projects in the Houston area. “This is a common-sense approach, and while it would not eliminate all of the flooding problems in our area, completion of the projects would begin to address the crisis,” said Reps. Al Green and Gene Green.
“I applaud FEMA for extending the deadline for Texans to apply for disaster aid,” Congressman Al Green said. “Our state over the past few months has experienced a number of severe weather events that have destabilized many areas across Texas. It is my hope that this additional time will allow more affected Texans to apply for the disaster aid that they need. However, the fact remains more must be done to produce proactive solutions to lessen the severity of the damage caused by storms.”
FEMA disaster assistance is available to residents of Anderson, Austin, Cherokee, Colorado, Fayette, Fort Bend, Grimes, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, Parker, San Jacinto, Smith, Waller, Wharton, and Wood counties.
Disaster assistance, may include grants to help pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs, and other serious disaster-related needs such as medical and dental expenses. If a U.S. Citizen or legal permanent resident resides in your home, you are eligible for FEMA assistance. Both homeowners and renters are eligible to apply.
To register for disaster assistance residents first need to register with FEMA, then return a no-obligation loan application from the U.S. Small Business Administration if one is offered. There is no charge to apply and if approved, no obligation to accept.
FEMA grants do not have to be repaid, they are nontaxable, and do not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments but underinsured applicants are encouraged to register.
Disaster survivors may register in the following ways:
- Online at disasterassistance.gov
- Phone 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.
- At a disaster recovery center. To find the nearest one, go online to the disaster recovery center locator at asd.fema.gov/inter/locator