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Five Reasons FEMA Might Say You Are Ineligible for Housing Assistance

October 10, 2017

Texas residents affected by Hurricane Harvey may have received a letter from FEMA saying they are ineligible for Housing Assistance. There are five main reasons why you might receive this determination. In each case, you can appeal that initial decision and possibly become eligible for housing assistance.

No. 1: Insufficient damage to your residence as determined by a FEMA-contracted inspector. In other words, your home is still safe, sanitary and functional.

  • If you disagree with the inspector’s decision, you can appeal. Get third-party documentation in writing (bid for repairs, condemnation notice, etc.) that states your home is uninhabitable.
  • Send an appeal letter to FEMA asking for reconsideration. This must be done within 60 days of the date of your ineligibility letter.
  • Mail the letter and documentation to:FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program, National Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville MD 20782-7055. Or fax the documents to: 800-827-8112. 

No. 2: You have an insurance policy that covered damage to your home.

  • If your insurance settlement is delayed longer than 30 days,contact  You may be eligible for an advance (that must be repaid).
  • Also, contact FEMA if your insurance settlement is insufficient to meet your Harvey-related needs or if you have exhausted the Additional Living Expenses provided by the insurance company.

No. 3: You indicated on your application that you did not want to move while your damaged home was being repaired. This made you ineligible for FEMA temporary rental assistance.

  • However, you may still be eligible for home-repair or personal property-replacement grants.
  • If your housing needs have since changed, contact FEMA to update your housing status and explain why you had (or will have) to relocate. Or mail/fax an appeal letter with documentation attached.

No. 4: You could not be contacted for a home inspection. The FEMA-contracted inspector may have tried to reach you numerous times, but has not been able to schedule an appointment.

  • If you missed an inspection appointment, contact FEMA and reschedule.
  • Keep the information in your application up to date.

No. 5: FEMA could not verify your identity. The agency is unable to match your name and Social Security number.

  • FEMA must be able to verify an applicant’s identity with a valid Social Security Number (SSN). By verifying identity, FEMA prevents fraud and ensures applicants receive the disaster assistance intended for them. Acceptable documents include:
    • Social Security card (if accompanied by federal or state-issued identification)
    • Employer’s payroll document containing full or last four digits of the SSN
    • Military identification
    • Marriage license to confirm proof of maiden name
    • Documentation from the Social Security Administration (SSA) or other federal entity containing full or last four digits of SSN
  • Do not mail original documents to FEMA.

To contact FEMA about changing your current ineligibility:

  • Go online to register at DisasterAssistance.gov
  • Download the FEMA app for smartphones.
  • Call 800-621-3362 between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Central Daylight Time. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Services may call 800-621-3362. Those who use TTY may call 800-462-7585. Due to high demand, lines may be busy. Please be patient, and try calling in the morning or evening when call volume may be lower.
  • Visit a State of Texas/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center. Current locations can be found at: fema.gov/DRC.

Smithsonian Experts Available to Help Survivors Restore Family Treasures

October 3, 2017

AUSTIN, Texas – Survivors of Hurricane Harvey can learn how to salvage household treasures damaged by the storm from Smithsonian Institution preservation experts visiting three State of Texas/FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) this week.

Among the heirlooms that might be salvageable are photos, artwork, quilts, important documents and other keepsakes. The experts will discuss how to handle, dry and clean these items, as well as personal safety during the salvage process, setting priorities and treatment options.

Part of the Heritage Emergency National Task Force, the Smithsonian experts are visiting these locations:

Tuesday, Oct. 3

Katy Mills Mall Parking Lot

5000 Katy Mills Circle

Katy, TX 77494

11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 4

263 Greenspoint Mall

12300 North Freeway

Houston, TX 77060

11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 5

Unit 166 (former Goodwill store)

Gateway Shopping Center

3871 Stagg Drive

Beaumont, TX 77701

11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Co-sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Smithsonian Institution, the Heritage Emergency National Task Force is a partnership of 42 national service organizations and federal agencies. It was created to protect cultural heritage from the damaging effects of natural disasters and other emergencies. For more information on the task force, email HENTF@si.edu.

For more information on Hurricane Harvey and Texas recovery, visit the Hurricane Harvey disaster web pageFEMA Harvey Facebook page@FEMARegion6 Twitter accountTexas Division of Emergency Management website, the , the , and the .

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 (voice, 711/VRS – Video Relay Service) (TTY: 800-462-7585). Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish).

The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.govwww.sba.gov/disaster, or visiting SBA’s website at . Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

Post Disaster Health and Safety Information

September 20, 2017

Check out some Post Disaster Health and Clean Up Information

Disinfecting Water Wells

  • Well Disinfection Procedure (TCEQ)
  • Emergency Disinfection of Wells that Have Been Flooded (Eng Span) (EPA)

Asbestos

  • Asbestos Fact Sheet (OSHA)

Lead Based Paint

  • Post-Disaster Renovations & Lead-based Paint (EPA)

Septic Systems after Flooding

  • Septic Systems–What to do After the Flood (EPA)

Disinfecting Drinking Water

  • Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water (EPA)

Flood Cleanup and the Air Safety

  • Flood Cleanup and the Air in Your Home (EPA)
  • Flood Cleanups Avoiding Indoor Air Quality Problems (EPA)

FEMA Fact Sheet: Clean and Removal Assistance (CRA)

September 19, 2017

FEMA has authorized Clean and Removal Assistance (CRA) for homeowners with disaster-related real property damage that do not qualify for Home Repair Assistance because the damage did not render their home uninhabitable. This assistance is intended to prevent additional loss and potential health and safety concerns and reduce contamination from floodwater.

Clean and Removal Assistance is awarded as a one-time payment per household. This amount represents the average cost of cleaning, sanitizing and removing carpet in a flooded dwelling in the designated area.

CRA payments are part of FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance program. Applicants must register with FEMA at DisasterAssistance.gov and meet all eligibility requirements. An inspector must verify that floodwater caused the damage to at least one item in the home.

 

FEMA Fact Sheet: How to Save Damaged Family and Personal Treasures

September 19, 2017

Many valuable and cherished personal items damaged by flood waters often can be rescued. Here are some tips on how to save some of your family treasures:

  • If an object is still wet, rinse it gently with clean water. If dry, remove silt and other foreign material with a soft brush or damp cloth.
  • Air dry wet things indoors. Sunlight might be too intense. Keep humidity as low as possible to prevent mold accumulation.
  • Flood water may be contaminated. Wear protective gloves, clothing and goggles.
  • Do not try to separate photos or negatives that are stuck together. Soak them in water for up to 48 hours until you can safely pull them apart. Hang them with clips or clothespins to dry.
  • Put wet books in a sturdy covered plastic container, spine side down. Place the container in a freezer and keep it there for several weeks, even months. Then remove and let dry.
  • With fabrics or textiles, remove mud and debris with gently flowing clean water or fine spray from a hose. Press out the excess water with your hand. Do not try to wring out the water. Allow to dry.
  • Clean wooden objects, like furniture, with a damp sponge; blot and let dry slowly inside the house, not under the sun.
  • Rinse metal objects with clear water and blot dry immediately with a clean, soft cloth. Fans or low-heat hairdryers will hasten drying rate.
  • For broken pottery or ceramics, put all the pieces in an open container and mark what it is. Don’t try to glue the pieces back together until they are dry, and watch for mold. If mold appears, spray the pieces with Mold-Ex or a similar product.

For more information, log onto preservecollections.org. To find a professional conservator, log onto conservation-us.org/membership/find-a-conservator.

Last Updated:
September 12, 2017 – 11:50

Proper Medicine Disposal

September 12, 2017

Medicine that was exposed to flooding or unsafe municipal water could be contaminated and should be disposed of properly.  Fort Bend County locations that you can take contaminated medications are listed below.  The EPA also provides safe techniques to dispose of contaminated medicine at home.  Before disposing of medicine, make sure you abide by any additional legal requirements which may apply to you. 

Walgreens

17330 W. Grand Parkway South
Sugar Land, Texas 77479

281-633-0124  

Walgreens

6120 S. Highway 6
Missouri City, Texas 77459

281-208-5828  

Evolution RX

931 Eldridge Rd. 
Sugar Land, Texas 77478

831-532-7961  

Missouri City Police Department

3849 Cartwright Rd.
Missouri City, Texas 77489

281-403-8700  

Rosenberg Police Department 

2120 4th Street
Rosenberg, Texas 77471

832-595-3700

For more information from the Environmental Protection Agency on How to Dispose of Medicines Properly click here. 

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