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FEMA Deadline for Disaster Assistance Extended to November 30!

Don’t miss out!  Residents have until November 30, 2017 to apply for disaster assistance from FEMA and/or the Small Business Administration (SBA).

You can apply online at www.disasterassistance.gov or by downloading the FEMA app on your mobile device.  If you have already applied with FEMA/SBA and have questions or concerns regarding your application you can visit one of the three Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) located in the county. To find the DRC location nearest you click here.

Visit http://www.fortbendrecovers.org/get-help/get-assistance/ for more information on getting assistance!

Who Determines Eligibility for FEMA Assistance?

FEMA assistance is determined accordance with the Stafford Act, the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and FEMA policy, it is NOT determined by a FEMA inspector.

FEMA Inspector Complaint 

A FEMA inspector will only review and record damage caused by Hurricane Harvey.  You may file an Inspector Complaint if you believe the inspector has behaved unethically or inappropriatly but you do not appeal FEMA’s eligibility decision with a FEMA inspector.

FEMA Assistance Appeal

All applicants who applied for FEMA assistance have the right to appeal FEMA’s eligibility decision.  You can appeal FEMA’s decision if you were denied or if you were approved but believe you should have gotten more assistance.  Appeals may relate to the applicant’s eligibility, the amount or type of assistance, late applications, requests to return money, or questions regarding continued assistance.

For more information on FEMA inspectors click here.

Five Reasons FEMA Might Say You Are Ineligible for Housing Assistance

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.

FEMA FAQs : How FEMA Temporary Rental Assistance Helps Texans

Q: What is FEMA temporary rental assistance?

FEMA’s temporary rental assistance offers grants to eligible Texas homeowners and renters who were displaced from their residence while repairs are made or they transition to other permanent housing. The money may be used to rent a house, an apartment, a manufactured home, another dwelling or a recreational vehicle. These grants do not need to be paid back.

Q: What is the first step that I must take to get this assistance?

If you are a resident in one of the 39 counties designated for Individual Assistance in the federal disaster declaration for Texas, you should register with FEMA.
The designated counties are: Aransas, Austin, Bastrop, Bee, Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado, DeWitt, Fayette, Fort Bend, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzales, Hardin, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Karnes, Kleberg, Lavaca, Lee, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Polk, Refugio, Sabine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Tyler, Victoria, Walker, Waller and Wharton.

To register:
• Go online to 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 location, which may be found at: www.fema.gov/DRC.

Q: How do I receive the rental assistance?

You have two ways to receive FEMA temporary rental assistance: You can choose to have funds electronically transferred to you; or you can receive paper checks.
If the U.S. Postal Service cannot deliver mail to your affected residence, then your local post office will hold the paper checks for you to pick up there.
It is important for you to keep bank and contact information current so you receive the funds. You can update your information online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362.

Q: How long will the first installment of FEMA temporary rental assistance funds cover?

If a FEMA-contracted inspector determines that your residence is uninhabitable due to damage caused by Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath, the first installment of FEMA temporary rental assistance funds is for two months.
If your residence is uninhabitable due to a power outage or is inaccessible, you may be eligible for one month of FEMA temporary rental assistance.

Q: What if I can’t find a place to rent? 

If you are unable to find a house or an apartment for rent, the agency may consider reimbursing you for a temporary stay in a hotel or other lodging on a case-by-case basis.

Q: What if I need help for a longer period?

At this point you only need to take two steps to receive additional federal funding:
1. Complete a Declaration of Continuing Need for Rental Assistance form. This is a legal document mailed to you about 15 days after you received the first installment of FEMA temporary rental assistance.
2. Return the completed form to FEMA in one of these ways:

  • Mail it to: FEMA, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville MD 20782-8055;
  • Fax it to 800-827-8112; or
  • Upload it to your FEMA Disaster Assistance Center account, available online at DisasterAssistance.gov. Click on “Check Status” to log in or to create an account.

If you did not receive the form or have questions, contact FEMA at 800-621-3362 (voice, 711 or Voice Relay Service) or TTY at 800-462-7585 or visit a Disaster Recovery Center. To find the nearest center use: www.fema.gov/DRC.

Q: What are the eligibility requirements for additional rental assistance?

You must meet these conditions:
• You were initially awarded FEMA temporary rental assistance, and you used the funds as they were intended by the agency.
• You are unable to return to your pre-Harvey residence because it is unlivable, cannot be accessed or is not usable due to the hurricane and flooding.
• You do not have money for housing without assistance.
• You are not being given temporary rental assistance from any other source

You may receive up to 18 months of continued FEMA temporary rental assistance, plus the security deposit, allowing you time to make progress toward finding long-term solutions.

Q: If I receive temporary rental assistance through my insurance company, may I also receive FEMA temporary rental assistance? 

Under federal law, if an insurance company provides temporary rental assistance, the agency cannot duplicate those funds with FEMA temporary rental assistance.
However, if you exhaust temporary rental assistance from your insurance company, the agency may then be able to provide you with FEMA temporary rental assistance.

Q: If I receive FEMA temporary rental assistance, do I need to keep my receipts? 

Yes. You must keep receipts so you can prove that the FEMA temporary rental assistance funds were used for their intended purpose.

Q: Do I have to pay taxes on FEMA temporary rental assistance? 

These payments are grants. They are not taxable.

Q: If FEMA can’t help me with all of my housing needs, where may I go for help?

The agency may refer you to charitable or volunteer groups to address unmet housing needs.

If you have registered with FEMA, you can discuss charitable or volunteer referrals with a FEMA employee by calling 800-621-3362 or visiting a Disaster Recovery Center. You can find the closest center by visiting www.fema.gov/DRC or by calling 800-621-3362.
Texans who still have critical unmet needs – including temporary housing – are encouraged to call United Ways of Texas, which can provide access to other assistance provided by voluntary agencies, faith-based groups and other organizations. Dial 512-651-1149.

Also, consider calling 2-1-1 Texas, a program of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission that helps Texas citizens connect with needed services. Dial 2-1-1 or 877-541-7905.

For more information on Hurricane Harvey and Texas recovery, visit the Hurricane Harvey web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4332, the FEMA Harvey Facebook page, the @FEMARegion6 Twitter account and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website.

Smithsonian Experts Available to Help Survivors Restore Family Treasures

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.

FEMA Fact Sheet: FEMA Grants Should Only Be Used for Disaster-Related Expenses

FEMA grants are tax-free and don’t have to be repaid, however they should only be used for disaster-related expenses.

When a grant is awarded to a disaster survivor, FEMA sends a letter listing approved uses for the money, including:

  • repairs to make a home safe, sanitary and secure;
  • rental assistance for a temporary residence while a home is being repaired;
  • repair or replacement of a flooded essential vehicle;
  • medical care for an injury caused by the disaster;
  • repair, cleaning or replacement of clothing or specialized tools;
  • necessary educational materials (such as computers, school books and supplies);
  • moving and storage expenses related to the disaster; and
  • other disaster-related expenses.

Disaster grants should not be used for travel, entertainment, normal living expenses or discretionary spending not related to the disaster. If a grant is misused, a recipient may have to repay FEMA and could lose eligibility for further assistance from FEMA and other disaster assistance providers.

FEMA also encourages grant recipients to keep receipts for three years to show how the funds were spent. After every major disaster, FEMA audits grant payments to ensure that taxpayer dollars were properly provided by the agency and used appropriately.

Last Updated:
September 26, 2017 – 13:34
For the original news release from FEMA on Disaster Related Expense click here.