HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — Additional federal assistance is being provided for storm victims in 16 Texas counties in the wake of Beryl.
President Biden amended the Major Disaster Declaration to authorize "additional federal assistance to disaster survivors to help aid in their recovery from Hurricane Beryl."
It comes after a number of Texas politicians wrote a letter to Biden asking him to quickly approve Individual Assistance under the FEMA program. Read the letter here.
"Many residents in and around the Houston area have been without power for several days with heat indexes exceeding 100 degrees daily. They urgently need the resources FEMA can provide," the letter said.
The money is for those who are underinsured or uninsured who had damage, lost food, lost wages or were otherwise impacted. They can register here. (Scroll down for list of disaster recovery centers to apply in person.)
It's available to people in these counties:
- Brazoria
- Chambers
- Fort Bend
- Galveston
- Harris
- Jackson
- Jasper
- Jefferson
- Liberty
- Matagorda
- Montgomery
- Orange
- Polk
- San Jacinto
- Walker
- Wharton
Fort Bend County was originally left off the list, but County Judge KP George on Saturday said he received confirmation that residents will be eligible for individual assistance. This comes after acting Gov. Dan Patrick on Friday directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to request the inclusion of Fort Bend and Nacogdoches counties to FEMA’s Individual Assistance programs.
It can include money to help repair or replace their homes, temporary housing, access to low-interest loans or other programs to help them jumpstart their recovery.
How to apply for FEMA money
Apply Online
- Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov and in Spanish language at DisasterAssistance.gov/es. This is the fastest way to apply if they have access to a smartphone or a computer.
Apply with the FEMA App
- Download the FEMA mobile app and in Spanish language, available on Google Play or the Apple App Store.
Apply by Phone at 800-621-3362
- Call FEMA’s toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362.
- The helpline is open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time with language translation available.
- FEMA operators can help in English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese, Arabic and any other languages, as needed.
Apply in person at a Disaster Recovery Center
Visit any Disaster Recovery Center. Most are open Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed on Sundays. You can also check locations and hours at fema.gov/drc.
8526 Pitner Rd
HOUSTON, TX
13828 Corpus Christi St
HOUSTON, TX 77015
16600 Pine Forest Ln
HOUSTON, TX 77084
16401 1st St
SPLENDORA, TX 77372
MONTGOMERY County
455 State Highway 75 N
HUNTSVILLE, TX 77320
250 Live Oak St
COLDSPRING, TX 77331
SAN JACINTO County
707 N Tyler Ave
LIVINGSTON, TX 77351
POLK County
101 W Jefferson St
TRINITY, TX 75862
TRINITY County
More information on FAQs.
The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) has a way for residents to report damage to residential, commercial and/or agricultural property through a tool called iSTAT. It stands for Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool. Filling out the form helps to determine the extent of the damage. It also helps identify immediate needs. FEMA guidelines outline that assessments need to be done for the agency to approve individual disaster assistance. Here's how to report.
Here's why you may have been denied FEMA money
Many residents in and around the Houston area who were impacted by Hurricane Beryl have applied for federal assistance from FEMA -- but some are being denied.
Last week, President Joe Biden announced that he amended the Major Disaster Declaration to authorize "additional federal assistance to disaster survivors to help aid in their recovery from Hurricane Beryl."
In a social media post, FEMA listed out reasons applicants may be denied federal assistance, saying it's "more common than you think."
The top five reasons for FEMA assistance denial include:
- Insurance coverage for the loss
- Damages may not rise to the need for federal assistance
- The damaged home may not be a primary residence
- FEMA assistance would constitute a duplication of benefits from other sources
- Inspectors have been unable to reach applicants at the contact information provided
FEMA said "Read your decision letter carefully to find out next steps" or you can visit the FAQ page here.