Be ready for rest of Hurricane Season.  Please find important information on the Hurricane Preparedness Checklist here.

Update

NUECES COUNTY ELIGIBLE FOR HURRICANE IKE DISASTER ASSISTANCE

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz (TX-27) announced today that Nueces County will now be eligible to receive public assistance for damages it sustained during the onset of Hurricane Ike.

Originally not included in the original disaster declaration, Congressman Ortiz wrote a letter to the President stressing the need for Nueces County to be added to the list of counties that suffered damage following Hurricane Ike’s landing.

“I am pleased that the President agreed to include Nueces County in the list of counties eligible for public assistance,” said Congressman Ortiz. “South Texas sustained severe damage and debris wash-up from storm surges and high tides associated with Hurricane Ike.

“Nueces County sustained damage to the seawall, boat ramps, jetties, sidewalk railings, and navigation lights. The Packery Channel facility also sustained damage to its infrastructure. The total damages are estimated to be anywhere from $5-10 million,” Congressman Ortiz stated in his original letter to the President.
 

Update

SEPTEMBER 30 IS DEADLINE FOR HURRICANE DOLLY DISASTER ASSISTANCE REGISTRATION

As the Rio Grande Valley continues its recovery from Hurricane Dolly, residents who suffered damage from Hurricane Dolly have until September 30 to register for FEMA aid and to submit a disaster loan application to the U.S. Small Business Administration to help them recover. Residents are reminded that the deadline for individual assistance registration is Tuesday, September 30.

Residents in the declared counties of Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy can register by calling FEMA's toll-free registration line 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or for the speech- and hearing-impaired TTY 1-800-462-7585. Applicants who have access to a computer can register online at www.fema.gov.

Since the July disaster declaration, close to $40 million has already been approved to help individuals, families, businesses and communities in the disaster declared counties.The Texas Governor's Division of Emergency Management (GDEM), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announce that $39,986,704 has been approved to help individuals, households, businesses, and infrastructure in Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy counties since the July 22 hurricane struck.

Under FEMA's Public Assistance Program, state agencies, local governments and certain nonprofit organizations that provide essential services in Aransas, Bexar, Brooks, Calhoun, Cameron, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Starr, Victoria and Willacy counties are eligible to apply for federal assistance. 

The main goal of the FEMA and state Public Assistance program is to provide reimbursement for eligible, disaster-related expenses and restoration of eligible facilities to pre-disaster levels.  The program reimburses local and county governments and certain private non-profit organizations for expenses or damage incurred during the disaster and may cover costs for emergency protective measures, debris removal and public facility repair or replacement costs including buildings, equipment, utilities, and other facilities. 

As of September 22, FEMA's Public Assistance Program for infrastructure assistance has received 130 requests for public assistance projects and $1,976,910.00 has been obligated.

Update

Sept. 30 is the deadline to apply for assistance. Applicants should register by calling FEMA toll-free 800-621-FEMA (3362).

Those with a speech or hearing impairment may call TTY 800-462-7585 and apply. Spanish, English and other multilingual operators are available to speak to applicants.  The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. until further notice. If applicants have access to a computer they can register for assistance online at www.fema.gov, or at one of the DRCs.

• Current and pre-disaster (damaged) address;

• Current telephone numbers;

• Social Security number;

• Insurance coverage, policy number(s), and agent's name if possible;

McALLEN, Texas – The two FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers in Hidalgo County and one in Cameron County will close at 6:00 p.m. today, Tuesday, September 9, as FEMA personnel from the Joint Field Office in McAllen are relocated to facilities in Austin to remove them from harm’s way in the event of landfall by Hurricane Ike. 

FEMA personnel will continue to support the Dolly recovery from Austin. 

Registered applicants may still call the Helpline (800-621-3362) to check on the status of their application, update their contact information, change an inspection appointment or ask other recovery questions. English, Spanish and other multilingual speaking recovery specialists are available to help. 

Residents in the declared counties of Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy can continue to register for assistance by calling FEMA’s toll-free registration line 800-621-FEMA (3362) or for the speech- and hearing-impaired TTY 800-462-7585. Applicants who have access to a computer can register online at www.fema.gov. The deadline to register for Hurricane Dolly aid is Saturday September 30. 

The three Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOC) in Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy counties are also closing as of 6:00 p.m. today until further notice.

Update

CLEAN UP IMMEDIATELY, BUT KEEP RECORDS OF DAMAGES

It’s extremely important for residents of areas struck by Hurricane Dolly to keep careful records of repairs made after the storm. This is necessary for possible reimbursement in the future, whether or not you are making an insurance claim. It is also important for any possible tax relief.

Officials from the Texas Governor’s Division of Emergency Management (GDEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are working under the President’s July 24 disaster declaration to help individuals and communities recover from Hurricane Dolly. 

Presidents of Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties who suffered uninsured or underinsured losses as a result of Hurricane Dolly are now eligible to apply for federal disaster assistance, which may include grants and low-interest disaster loans. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) can offer loans to homeowners and renters, as well as business of all sizes and nonprofit organizations.

The way to apply is by calling toll-free 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or if you have access to a computer, by going online at www.fema.gov.  The number for applicants who have speech or hearing impairments is TTY 1-800-462-7585.

Here are some other tips:

• Keep a list of items that have been damaged or destroyed.

• If you have insurance, call your insurance agent to report your claim. For flood insurance claims, the agent will prepare a Notice of Loss form, and an adjuster will be assigned to help you. If possible, photograph the outside and the inside of the damaged property, showing the flooding and damage.

• Dispose of damaged property that presents a health hazard or that may hamper clean-up operations. Be sure to document fully all discarded items so that when the adjuster examines your losses and your records, these articles are included.

• Compile a room-by-room inventory of missing or damaged goods and include manufacturers’ names, dates and places of purchase and prices, where possible. Try to locate receipts and proofs of purchase, especially for large appliances. Good records can speed settlement of your claim.
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Whether or not you have experienced damage this time around, it is wise to purchase flood insurance. Information about the National Flood Insurance Program is available online at www.floodsmart.gov or by calling toll-free 1-888-379-9531.

FEDERAL ASSISTANCE FOR DOLLY VICTIMS The disaster declaration for the State of Texas has been amended triggering the release of Federal funds to help people and communities recover from the effects of Hurricane Dolly.

**Residents is these three counties can now call 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585), or visit www.fema.gov to register for disaster assistance.**  

Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers are serving the following locations (it is not necessary to visit a center to apply for assistance; these centers are for those who have already applied on-line or over the phone and have questions about their applications):  

People who are not U.S. citizens—but who are in the United States legally—may still be eligible for disaster aid according to officials from the Texas Governor’s Division of Emergency Management (GDEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Applicants must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals or qualified aliens to receive FEMA monetary assistance.

Their legal status will not be jeopardized by applying for assistance. Qualified aliens include: Individuals with Lawful Permanent Residency (holders of "green cards"); those with refugee or asylum status; those whose deportation has been withheld; those on parole in the U.S. for at least one year for humanitarian purposes; those with conditional entry; Cuban or Haitian entrants; and those with petitions for relief based on battery or extreme cruelty by a family member. Assistance can be given as long as someone in a household is entitled to it, and no information will be gathered regarding the status of other household members.

For example, a parent or guardian who is not eligible for assistance can still apply on behalf of a minor child who is a   U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien. The guardian only certifies for the child; no information will be gathered on the adult's status.

Undocumented immigrants from a household with no one eligible for FEMA financial assistance may still be eligible for programs run by state, local or voluntary agencies. They may also be eligible for short-term, non-cash aid from FEMA, such as crisis counseling.

HURRICANE DOLLY SITUATION REPORTS FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT

The State of Texas has continued updates and situation reports about Hurricane Dolly on its website. This information can be found on the Governor's Division of Emergency Management homepage here.

HUD ASSISTANCE

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has begun to offer services to victims in Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy counties. These services include temporary foreclosure relief, mortgage insurance, and Section 108 loan guarantee assistance. This information can be found on their website here.

RED CROSS SHELTERS & OPERATIONS

The American Red Cross continues to provide disaster relief in South Texas. There are currently nine Red Cross managed and partner shelters with a total population of 518 affected by Hurricane Dolly. All Red Cross shelters provide food, drinks, a safe place to rest, and counseling services are provided to help the evacuees cope with the emotional strain.

There are currently 47 Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) on the scene delivering food and providing bulk distribution of clean-up kits, comfort kits, tarps, rakes and shovels. More than 150,000 meals and snacks have been served to hungry and tired residents in South Texas.

Shelter locations are subject to change based on need and/or external conditions. For the latest shelter information, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or 2-1-1. If the caller is someone outside of Texas or is having technical difficulties when dialing 2-1-1 from their cell/mobile phone, voice-over IP, or from an office location phone, please use toll free alternate access number 1-877-541-7905.

RED CROSS BULK DISTRIBUTION CENTERS