Texas Disaster Recovery Assistance Exceeds $17 million
Release Date: November 16, 1998
Release Number: 1257-031
» More Information on Texas Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes
SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Texas families, individuals and businesses in the 32 declared counties that have suffered from the recent severe storms, flooding and tornadoes Oct. 17 - 31 continue to receive assistance from federal and state agencies.
Recovery services summary
The following is a summary of recovery assistance as of the close of business Sun., Nov. 15:
- 5,699 checks totaling $11,533,341 have been approved for minor home repairs or temporary assistance.
- $1,460,200 in low-interest U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans have been approved for 36 homeowners, renters and businesses.
- 868 families and individuals have been approved to receive $4,454,904 in state-administered grants for serious needs and necessary expenses not covered by other assistance programs.
- 18,249 calls were received at the National Teleregistration Center (1-800-462-9029, TTY 1-800-462-7585). Those who suffered flood losses called to register for federal aid, including housing assistance, disaster unemployment assistance, low-interest loans, income tax and social security assistance, veteran's assistance, serious needs and necessary expenses, and flood insurance information.
Registrations received by county
| COUNTY | REGISTRATIONS |
| Atascosa | 26 |
| Austin | 122 |
| Bastrop | 206 |
| Bexar | 4,526 |
| Brazoria | 35 |
| Burleson | 70 |
| Caldwell | 449 |
| Calhoun | 40 |
| Colorado | 74 |
| Comal | 1,996 |
| DeWitt | 1,578 |
| Fayette | 37 |
| Fort Bend | 75 |
| Galveston | 35 |
| Goliad | 57 |
| Gonzales | 585 |
| Guadalupe | 3,051 |
| Harris | 561 |
| Hays | 986 |
| Jackson | 11 |
| Karnes | 83 |
| Liberty | 29 |
| Matagorda | 24 |
| Montgomery | 257 |
| Nueces | 233 |
| Refugio | 54 |
| San Jacinto | 42 |
| Travis | 349 |
| Victoria | 1,141 |
| Waller | 269 |
| Wharton | 710 |
| Wilson | 408 |
- 9,055 individuals visited 12 Disaster Recovery Centers after calling to register for assistance. They met face-to-face with disaster recovery specialists to get information on disaster assistance including housing, tax, agricultural disaster loans, low interest SBA loans and unemployment programs.
- 9,848 individuals contacted the Helpline (1-800-525-0321, TTY 1-800-660-8005) with questions about the status of their disaster assistance application.
Free legal counseling is available
Victims may call the Disaster Legal Services Hotline at 1-800-504-7030 for assistance regarding:
- Insurance claims
- Home repair contracts
- Landlord-tenant issues
- Mortgage foreclosure problems
- Drafting powers of attorney
- Replacement of wills or other documents lost in the disaster.
Area attorneys are staffing the phones Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. They are returning calls made during evening hours and weekends within two working days. Assistance is available in Spanish.
Disaster outreach teams visit 32 counties
Community Relations teams are getting vital disaster information out to the communities and are learning first-hand the problems that people in affected areas are facing. Team members continue to remind people that they can begin the recovery process by calling the toll-free teleregistration number at 1-800-462-9029. For people with speech or hearing impairments, the number is 1-800-462-7585.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 20-Jan-2004 10:15:20