More Than $407 Million Approved For Rita Victims In Texas;
More Than 400,000 People Apply For Disaster Aid
Release Date: October 17, 2005
Release Number: 1606-033
» More Information on Texas Hurricane Rita
AUSTIN , Texas -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved more than $407.6 million for individuals and families in Texas affected by Hurricane Rita. The joint federal, state and local disaster recovery effort continues to pour resources into the affected areas to help reconstitute lives and property.
"This is an unprecedented effort by partners at all levels of government," said Tom Davies, FEMA's federal coordinating officer for disaster recovery operations in Texas . "The hardest hit Texas counties cover nearly 25-thousand square miles and our people are doing an outstanding job getting aid to recipients as quickly as possible."
FEMA announced that 400,321 residents have registered for disaster assistance since President Bush declared parts of the state eligible for disaster aid on Sept. 24.
Disaster assistance can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other disaster-related expenses not met by insurance or other aid programs. Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration also are available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.
A snapshot of other disaster aid in Texas in response to Hurricane Rita:
- More than 6,880,000 meals and snacks have been served and 85 feeding unit "canteens and kitchens" remain in operation.
- On Sept. 25, shelter population peaked at 99,000 people in 400 shelters; 2,359 people remained in 45 shelters on Oct. 12. Remaining shelters will stay open as long as necessary.
- Approximately 400 line crews, including crews from 14 sister electric cooperatives, are working to rebuild power lines destroyed by Hurricane Rita. Meanwhile, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) reports that all generator needs have been met and as of Oct. 13, 101 generators have been de-installed as facilities switch over to the power grid. A total of 281 generators were installed at critical facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes and water and sewage treatment plants.
- Twenty-six Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are currently open and assisting disaster victims. To date, more than 138,000 state residents or temporary evacuees currently residing in Texas have visited the centers. (For a list of locations, see the following.)
- More than 250 State/FEMA community relations specialists are conducting door-to-door outreach in storm-damaged neighborhoods.
- The USACE hauled more than 1,121,000 cubic yards of debris from the hardest hit areas.
- The USACE has installed 343 Blue Roofs in Jefferson and Orange counties, while 225 applications have been accepted for pending installation. So far, more than 8,000 homeowners in Jefferson and Orange counties have signed up for the program. For more information, call 888-ROOF-BLU (766-3258).
- The Texas Education Agency reports that 63 school districts are now open and 13 remain closed. The openings of four more districts are to be determined. One district reports opening pending restoration of power, and 13 have offered future dates of re-openings.
Affected Texas residents and businesses, as well as displaced evacuees currently residing in the state, are encouraged to begin the disaster assistance application process as soon as possible by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585 for the hearing and speech-impaired. The lines remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice. Multilingual registration personnel are able to assist applicants in several languages. Internet registration is available online at www.fema.gov .
DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS ASSIST HURRICANE VICTIMS
Disaster Recovery Centers continue to aid those affected by the hurricanes at seven fixed centers in major cities and at 19 temporary centers in East Texas communities.
The centers provide a single location where people may talk face-to-face with recovery specialists. Representatives from local, state and federal agencies and voluntary organizations are staffing the Disaster Recovery Centers. FEMA is not issuing cash, checks, debit cards or vouchers at Disaster Recovery Centers.
Most centers operate from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and are closed on Sundays. The Houston center is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
The following federal and state fixed Disaster Recovery Centers are open until further notice:
Galveston : Island Community Center , 4700 Broadway, Galveston 77551 .
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. (Closed Sunday).Smith County / Tyler City : 2301 South Broadway Ave . , Tyler 75701 .
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. (Closed Sunday).Houston : Greater Houston Area DRC, 6059 South Loop East, Houston 77087 .
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. (Closed Sunday).Austin : Greater Austin Area DRC, 825 East Rundberg Lane , Suite E, Austin 78753 . Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. (Closed Sunday).
San Antonio : Kelly Air Force Base, 280 Robert Dover St . Bldg. 1537, San Antonio 78266. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. (Closed Sunday).
Dallas : Dallas Convention Center , 650 Griffin Street , Dallas 75202 .
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. (Closed Sunday).Fort Worth : The FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Fort Worth closed temporarily Friday, Oct. 14, 2005 to move to a new location within the Amon Carter Center , 3401 Burnett Tandy Drive , Fort Worth . The center will reopen Saturday, Oct. 16, 2005 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will be closed Sunday. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. (Closed Sunday).
Temporary state and federal centers are open at 19 locations in counties directly impacted by Hurricane Rita. Some temporary sites may move to other locations in the region and will be updated as necessary. People should visit the Disaster Recovery Centers if they want information; calls are not taken at the sites.
Cass County : Cass County Law Enforcement Center , 1031 County Road 1913 in Linden , TX . 75663 will open Friday, Oct. 14, Saturday, Oct. 15 and Monday, Oct. 17. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Closed Sunday).
Chambers County : 202 Broadway, Winnie TX. 77665. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. (Closed Sunday).
Galveston County : County Annex , 960 Noble Carl Dr. , Crystal Beach, TX. 77650 . Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. (Closed Sunday).
Gregg County / Nacogdoches County : The temporary Disaster Recovery Center in Longview has closed and moved to the Nacogdoches Recreation Center , 1112 North Street in Nacogdoches . The center will be open Friday, Oct. 14, Saturday, Oct. 15 and Monday, Oct. 17. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Closed Sunday).
Hardin County : The temporary Disaster Recovery Center at First Pentecostal Church , 1403 5 th Street (FM 92), Silsbee , TX . 77657 will close Saturday, Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. The center will move to the Hardin County Courthouse, 300 Monroe Street , Kountze , TX 77625 and reopen Tuesday, Oct. 18. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. (Closed Sunday).
Jasper County : The temporary Disaster Recovery Center at Jasper High School , 200 Bulldog Drive , Jasper , TX . 75951 will close Friday, Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. and move to Central Baptist Community Activity Center , US Hwy 96 at Lewis Road in Buna TX 77612 . The center will be open Monday, Oct. 17 and Tuesday, Oct. 18 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Wednesday, Oct. 19 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. This Disaster Recovery Center will then move to the First Methodist Church Wesley Center , 329 North Bowie Street in Jasper. It will be open Thursday, Oct. 20 and Friday, Oct. 21 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 22 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
Jefferson County : Port Arthur Civic Center , 3401 Cultural Center Drive (off Hwy 73), Port Arthur , TX . 77642 . Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. (Closed Sunday).
Jefferson County: SE Texas Regional Airport, entrance at corner of 1 st & Jerry Ware Drive, Beaumont/Port Arthur, TX. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. (Closed Sunday).
Jefferson County : Parkdale Mall, 6155 Eastex Freeway, Beaumont , TX . 77706.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. (Closed Sunday).Liberty County : The Disaster Recovery Center will be open at the Liberty County Courthouse, 1923 San Houston , Liberty , TX . 77575 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14 through Tuesday, Oct. 18 (Closed Sunday). This center will then move to the First Baptist Church , 202 E. Houston Street in Dayton , TX 77535 and reopen Thursday, Oct. 20 and Friday, Oct. 21 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Newton County / Jefferson County : The Disaster Recovery Center in Burkeville has closed and moved to 5641 South Gulfway in Sabine Pass , TX . 77655. The center will open Saturday, Oct. 15. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. (Closed Sunday).
Orange County : Luby's Cafeteria parking lot, 4040 Lutcher, I-10 and FM 3247, Orange , TX 77632 . Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. (Closed Sunday).
Orange County : The temporary Disaster Recovery Center in Vidor at Vidor Elementary School will close at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15. The center will reopen Monday, Oct. 17 at 505 Orange Street (across from Vidor High School ) in the in-service training room. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. (Closed Sunday).
Polk County : City of Livingston , Old Dunbar Campus, 1114 Dogwood, Livingston , TX . 77351. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. (Closed Sunday).
Sabine County : The Disaster Recovery Center at Youth Arena Rodeo, next to VFW Hall, Hwy 184 West, west of Hemphill , TX . 75948 will be open Friday, Oct. 14 and Saturday, Oct. 15 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Closed Sunday). The center will then move to the VFW Post 10351 next to the fairgrounds, 3049 Hwy 184 two miles west of Hemphill. It will be open Monday, Oct. 17 and Tuesday, Oct. 18 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Wednesday, Oct. 19 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
San Augustine County: Courthouse Square , 100 Columbia , San Augustine , TX . 75972 . Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. (Closed Sunday).
San Jacinto County : Forest Service Training Office, 5500 FM 2025, Coldspring , TX . 77331 . Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. (Closed Sunday). (Please do not call Forest Service office).
Tyler County : Spurger High School parking lot, 12212 FM 92, Spurger, TX. 77660. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. (Closed Sunday).
Tyler County : WalMart, 1495 South Magnolia Street, South Hwy 69, Woodville TX. 75979. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. (Closed Sunday).
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Monday, 17-Oct-2005 07:11:15