Federal Disaster Aid To Texans Tops $4.7 Million For Tropical Storm Erin
Release Date: November 1, 2007
Release Number: 1730-017
» More Information on Texas Tropical Storm Erin
WACO, Texas -- Federal disaster aid distributed to Texans affected by Tropical Storm Erin has reached more than $4.7 million, the Governor's Division of Emergency Management (GDEM), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today. As of Oct. 31, FEMA and the SBA have approved more than $4,707,584 in disaster aid.
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1,470 individuals and families have registered for FEMA assistance through FEMA's toll-free registration line, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or by going online at www.fema.gov. Individuals with speech or hearing impairment may call 1-800-462-7585 (TTY). The registration deadline is Dec. 3, 2007. Individuals must register with FEMA directly, even if they have called 2-1-1, the American Red Cross or their local emergency officials to report damage. FEMA recovery specialists are available to assist Texans with the registration process, provide counsel on assistance programs and to help residents check the status of their applications. Registrations and approved funds by designated counties are:
County Registrants Approved funds
(Housing and ONA)Bexar
509
$1,443,222
Harris
484
$1,027,036
Jones
210
$1,068,033
Kendall
21
$17,344
Medina
29
$53,584
Taylor
126
$252,965
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To date, FEMA has approved $3,203,362 in Housing Assistance funds to residents in Bexar, Harris, Jones, Kendall, Medina and Taylor Counties. These funds include temporary rental assistance for safe shelter to individuals whose homes were severely damaged. Additionally, these funds can be used for repairs to restore damaged homes to safe and habitable conditions.
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Supplementing the housing assistance, FEMA has approved $658,822 in Other Needs Assistance (ONA) to help residents replace damaged or destroyed personal property, transportation expenses, medical and dental bills, and funeral expenses resulting from the disaster.
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FEMA housing inspectors have completed 1,189 inspections of damaged properties.
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The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved $845,400 in disaster loan assistance to 29 home owners, renters, businesses of all sizes and/or private non-profit organizations. The SBA is the primary source of federal funds for long-term disaster recovery for owners of private property, including homeowners, renters, non-farm businesses of all sizes and private non-profit organizations. These low-interest loans cover costs of repair or replacement of damaged real estate, personal property and business assets not fully covered by insurance or other aid, and for small businesses, such loans cover working capital needs caused by the disaster.
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In response to Tropical Storm Erin, FEMA operated two fixed and one mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs). Thus far, 790 individuals have visited these centers, where Texans can meet one-on-one with disaster recovery specialists to check on the status of their application, learn about other types of aid that may be available, and receive information about how to avoid future disaster losses when repairing or rebuilding. Two DRCs remain open:
Bexar County DRC
CLOSING NOV. 2
Westlakes Village Shopping Center
1305 SW Loop 410 Suite 115
San Antonio, Texas
Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Jones County DRC
CLOSING NOV. 7
BCD Building
52 SW 5th St.
Hamlin, Texas
Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Thursday, 01-Nov-2007 09:29:25