Federal Emergency Disaster Relief Information
With the federal disaster declaration, Harris County residents may be eligible for FEMA major disaster benefits, including:
Disaster Housing
Disaster Housing may be available for up to 18 months, using local resources, for displaced persons whose residences were heavily damaged or destroyed. Funding also can be provided for housing repairs and replacement of damaged items to make homes habitable.
Disaster Grants
Disaster Grants are available to help meet other serious disaster-related needs and necessary expenses not covered by insurance and other aid programs. These may include replacement of personal property, and transportation, medical, dental and funeral expenses.
Low-Interest Disaster Loans
Low-Interest Disaster Loans are available after a disaster for homeowners, renters and small businesses from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to cover uninsured property losses. Loans may be available for repair or replacement of homes, automobiles, clothing or other damaged personal property. Loans are also available to businesses for property loss and economic injury.
Other Disaster Aid Programs
Other Disaster Aid Programs include crisis counseling, disaster-related unemployment assistance, legal aid and assistance with income tax, Social Security and Veteran's benefits.
Assistance Process
After the application is taken, the damaged property is inspected to verify the loss. If approved, an applicant will soon receive a check for rental assistance or a grant. Loan applications require more information and approval may take several weeks after application. The deadline for most individual assistance programs is 60 days following the President's major disaster declaration.
Application forms and additional information can be found at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362.
If you need any help with your application or if you have any questions regarding the process, please call my district office at (281) 446-0242.