Homeowners, renters, and businesses affected by Hurricane Harvey can register for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) even if they are covered by insurance or have registered with other agencies.
Under federal law, FEMA cannot duplicate insurance settlements or other benefits, the agency said. However, people who live in the disaster-designated Texas counties still might be eligible for FEMA help, if:
- Your settlement was delayed longer than 30 days after you filed a claim,
- The settlement does not fully cover all your losses and needs,
- You exhausted the additional living expenses provided in your policy, or
- You cannot locate suitable rental properties in your community.
The deadline to register is Oct. 24, and you’ll have 12 months after that to let FEMA know if you need assistance, the agency said.
Register for assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling (800) 621-3362 or (800) 462-7585 (TTY), on Android or Apple mobile devices at fema.gov/mobile-app, or by writing to:
FEMA Individuals and Households Program
National Processing Center
PO Box 10055
Hyattsville, MD 20702-8055
Fax: (800) 827-8112
In the three weeks since a disaster declaration was enacted, more than $1 billion in federal funds have been provided to Texans, officials said.
The funds include FEMA grants to households, claims payments from the National Flood Insurance Program, and disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Harris County has received the highest amount of household assistance with $198.6 million as of Sunday, officials said. Galveston ($44.7 million), Fort Bend ($22.2 million), Aransas ($18.4 million), and Brazoria ($15.8 million) counties round out the top five.
Last Updated On
September 19, 2017
Originally Published On
September 19, 2017