Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Harris, Jefferson, Chambers to Help Imelda Survivors

AUSTIN, Texas – Joint state/federal Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) and a Mobile DRC will be opening Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20 in Harris, Jefferson, and Chambers County to help disaster survivors affected by Tropical Storm Imelda.

Recovery specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), local and state agencies will be at the center to answer questions about disaster assistance and low-interest disaster loans. They can also help survivors apply for federal disaster assistance. The centers will be at the following locations:

Harris County Social Services Building

9418 Jensen Drive

Houston, TX 77093

Opening Oct. 19, 2019 at 7 a.m.

May County Center

2100 Wolf Road

Huffman, TX 77336

Opening Oct. 20, 2019 at 7 a.m.

Beaumont Ford Park Entertainment Complex

5115 Interstate 10 Access Road

Beaumont, TX 77705

4 DAYS ONLY

Opening Oct. 20, 2019 at 10 a.m.

Closing Oct. 23, 2019 at 7 p.m.

The mobile DRC will be available at the following location:

Winnie Stowell Community Bld.

335 South Park St.

Winnie, Texas 77665

Opening Oct. 20, 2019 at 7 a.m.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Seven days a week (until further notice)

A mobile DRC is a disaster resource that allows state and local officials to maximize their reach to as many affected areas and survivors as possible. The centers offer in-person support to Texas homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained damage or losses during Tropical Storm Imelda.

Texas homeowners, renters and business owners in Chambers, Harris, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery and Orange counties that were included in the major disaster declaration for Individual Assistance may apply for uninsured and underinsured damage and losses incurred from Sept. 17 – 23, 2019.

Individual Assistance for homeowners and renters may be eligible for grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses not met by insurance or other assistance programs.

To register, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. Help is available in most languages and phone lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

Survivors who plan to register with FEMA at a DRC should have the following information:

  • Social Security number
  • Address of the damaged primary residence
  • Description of the damage
  • Information about insurance coverage
  • A current contact telephone number
  • An address where they can receive mail
  • Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds

Low-interest disaster loans from SBA are also available to businesses, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters to cover residential and business losses as a result of the disaster. Applicants can visit the DRC for one-on-one assistance, visit www.SBA.gov/disasteror call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955.

Disaster recovery centers are accessible to people with disabilities. American Sign Language interpreters may be available to assist at a DRC.

FEMA Disaster survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585 to register. Those who use 711 or VRS (Video Relay Service) or require accommodations while visiting a center may call 800-621-3362. All disaster recovery centers are accessible and equipped with tools to accommodate disaster survivors who need disability-related communication aids.

Follow FEMA online at https://twitter.com/FEMARegion6,  www.fema.gov/blogwww.twitter.com/femawww.twitter.com/FEMAespanolwww.facebook.com/femawww.facebook.com/FEMAespanol and www.youtube.com/fema

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FEMA’s mission: Helping people before, during and after disasters.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has faced discrimination, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362, voice/VP/711. Multilingual operators are available. TTY users may call 800-462-7585.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955. TTY users may also call 800-877-8339. Applicants may also email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visit SBA at www.SBA.gov/disaster .