AUSTIN – Texas homeowners and renters in 15 counties who had uninsured damage or losses caused by Hurricane Beryl may be eligible for FEMA disaster assistance.
FEMA may be able to help with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs. Financial assistance is available to eligible homeowners and renters in Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto, Walker and Wharton counties.
Texans who applied for FEMA assistance after the April 26-June 5 storms and flooding, and who had additional damage or losses from Hurricane Beryl, can make a separate application for Hurricane Beryl assistance.
FEMA’s disaster assistance offers new benefits that provide flexible funding directly to survivors. In addition, a simplified process and expanded eligibility allows Texans access to a wider range of assistance and immediate funds for serious needs.
New Benefits Available
- Serious Needs Assistance: A one-time $750 payment per household to help pay for essential items, including water, food, first aid, prescriptions, infant formula, breastfeeding supplies, diapers, consumable medical supplies, durable medical equipment, personal hygiene items and fuel for transportation.
- Displacement Assistance: Money to help with immediate housing needs if you cannot return to your home because of the disaster. The money can be used to stay in a hotel, with family and friends or for other options while you look for temporary housing.
How to Apply to FEMA
Homeowners and renters can apply in several ways:
- Go online to disasterassistance.gov.
- Download the FEMA App for mobile devices.
- Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. CT. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
- Visit a Disaster Recovery Center. For locations, visit fema.gov/drc. These centers can help with both Hurricane Beryl and the April 26-June 5 storms and flooding.
What You’ll Need When You Apply
- A current phone number where you can be contacted
- Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying
- Your Social Security number
- A general list of damage and losses
- Banking information if you choose direct deposit
- If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name
Additional Assistance
- Streamlined application process so people can apply to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and FEMA at the same.
- Support for underinsured people to help cover some home repair costs that insurance companies won’t pay for but which the homeowner can’t afford.
- Help for self-employed people to replace disaster-damaged tools and equipment.
- Expanded help to make homes safer after a disaster.
- Help making a home more accessible for people with disabilities.
- Streamlined process for people who need to extend temporary housing assistance.
- Simplified process for appeal of FEMA’s decision, eliminating the need for a signed letter.
- Help for people who need to repair or replace a disaster-damaged computer.
