FEMA approves Texas request for assistance

Acting Governor Dan Patrick announced last week that, at his request, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has amended the Major Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Beryl to include 15 Texas counties he requested for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program. 

For this request to be approved, Texas and FEMA had to assess damaged homes, as required by federal law, before making the request. Texans who live in these 15 counties can apply for FEMA disaster assistance online at disasterassistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362. Further updates regarding additional counties will be announced as damage assessment is completed. 

“I am pleased that FEMA took quick action on my request,” Patrick said. 

Qualifying Texans in the following counties are eligible for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program: Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto, Walker and Wharton counties. Texans who live in these counties can apply for FEMA disaster assistance online at disasterassistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362. 

FEMA’s Individual Assistance program funding assists with expenses such as temporary housing, emergency home repairs, uninsured and underinsured personal property losses, disaster legal services, disaster unemployment assistance, and medical, dental and funeral expenses caused by the disaster.  

Additionally, Patrick directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to request the inclusion of Fort Bend and Nacogdoches counties to FEMA’s Individual Assistance programs. 
Texans are encouraged to report damage caused by Hurricane Beryl using the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) online survey by visiting damage.tdem.texas.gov. Reports can be voluntarily submitted in English and Spanish and are not a substitution for contacting your insurance company.