FEMA centers open for Houston area storm victims | What they do and don’t offer

HOUSTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) opened Disaster Recovery Centers in Houston and Coldspring on Friday, May 24.

Anyone in the Houston area affected by severe storms, tornadoes, flooding and derecho wind damage can come in and apply for aid.

Those severe weather events date back to April 26.

RELATED: How you can get a 2.66% government loan to fix storm damage at your home | No interest for a full year

An important reality check from Nim Kidd, director of the Texas Division of Emergency Management:

“But I want to set the standard here,” Kidd said when he visited storm-ravaged areas in Conroe earlier this month. “FEMA Individual Assistance is a maximum of $75,000 grant. And if you go back to Hurricane Harvey, the average payout was only $2,400 per household.”

FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are open every day from 7 a.m. through 7 p.m.

Harris County location:

Fonde Community Center | 110 Sabine Street | Houston, TX 77007

San Jacinto County location:

Innovation Center | 250 Live Oak | Coldspring, TX 77331

ONLINE APPLICATIONS @ DISASTERASSISTANCE.GOV

Who can apply

FEMA aid for Houston storm victims: Who can apply and how

Severe weather victims in the following counties:

• Calhoun
• Eastland
• Guadalupe
• Hardin
• Harris
• Jasper
• Jones
• Lamar
• Liberty
• Montgomery
• Polk
• San Jacinto
• Trinity
• Walker
• Waller

What FEMA assistance may cover

• Hotel bills in some cases

1. Try to stay in a hotel that’s on the Transitional Sheltering Assistance list
2. If your hotel is not on the list, save receipts and ask for FEMA to reimburse you once you check out

• Rent if your home or apartment was damaged
• Moving and storage expenses
• Home repairs: FEMA may provide a limited amount of money to help make your home safe, sanitary and functional
• Replace personal belongings: FEMA may give you money to replace damaged or destroyed items including essential vehicles, furniture, appliances, computing devices, clothing, specialized equipment and clothing required for a job, schoolbooks and supplies
• Medical and dental expenses (get a doctor’s note)
• Funeral expenses
• Serious needs caused by the disaster (you’ll need all receipts)
• Child-care expense
• Generator, chainsaw, dehumidifier and items you bought as a result of the disaster

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What FEMA assistance DOES NOT cover

Your insurance deductible and if you have insurance you will need to pay FEMA back after you receive your insurance money

• Damage to non-essential areas
• Landscaping
• Spoiled food
• Damage to a secondary property

Does insurance cover spoiled food during power outages?

Common reasons FEMA denies grants

• They can’t contact you to schedule an inspection
• Your home is safe to live in
• You don’t want to relocate while repairs are made
• You haven’t provided documents or receipts or proof of identity or ownership