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Houston family in need of FEMA assistance kicked out of hotel due to ‘computer error’

HOUSTON – Many Houston area families are still struggling from the damage left behind by Hurricane Beryl. Some have been forced to book hotels for weeks and even months with some help from FEMA assistance -- that is until an alleged computer issue caused problems.

RELATED: FEMA opens Disaster Recovery Center in Harris County for those impacted by Hurricane Beryl

Brijona Canada and Pandora were with their 2-year-old child standing outside of their hotel for several hours thinking they had a reservation to check in. They were told they were getting a hotel extension from FEMA through September 8th. However, they received a text over the weekend saying they had to be out by Monday.

MORE: Still looking for that FEMA check? Here’s how to put the pressure on your district’s elected officials

When they tried to find answers from FEMA, Canada told KPRC 2 she couldn’t get a straight answer.

“We’ve seen an invoice from FEMA saying that the whole thing was terminated,” she said. “But every time we call, they’re saying that it’s the hotel, it’s the hotel, it’s the hotel. But when we talk to them, it’s like pointing fingers. Everybody’s pointing fingers at each other, but nobody’s calling anybody. Nobody’s forwarding information. Nobody’s telling the agents, like, hey, this is a consistent problem.”

In a statement to KPRC 2, FEMA claimed the issues were the result of a “computer error” but has since been resolved.

“A computer error caused the end dates for some receiving Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) to reflect 8/25/2024, instead of an extended date of 9/8/2024.The error has since been fixed and the information should be updated in the hotel databases. The TSA end date for each recipient may be different based on their unique needs and the information provided through their application. Applicants are encouraged to go to or contact the hotel front desk, call the FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-3362, or visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) to check their eligibility end dates. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.”

This is a developing story and will continue to be updated with more information, followed by a LIVE report by our Re’Chelle Turner.


About the Authors
Re'Chelle Turner headshot

Emmy award-winning journalist born and raised in Alabama. College football fanatic and snow cone lover! Passionate about connecting with the community to find stories that matter.

Ahmed Humble headshot

Historian, educator, writer, expert on "The Simpsons," amateur photographer, essayist, film & tv reviewer and race/religious identity scholar. Joined KPRC 2 in Spring 2024 but has been featured in various online newspapers and in the Journal of South Texas' Fall 2019 issue.

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