Only Two Weeks Left to Register for March Storms Disaster Assistance
AUSTIN, Texas – (RealEstateRama) — Texans who suffered damage or losses from the March 7-29 severe storms, tornadoes and flooding only have until Wednesday, May 18, to register for FEMA assistance.
“We do not want to see anyone lose the opportunity to receive money that they are due,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Kevin Hannes, who is in charge of FEMA’s operations in Texas. “But as we deal with multiple disasters here in Texas, FEMA must ask survivors to meet this deadline so that we can start the next steps in the recovery process.”
To register, people can go online anytime at DisasterAssistance.gov. Survivors also can register with FEMA by phone (voice, 711 or video relay service) at 800-621-3362 (FEMA), TTY 800-462-7585. The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.
Applicants will be asked for 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; and
- a bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds.
FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.
Survivors should register even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their claims are settled.
Before starting repairs or rebuilding a home or business, it is important to contact your local building code official or floodplain manager.
Visit fema.gov/texas-disaster-mitigation for free publications and reference material on rebuilding and repairing safer and stronger.
After registering, you can:
- Track your application. Be sure you keep your FEMA registration number and other pertinent information on hand when you contact FEMA.
- Notify FEMA of changes to your mailing address, phone number or email address.
- Update FEMA if you receive insurance settlements or discover additional damage.
For more information on Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage at fema.gov/disaster/4266, Twitter attwitter.com/femaregion6 and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website,txdps.state.tx.us/dem.
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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
