FEMA Offers Advice for Texans on Lessening Storm Damage in Harris and Austin Counties

AUSTIN, Texas – A team of specialists from FEMA will visit two home improvement stores in Harris County and another in Austin County to offer tips and techniques to lessen the impact of disaster-related property damage.

Specialists will be available from June 2-7 at the following locations:

Harris County

Where:          
Lowe’s Home Improvement,
1521 North Loop West,
Houston, TX 77008                       

Hours:           
7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, June 2-4
8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 5
7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, June 6-7

Where:          
Gateway Ace Hardware,
6860 Telephone Rd.,
Houston, TX 77061                 

Hours:           
8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, June 2-4
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday, June 5
8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, June 6-7

Austin County

Where:          
A L & M Do-it-Best Building Supply,
300 N. Meyer St.,
Sealy, TX 77474

Hours:           
7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, June 2-3
7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, June 4
8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Sunday, June 5
7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, June 6-7

FEMA Mitigation specialists will be on hand to answer questions and offer home improvement tips to reduce damage in future disasters. Information is geared to both do-it-yourselfers and general contractors on topics such as flood proofing a home, how to elevate utilities and removing and replacing wet drywall.  

Booklets are available in English and Spanish on protecting your home from flood damage and other natural disasters. If you have a disability and need an accommodation to access Braille or large print, please let our representatives know. American Sign Language interpreters can be available, if requested, by calling Everett Sedgwick at 202-870-4129. More information on how to strengthen homes, businesses and communities can be found at fema.gov/what-mitigation and fema.gov/texas-disaster-mitigation.

FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program has a call center to answer policyholder questions, service claims, provide general information and offer technical assistance. To speak with a flood insurance specialist, call 800-621-3362 (FEMA) and select option 2. Hours are between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For more information on the Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage for the April storms at fema.gov/disaster/4269; or visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at txdps.state.tx.us/dem. Follow us on Twitter @femaregion6.

Download fema.gov/mobile-app to locate open shelters and disaster recovery centers, receive severe weather alerts, safety tips and much more.

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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.

Download fema.gov/mobile-app to locate open shelters and disaster recovery centers, receive severe weather alerts, safety tips and much more.