Nearly $40 Million in Disaster Help Approved for Texas Survivors

AUSTIN, Texas – Nearly $40 million in disaster assistance has been approved for individuals and families in Texas whose properties were damaged or destroyed in the March 7-29 tornadoes and flooding.

This includes more than $17 million in grants to help eligible survivors with home repairs and temporary rental costs and more than $2 million in grants for expenses related to personal property, transportation, medical, dental, funeral and moving costs.

The deadline to register for federal assistance was May 18.

In the 13 counties included in the March disaster declaration, 1,797 registrations were approved for assistance. Those counties are: Erath, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hood, Jasper, Limestone, Marion, Newton, Orange, Parker, Shelby and Tyler.

The nearly $40 million in federal assistance includes more than $18 million in low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration to businesses, homeowners and renters.

Texans who registered can update their registration information or check the status of their applications online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

For more information on the Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage for the March storms at fema.gov/disaster/4266; or visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at txdps.state.tx.us/dem. Follow us on Twitter @femaregion6.

# # #

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.