FEMA Individual Disaster Assistance Approved in Fort Bend County: How to Apply

HOUSTON – Fort Bend County Judge KP George announced Saturday that the county has now been approved for individual disaster assistance from FEMA.

On Friday, residents of 15 counties were announced as eligible to apply for FEMA disaster assistance for uninsured damage or loss caused by Hurricane Beryl, but Fort Bend County was not on the list.

PREVIOUS: Fort Bend County not added to FEMA disaster aid

“There’s a lot of discussion going on, how come Fort Bend County is not approved for individual disaster assistance,” Judge George said Saturday afternoon. “And I’m very pleased to say this, we are officially, I just received notification, Fort Bend County is officially added to receive individual disaster assistance from FEMA.”

TRACKER: More than half a million people without power in Houston area

Which counties are approved?

In addition to Fort Bend County, other approved counties include Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto, Walker and Wharton counties.

SUGGESTED: FEMA’s Individual Assistance for Hurricane Beryl Victims Expanded to 15 Houston-Area Counties

What type of FEMA disaster assistance is available to individuals?

Renters and landlords can apply for assistance with acute needs, displacement, temporary shelter, basic home repair costs, loss of personal property or other needs caused by a disaster.

The new benefits include Serious Needs Assistance, which provides a one-time payment of $750 per household to help pay for essential items including water, food, first aid, prescriptions, infant formula, breastfeeding supplies, diapers, consumable medical supplies, durable medical equipment, personal hygiene items and transportation fuel.

Residents may also be eligible for travel assistance that will allow them to stay in a hotel, with family and friends or other options while they look for temporary housing if they are unable to return home due to the disaster.

Can I apply if I applied for assistance earlier this year?

FEMA says those who applied for FEMA assistance after the storms and flooding from April 26 to June 5, and who suffered additional damage or losses from Hurricane Beryl, can apply separately for Hurricane Beryl assistance.

How to Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance

There are several ways to apply:

• Go online to disasterassistance.gov.
• Download the FEMA app for mobile devices.
• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Central Time. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone, or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
• Visit a disaster relief center. For locations, visit fema.gov/drc. These centers can help you manage Hurricane Beryl and storms and flooding from April 26 to June 5.

What you need to apply

When filling out the form, you will need the following information:

• A current telephone number where you can be contacted
• Your address at the time of the incident and the address where you are currently staying
• Your social security number
• A general list of damages and losses
• Banking information if you choose direct deposit
• If insured, policy number or name of agent and/or company

What other types of assistance are available?

FEMA says the following additional assistance is available for those affected by the disaster:

• Simplified application process so individuals can apply to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and FEMA simultaneously.
• Support for underinsured people to help cover some home repair costs that insurance companies don’t want to pay but the homeowner can’t afford.
• Help for self-employed workers to replace tools and equipment damaged by a disaster.
• Expanded assistance to make homes safer after disasters.
• Help make a home more accessible to people with disabilities.
• Simplified process for people who need to extend temporary housing assistance.
• Simplified process for appealing FEMA’s decision, eliminating the need for a signed letter.
• Help for people who need to repair or replace a computer damaged by a disaster.