To The Leader

 

AUSTIN, Texas – A joint state/federal Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) opened Monday, Oct. 14, in Orange County to help disaster survivors affected by Tropical Storm Imelda.  

Recovery specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), local and state agencies will be at the center to answer questions about disaster assistance and low-interest disaster loans. They can also help survivors apply for federal disaster assistance. The center is located at the following address, along with the SBA Business Recovery Center: 

Orange County Convention and Expo Center :

11475 Farm to Market Road 1442
Orange, TX 77630

Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Seven days a week (until further notice) 

Texas homeowners, renters and business owners in Chambers, Harris, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, and Orange counties that were included in the major disaster declaration for Individual Assistance may apply for uninsured and underinsured damage and losses incurred from Sept. 17 – 23.

Individual Assistance for homeowners and renters may be eligible for grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses not met by insurance or other assistance programs.   

To register, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. Help is available in most languages and phone lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. 

Survivors who plan to register with FEMA at a DRC should have 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
• Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds

Low-interest disaster loans from SBA are also available to businesses, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters to cover residential and business losses as a result of the disaster. Applicants can visit the DRC for one-on-one assistance, visit www.SBA.gov/disaster, or call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955.  

Disaster recovery centers are accessible to people with disabilities. American Sign Language interpreters may be available to assist at a DRC. 

FEMA Disaster survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585 to register. Those who use 711 or VRS (Video Relay Service) or require accommodations while visiting a center may call 800-621-3362. All disaster recovery centers are accessible and equipped with tools to accommodate disaster survivors who need disability-related communication aids.