Types of Disaster Assistance Available from FEMA

SAN ANGELO, TX - FEMA offers several types of disaster assistance to individuals and families who were affected by the July 2-18 storms and flooding in Central Texas. Flood survivors in Burnet, Guadalupe, Kerr, Kimble, McCulloch, Menard, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis and Williamson counties may apply for assistance under FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program.

Survivors who applied with the State of Texas will need to apply separately with FEMA to receive this assistance. The program helps eligible disaster survivors with uninsured or underinsured critical needs such as returning a home to a safe, sanitary, functional and accessible environment during recovery from a disaster. 

Housing Assistance

Rental Assistance to rent alternate housing while you are displaced from a disaster-damaged primary residence. You may use this money to rent a house, apartment, manufactured home, recreational vehicle or other dwelling.

Lodging Expense Reimbursement for your immediate housing needs if you cannot return to your home because of the disaster. The money can be used to stay in a hotel or motel after the disaster while you look for a rental unit.

Home Repair Assistance to help restore an owner-occupied, disaster-damaged primary residence to safe and sanitary condition.

• Help making accessibility repairs and upgrades such as an exterior ramp, grab bars and a paved path to the entrance of your home.

Replacement Assistance to help homeowners replace an owner-occupied primary residence when it is destroyed by a disaster. This award provides for basic needs to make the home safe, accessible and functional. FEMA does not provide replacement-value awards for damaged items or for assistance with non-essential items.

Other Needs Assistance

Displacement Assistance is a one-time lump sum of money you can use for disaster-caused expenses.

• You can use the award to stay in a hotel or motel, stay with family and friends, or for any other available short-term housing options while you look for temporary housing.
• You do not have to show that you used all of the award.

Money to help you with necessary expenses and serious needs caused by a disaster, such as:

• Essential needs such as water, food, first aid, prescriptions, infant formula, breastfeeding supplies, diapers, personal hygiene items and fuel for transportation.
• Repair and/or replacement of appliances, room furnishings, and a personal or family computer that was damaged. This can also include money for books, uniforms, tools, additional computers and other items required for school or work, including self-employment.
• Medical and dental expenses because the disaster caused an injury or illness. This money can also be used to help replace medical/dental equipment, breastfeeding equipment, or prescribed medicine that was damaged or lost.
• Funerals or reburial expenses.
• Increased cost of childcare expenses.
• Miscellaneous items such as a generator, dehumidifier or chainsaw that you purchased or rented after the disaster. The miscellaneous items may be used for gaining access to your property or to help with the cleanup.
• Repair and/or replacement of a vehicle damaged by the disaster when you don’t have another vehicle you can use.
• Moving and storage of personal property from your home to prevent additional damage, usually while you are making repairs to your home or moving to a new place due to the disaster.

Learn more about FEMA’s Individual Assistance program at fema.gov/assistance/individual.

Ways to apply

You have until Thursday, Sept. 4, to apply for FEMA disaster assistance, which is not the same as reporting your damage to the state. Reporting disaster damage to the Texas Division of Emergency Management at damage.tdem.texas.gov helps officials connect you with resources and services.

The fastest way to apply to FEMA is online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

You may also use the FEMA mobile app.

Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Lines are open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT daily. If you use a relay service, captioned telephone or other service, you can give FEMA your number for that service. Helpline specialists speak many languages. Press 2 for Spanish.

Visit any Disaster Recovery Center to receive in-person assistance. To find one close to you, use your ZIP code to search FEMA.gov/DRC.

To view an accessible video on how to apply, visit What You Need to Know Before Applying for FEMA Assistance.

For the latest information about the Texas recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4879. Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x.com/FEMARegion6 and at facebook.com/FEMARegion6/.

# # #

FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 833-285-7448. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service, captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. Multilingual operators are available. (Press 2 for Spanish)