Texas Border Business
MISSION – A FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is now open and taking applications for assistance for Hidalgo County residents impacted by the May 30 storm. The DRC is located in the City of Mission Social & Support Center at 115 S. Mayberry Street. It is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents can apply in person for assistance, have their application reviewed and get their questions answered by FEMA representatives.
Hidalgo County was among 12 Texas counties included in a Presidential disaster declaration. Currently, over 1,600 applications for assistance have been submitted to the state and more than $15 million in aid has been approved. Residents have 60 days from June 11, when the disaster declaration was issued, to apply for FEMA assistance.
There are three ways for residents and business owners who sustained losses to apply for assistance:
- In person at the Disaster Recovery Center in Mission.
- Registering online at https://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST seven days a week until further notice.
- Or, by downloading the FEMA app, available at the Apple and Google Play stores.
“Hidalgo County has a commitment to ensure public safety, community awareness and emergency response,” said Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia. “Part of our commitment includes doing everything we can to encourage residents, who were impacted by the May 30 storms, to seek the assistance available to them.”
FEMA representatives answer questions from residents.
Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster, said Garcia, who also serves as the county’s Emergency Management Director.
FEMA officials encourage all residents no matter their legal status to apply for assistance. Undocumented immigrants who have one child who is a U.S. citizen are eligible to apply. Officials also suggest residents contact their homeowner’s insurance company first to determine if they are covered for damage. If they are not, they can apply for assistance through FEMA or the Small Business Administration, which provides low-interest, fixed-rate federal disaster loans. You can apply for SBA loans at the DRC, online or you can mail a paper application. Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, and business owners are eligible for up to $2 million. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.
When registering for FEMA, applicants will be asked for the following:
- 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.
- Annual gross household income.
- A bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds.
- Identification and proof of occupancy, such as a lease, rent receipt, or utility bill.
- Homeowners will be asked for proof of ownership, such as a property deed or title, mortgage payment book, property insurance policy, or tax receipts.
Important documents destroyed in the disaster may be duplicated with help from outside sources, such as the County Clerk’s office.
Once you have applied, a FEMA inspector will visit your home within three to five days to conduct an inspection. Once the inspection is complete and a determination on assistance is made, available funds will be deposited in five to 10 business days.
