July 16, 2024 by Nesibe Selma
Texas Federal Disaster Declaration Following Hurricane Beryl
Topic
Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Houston, TX – On July 9, 2024, President Biden declared a federal emergency and disaster declaration for Hurricane Beryl. The Category 1 hurricane caused a significant impact across Texas from July 5th to 9th, leaving millions without power. There were at least 10 deaths, multiple casualties, and serious damage in the wake of the natural disaster.
67 counties have been included in the federal disaster declaration:
Anderson, Angelina, Aransas, Austin, Bowie, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Calhoun, Cameron, Camp, Cass, Chambers, Cherokee, Colorado, Dewitt, Fayette, Fort Bend, Freestone, Galveston, Goliad, Gregg, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Harrison, Hidalgo, Houston, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Marion, Matagorda, Milam, Montgomery, Morris, Nacogdoches, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Panola, Polk, Refugio, Robertson, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Shelby, Trinity, Tyler, Upshur, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Washington, Webb, Wharton, and Willacy.
17 counties are currently eligible for FEMA assistance:
Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto, Walker, and Wharton
Additional counties are pending approval once damage assessments are completed. Texans are urged to submit online damage surveys to report damage to homes and businesses using the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) damage survey, which is available in English and Spanish.
Survivors of Hurricane Beryl have access to a variety of assistance programs to aid in their recovery.
- FEMA offers federal assistance for temporary housing, home repairs, low-cost loans, and other recovery programs. Applications can be submitted online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, via phone at 800-621-FEMA (3362), or through the FEMA App.
- Additionally, the SBA provides disaster loans for homeowners, renters, and businesses in affected areas, which can be applied for at www.lending.sba.gov.
- Replacement SNAP benefits are available for food destroyed due to power outages or flooding. To apply, recipients can dial 2-1-1 (Option 8) or submit Form H1855 to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission by mail or fax. The application deadline has been extended to August 8.
- Replacement WIC benefits for food and formula lost during the hurricane are available through July 31, 2024. Families can visit www.TexasWIC.org or call 800-942-3678 (Option 3) for assistance and must visit a WIC office to replace benefits. WIC also provides 24/7 breastfeeding support via hotline at 855-550-6667.
- For prescription medications, Texas laws permit pharmacists to provide emergency refills up to a 30-day supply during a declared disaster, excluding Schedule II controlled substances.
- Foreclosure moratoriums are in effect for FHA-insured mortgages and Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee program mortgages, with a 90-day extension for Home Equity Conversion Mortgages, as declared by HUD. Homeowners should contact their mortgage servicers for assistance.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will also make its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program available statewide. This program “provides funding for eligible mitigation measures that reduce disaster losses.”
Lone Star Legal Aid stands in solidarity with Texans affected by the storm. We intend to disseminate the resources and information that becomes available in the next few days through our Hurricane Beryl resource page.
Lone Star Legal Aid is available to assist with any legal documents lost during the disaster (wills, power of attorney, etc.), home-repair contracts and contracts, landlord/tenant disputes and more. Those in need of help are encouraged to apply online and continue to monitor our Facebook and Instagram pages for updates.
This press release will be updated to include new information.
Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy for low-income and underserved populations by providing free legal education, advice, and representation. LSLA serves millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines, who live in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties in Southwest Arkansas. LSLA focuses its resources on maintaining, enhancing, and protecting income and economic stability; preserving housing; improving outcomes for children; establishing and sustaining family safety, stability, health, and wellbeing; and assisting populations with special vulnerabilities, like those with disabilities, the aging, survivors of crime and disasters, the unemployed and underemployed, the unhoused, those with limited English language skills, and the LGBTQIA+ community. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at www.LoneStarLegal.org.
Media contact: media@lonestarlegal.org
