The Federal Emergency Management Agency is in Tyler visiting homes, churches and businesses to help with disaster claims, according to the City of Tyler.
Homeowners and renters can expect visits from FEMA officials this week. Personnel from the Disaster Survivor Assistance division, wearing badges and FEMA vests, will go door to door from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily to explain the process, give updates or assist with filling out claims.
It is important to note FEMA claims are separate from the iSTAT Damage Surveys by the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM). However, FEMA personnel will prioritize visiting areas where many residents have filled out the iSTAT.
If you are not home when FEMA personnel stop by, they will leave a flyer with information and ways to contact them.
Smith County was among the counties approved for the FEMA’s individual assistance program, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Friday. Van Zandt County residents are also eligible to apply.
FEMA individual assistance helps Texans with disaster recovery by providing funds for basic, critical needs. This assistance is not a substitute for insurance, and it can’t duplicate other sources of help, according to FEMA.
FEMA may provide assistance in the following categories: serious needs, displacement, home repair, rental assistance, personal property, transportation, medical and dental, and funeral assistance, for eligible applicants.
To qualify for FEMA assistance, you or a member of your household must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified non-citizen. However, undocumented families with diverse immigration status only need one family member (including a minor child under 18) who is a United States citizen, non-citizen national or qualified non-citizen and has a Social Security number to apply.
To apply, homeowners and renters can go online to DisasterAssistance.gov, download the FEMA app for mobile devices, or call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Help is available in most languages.
Another way to apply is by visiting a Disaster Recovery Center. FEMA is opening one of these in Henderson County on Tuesday to provide one-on-one help to Texans affected by the severe storms, tornadoes, flooding and straight-line winds April 26-June 5. It will be located at the Henderson Senior Center at 3344 State Highway 31 E. in Athens and will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day.
The City of Tyler said it is working with TDEM and FEMA to set up a Disaster Recovery Center to have a centralized location for all questions and assistance through this process.
The deadline to apply is July 16.
The city urges property owners and renters to save all receipts, photos, insurance claims and any other documentation related to the damage on the claims. After submitting the claim, individuals will receive a letter in the mail within 10 days to confirm their status or request more documentation. If the letter says “Denied,” please continue reading to see what steps you can take to continue your application. This may be as simple as submitting a photo of your driver’s license or proof of property ownership.
After receiving the letter, FEMA says an inspector will be scheduled to visit your property. Be sure to have a list of all damage you would like to report to expedite this process. Claims can be appealed up to 30 days after the verdict.
For more information, visit FEMA.gov/Disaster/4781.
Reporting damages
About 500 Smith County residents had reported damage to the state as of Monday afternoon.
Local government officials say formally reporting damage at your home is crucial for many reasons. Reporting damage is equivalent to asking for assistance in cleanup and financial reimbursem*nt. To report damage, https://damage.tdem.texas.gov/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3I1bf7xZtG0uuhi9vQQyP8-NDtFI9cagILCaM-wRQ-_xzmmOsTsmGfNao_aem_AUVwnFa1AKP1uMArwKRNX70Bg499upAQlHy5V6COgfYPMir1L_gMYHU7M0fzZPhjEDQpQCA4M5xYGLCFA-SsKnmX" target="_blank">fill out the survey at this link: https://damage.tdem.texas.gov.
These reports go directly to the Smith County Emergency Management Office and will be relayed to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for possible assistance.
“The damage surveys are the best way for us to know where you are and what you need,” Smith County Emergency Management Coordinator Brandon Moore said in an interview last week.
With the information affected residents provide through the survey, “local officials and other partners can help identify resources that may be needed in the community, such as food, water, tarps, clean-up kits and shelters,” according to TDEM. “The survey will also allow you to ask for volunteer clean-up support that may be available.”
One group of volunteers helping affected residents clean up is Team Rubicon, a nonprofit, veteran-centric disaster response organization. Led by Jeff Marshburn with about 20 other volunteers, the group started Saturday by going around to homes that had reported damage through the TDEM survey. The volunteers were back at it helping folks Monday morning. If you still need help, please fill out the survey so you can be added to the list.
— Santana can be reached at santana@mrobertsmedia.com.
