Federal and state disaster recovery officials continued Monday to urge victims of Hurricane Rita to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to qualify for disaster aid.
Pam Wade of FEMA said people in counties that qualify for aid should call the agency’s toll-free hotline or visit its Web site to register. Hurricane victims can also visit disaster recovery centers, like the one setup at the Island Community Center in Galveston, to apply.
The centers are staffed with people from different agencies that can answer questions and inform people about how the process works, said Joan Peschke of the Texas Division of Emergency Management.
Galveston County is one of 22 Texas counties where residents can receive assistance. A list of all the counties can be found on the FEMA Web site.
Hurricane victims can receive grants to help pay for home repairs not covered by insurance and temporary housing while their property is being fixed, Wade said. They can also be reimbursed for hotel rooms or qualify for a disaster loan.
Victims may also qualify for help paying for furniture, clothing and transportation, she said.
Wade said that FEMA would also work with local volunteer agencies to make sure victims have all they need to “further their recovery.”
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On the Web:
• www.fema.gov
• www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem
To register for federal assistance, call FEMA at (800) 621-3362.
