Those still needing assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for Hurricane Ike damages are running out of time to apply. Homeowners, renters and business owners have until Jan. 12 to register with FEMA.
Even as the deadline looms, FEMA said more than a quarter of those who have applied for housing assistance have yet to receive any aid.
In Galveston County, more than 71,000 individuals have registered for FEMA assistance, the agency said. Almost $110 million in housing assistance has been approved so far, as well as another $36 million in other needs such as non-insured repairs and rebuilding.
FEMA has provided temporary housing for more than 2,500 applicants. That is 72 percent of the more than 3,600 who applied for housing assistance. Of those, 290 are in mobile homes in Galveston County, FEMA said.
More than $1.8 billion in disaster assistance has been given to Hurricane Ike victims in Texas, according to a Jan. 2 summary from the Texas Governor’s Division of Emergency Management and FEMA.
Since the hurricane made landfall Sept. 13, more than $443.5 million in housing assistance, disaster-related needs and disaster unemployment assistance have been given to storm victims.
FEMA claims another $476 million in low-interest loans have been distributed by the U.S. Small Business Administration for Hurricane Ike-related damages.
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How To Get Help
To register for FEMA assistance, go to fema.gov or call 800-621-FEMA.
