Disaster Recovery Center Opens In Walker County

AUSTIN, Texas – A FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is open in Walker County to provide face-to-face assistance to those who suffered damage from Hurricane Ike. The DRC is located at:

The Storm Shelter
455 Avenue Q
State Highway 75 North
Huntsville, TX 77342

The center will be open Sunday, Sept. 28 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and thereafter from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice.

Residents are encouraged to register with FEMA before visiting a DRC. There are two ways to register: log on to www.fema.gov or call FEMA's toll-free number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Both numbers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until further notice.  Residents should register only once; duplicate registrations may cause delays in the delivery of assistance.

At the DRC, visitors can:

• Receive information about different types of state and federal disaster assistance.
• Get help completing low-interest loan applications from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for homeowners, renters and business owners.
• Inquire about the status of applications for federal assistance.
• Receive referrals to the American Red Cross and other voluntary organizations to help with immediate unmet needs.
• Learn cost-effective measures to reduce the impact of future disaster losses.

Disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repair and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or other sources. Low-interest disaster loans from the SBA also are available for homeowners, renters and business owners for losses not covered by insurance or other sources. 

Residents should carry with them their identification, social security number, insurance information, proof of address and contact numbers when they visit the DRC to expedite the process.

FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For information about SBA programs, applicants may call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339).